Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Ford Ranger problems

Owners filed 272 complaints about the 2006 Ford Ranger with NHTSA between May 2006 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (175).

Complaints
272
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags175
  2. Structure26
  3. Suspension20
  4. Engine12
  5. Electrical system11
  6. Fuel system, gasoline9
  7. Fuel/propulsion system7
  8. Engine and engine cooling7
  9. Steering5
  10. Vehicle speed control5
  11. Tires4
  12. Visibility4
  13. Power train4
  14. Wheels3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20065
20075
20086
20094
20109
20116
20125
20135
20149
201511
201639
201726
2018112
20199
20207
20214
20224
20233
20240
20252
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

175 reports10 crashes10 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2006 Ford Ranger. Before purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle was involved in a crash and the driver's side air bag had deployed. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 17V787000 (Air Bags) and 17V788000 (Air Bags). In 2019, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repairs; however, the dealer only completed repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V788000 (Air Bags). The contact was informed that the driver's side air bag was missing. The vehicle was then taken to a Collision Center, which installed the front driver's side air bag and seat belt from a salvage yard and cleared the SRS System warning light. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V787000 (Air Bags), and the contact was informed that the recall was closed. The dealer recently repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V125000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the dealer had reported that aftermarket driver's side air bag parts were installed. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2026Air bagsODI 11769825

Structure

26 reports
“The spare tire stabilizing bracket rusted away and fell off. The rear shackles for the springs broke on both sides, and is coming up through the bed. The frame has rusted apart and it’s not possible to bolt a new shackle for the rear springs on. The body is not rusting out. They used inferior steel on the frame and it has rusted away. They should do a recall on these like other manufacturers have. This is a serious safety issue. I bought this truck new, and it only has 98000 mikes on it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2022Suspension, StructureODI 11468541

Suspension

20 reports1 fire
“THE FRAME OF MY RANGER HAS RUSTED BADLY , CAUSING THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES TO NO LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME.ALSO THE BED OF THE TRUCK HAS RUSTED AWAY BADLY. I I SPOKE TO A GUY WHO SPECIALIZES IN FRAME / AXLE REPAIR . AFTER INSPECTING IT , HE TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY OPTION TO REPAIR MY TRUCK WAS TO REPLACE THE FRAME , BECAUSE THE FRAME IS RUSTED TOO BADLY TO BE ABLE TO BE WELDED , HE SAID THE ONLY OTHER OPTION WAS TO JUNK IT . THE TRUCK HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT AND IS OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION . I HAD PLANNED TO OWN IT FOR YEARS TO COME . NOW I AM AFRAID TO TRUST IT . AND I WOULD NOT FEEL RIGHT ABOUT SELLING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE . I USE THIS TRUCK TO HAUL HAY TO FEED MY LIVESTOCK , BUT NOW I AM AFRAID TO LOAD IT UP AND DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD WITH IT .I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED AND THE SERVICE CENTER NOTED ON THE PAPERWORK THAT THE FRAME WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE SPRING MOUNTINGS FIXED ..,”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2020Suspension, Unknown or otherODI 11384120

Engine

12 reports
“THE VEHICLE WILL QUIT RUNNING WHEN I AM DRIVING IT, YOU CAN BE DRIVING AT FIFTY MILE AND HOUR BAND THEN IT QUIT RUNNING.TOOK IT TO FORD THEY SAY THERE NO RECALL AND THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IT WILL JUST QUIT RUNNING WITH NO WARNING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2019EngineODI 11191628

Electrical system

11 reports1 fire
“Problem with fuel pump city switch keeps burning up and causing my truck to to die while I’m driving it. I have got it checked by a mechanic shop and the problem keeps happening. The fuel pump, the cut off switch and the connector and wires have all been replaced and it still continues to happen. This has been happening for years and is causing me to almost get in a car accident.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2023Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11531945

Fuel system, gasoline

9 reports1 crash
“FORD VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STOPPED RUNNING WITH FULL TANK OF FUEL. WOULD NOT RESTART, HAD TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. REPLACED FUEL PUMP FOR $606.99. DROVE ABOUT A MILE AND SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. FOUND THAT THE FUEL INERTIA SHUT OFF SWITCH NEEDED RE-SETTING. BOUGHT A FUEL PUMP I DIDN'T NEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR AGAIN. FORD DEALER SAID I NEEDED A FUEL PUMP. (35,000 MILES) AGAIN, NO WAY. THE REPLACEMENT PART (INERTIA SWITCH) MOVES THE SWITCH FROM PASSENGER FLOOR AREA TO SIDE KICK PANEL. THE DESIGN CHANGE SHOWS DESIGN FLAW. FORD SHOULD REPLACE FOR NO COST. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ENGINE DIES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10568429
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.