7.6

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
6,250 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Ford Ranger:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #4

Aug 192005

Ranger 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 25,000 miles
Purchased truck used in May 1999 with 15,000 miles on it. Problem started after having 25,000 odometer miles on truck. Vehicle would accelerate upon stopping or slowing. Had idle adjusted next scheduled maintenance (30K). As of this date, August 19, 2005, vehicle still accelerates on very rare occasions. After a few months from the 45K maintenance check the vehicle then started to stall at random when stopping or slowing. At regular maintenance checks I would tell tech about stalling problems. Most often tech could not duplicate problem on road test. Vehicle would be serviced, stalling problem would stop for a very short time, and then problem would come back. July 12, 2005- I went on road with tech on road test and found tech was down-shifting at stops. Told him not to and then vehicle did stall when coming to stop. Dealer: Inspected and verified complaint, checked and found idle air control faulty, removed and replaced iac motor and concern. Tech notes: Still acting up. Found idle speed adjusted too high. Readjusted idle screw, road tested and rechecked ok. Problem was solved for a brief three weeks and resurfaced. As of August 19, 2005- the stalling problem stills exists. Is a very real safety issue, as I have had several close accident calls. Examples: 1) turning off a very busy street (45mph) into parking lot, having vehicle stall and losing all power steering into turn, having to avoid hitting trees, buildings, people, and others cars in process. 2) coming to a red stoplight, my vehicle stalls, stoplights changing to green as approaching, cars behind me having to avoid hitting my truck as I restart. 3) vehicle stalling at yield sign. No cross traffic and cars behind me expecting me to pass through.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

problem #3

May 062002

Ranger 4WD

  • miles
Accumulator failed prematurely because of a manufacturing flaw. The accumulator was fabricated with an insulation attached to it which in turn trapped moisture between the accumulator and the insulation causing the accumulator to corrode prematurely and causing the system to leak and become disabled.

- New Albany, IN, USA

problem #2

Jun 011998

Ranger

  • miles
While driving at low speeds the vehicle will stall which almost caused an accident. Dealer cannot determine problem. Cause unknown.

- Chariton, IA, USA

problem #1

Apr 171998

(reported on)

Ranger

  • miles
Fuel injection system malfunctioned, causing vehicle to surge/hesitate during cruise.

- Orlando, FL, USA