Problems · by component
1999 Ford Ranger structure problems
89 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Ranger cite structure, 11% of all 785 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
89
11% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“When washing the truck I noticed a crack in the left rear frame just aft of the forward leaf spring shackle.Vertical crack approx, 6" long and separating, frame severely rusted while the rest of the body has minimal rust.”
“I WAS DRIVING WAS ABOUT 20 MPH AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. I HEARD A LOUD POP BANG NOISE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK DROPPED ABOUT 2 OR 3 INCHES. I THOUGHT THE FRONT END FELL OFF. THE FRAME IS RUSTED SO BAD YOU CAN PUNCH HOLES IS THE FRAME WITH A SCREW DRIVER, THE DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE, THE CROSSMEMBER TO TRANSMISSION IS BARLEY HOLDING TRANSMISSION UP, THE SPARE TIRE AREA IS RUSTED IN HALF, ALL MAIN CROSSMEMBERS ARE RUSTED IN HALF AND THE FRAME IS RUSTED IN HALF BEHIND FUEL TANK. TRUCK HAS 127K MILES AND THE BODY BODY HAS LITTLE TO NO RUST, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE UNSAFE FROM RUST. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE BODY CAN BE SO GOOD BUT FRAME AND SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY RUSTED TO NO RETURN.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SECTION OF THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.”
“FRAME ROT... THE FRAME HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE-OUT IN THE SAME PLACE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE: UNDER THE MOST-FRONT PART OF EACH DOOR (KEEP IN MIND THIS IS THE FRAME I'M TALKING ABOUT, NOT ANY KIND OF DOOR SUPPORT OR FRAMING... THIS IS THE SECTION OF BODY FRAME THAT IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH EACH DOOR ON THE VEHICLE). THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AND BEGUN TO SPLIT HORIZONTALLY (THE LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE) AND VERTICALLY (FROM THE GROUND-UP). WHEN LIFTING THE VEHICLE IN CERTAIN PLACES, THE FRAME CAN BE SEEN BENDING, OBVIOUSLY. BECAUSE OF THIS I CAN ONLY JACK/LIFT THE VEHICLE FROM THE VERY FRONT... ALL OTHER PLACES THAT I'VE TRIED TO LIFT FROM RESULT IN TOO MUCH WEIGHT BEING PUT ON THOSE WEAK POINTS. I AM NOW VERY SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING A NEW FRAME, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY... OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO PULL A FRAME OFF OF A VEHICLE FROM A JUNKYARD, THEN PUT IT ON MY VEHICLE (OR RATHER, PUT MY VEHICLE ON IT). FRAME FAILURE COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHE OR DEATH, AND THIS FRAME IS IN VERY BAD SHAPE COMPARED TO MOST VEHICLES IT'S AGE (AND MANY THAT ARE OLDER).”
“MY 1999 FORD RANGER JUST FAILED INSPECTION FOR STRUCTURAL REASONS. TRUCK RUNS PERFECT WITH ONLY 107K MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK IS ROTTING AWAY !! GAS TANK FALLING OFF. REAR BUMPER FALLING OFF. TAIL GATE ROTTED. SIGNIFICANT ROT IN FRAME AND SHOCKS. SPARE TIRE READY TO JUST FALL FROM CHEAP STRAP THAT IS ROTTED. THIS REALLY IS UNSAFE SITUATION. I CALLED FORD AND FILED COMPLAINT BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD!! A HAPPY CUSTOMER TELLS 2 PEOPLE,AN UNHAPPY CUSTOMER TELLS 100 PEOPLE. I REALLY CAN NOT BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT RECALLED. VERY UNSAFE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST NEAR THE REAR FRAME CLOSE TO THE LEAF SPRINGS. THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT FURTHER INSPECTED THE REAR FRAME AND DETERMINED THAT IT FRACTURED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS REMAINED PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY SINCE THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Showing 6 of 89 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.