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1999 Ford Ranger problems

The most common problem on the 1999 Ford Ranger is tires, typically around 103,000 miles. It has 3.2 times the complaints of a typical Ranger model year.

Typical year3.2x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
755
Recalls
4
Service bulletins
301
Worst area
Tires
Fuel economy
15-21mpg

The worst 1999 Ford Ranger problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Ford Ranger

Wipers 67Tire blowout 56No deployment 36ABS 18Fire or smoke 15Pulling 15Adaptive cruise 13Brake failure 13Ball joint 11Harsh shifting 8Headlights 8Stalling 8Overheating 7Engine failure 6Knocking 6Jerking 6Seat belt 6Airbag light 5Check engine light 5Transmission failure 5

Recalls 4

Vehicle speed controlReported August 3, 2007 · 3,600,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk
This could result in an underhood fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1‑888‑222‑2751.

Recall number 07V336000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmissionReported July 28, 1999 · 326 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: electric vehicles. The transaxle may have been manufactured with the park detent spring misaligned. If the spring is misaligned, the park mechanism may not engage when the shift lever is placed in the park position.
Risk
If the park mechanism does not engage and the vehicle operator has not applied the parking brake, the vehicle could roll free as if in neutral.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the transaxle and any with misaligned park detent springs will be replaced.

Recall number 99V204000 · Recall details

Vehicle speed controlReported March 30, 1999 · 898,739 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from may 29, 1996 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 explorer/mountaineers equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc or 5.0l engines or 1998-1999 rangers equipped with 2.5l, 3.0l ffv/efi or 4.0l engines and cruise control built from january 5, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 mustangs equipped with 3.8l, 4.6l 2-valve or 4-valve engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1999 f250/f350/f450/f550 (over 8,500 lbs.) trucks equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; and 1999 f-53 stripped chassis equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999. A cruise control cable can interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the cruise control.
Risk
If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.

Recall number 99V062001 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection systemReported September 1, 1998 · 330 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks with 3.0l engine. An 'o'-ring seal in the fuel injection pulse damper to fuel rail joint could be damaged allowing fuel leakage.
Risk
In the presence of an ignition source, a fire can result from fuel leakage.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the pulse damper.

Recall number 98V201000 · Recall details

See all 4 recalls for the 1999 Ford Ranger

Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Ford Ranger 301

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 301 bulletins for the 1999 Ford Ranger

1999 Ford Ranger fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.5L 4‑cylRWD18-1923-2420-21
3.0L 6‑cylRWD15-1620-2117-18
4.0L 6‑cylRWD14-162016-17
3.0L 6‑cyl4WD14-1618-2015-17
4.0L 6‑cyl4WD14-1518-1916
Electric motor Electric 55 mi range2WD50-6244-5447-58 MPGe

What 1999 Ford Ranger owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 22, 2021 · Suspension · KY

I was driving to the store around 1 month ago and I noticed the truck was trying to tail to the side as I was driving. I thought nothing of it until my Uncle Bobby noticed my rear shock was scraping the ground. We looked underneath to investigate and found both shock mounts completely rusted off and the frame in terrible shape. The truck itself barely has any rust other than the tailgate and bed floor. Also thought I should include that the hose that connect the gas tank and where you pump the gas is rusted to where every time I pump gas, a little drips out onto the floor. I was trying to find videos on how to fix it but came across a page that says Rangers have been recalled from the years 1995 to 2000 because of Toyota starting to make frames for them. *EDIT* Also would like to mention that the frame where the bumper attaches to on the driver side has cracked and now the bumper is sagging down .

Filed Jul 24, 2021 · Body · OH

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.

Filed Jun 24, 2021 · Engine · FL

Motor rattling, knocking in transmission, exhaust sounded louder than usual, motor cut off and unable to start

Filed Apr 12, 2021 · Body · 208,991 miles · TN

My vehicle is otherwise in very good condition but try is frame is very worrisome. The rust makes me afraid to drive the vehicle confidently.

Filed Mar 9, 2021 · 115 miles · MA

Frame and cross members along with the spare tire carrier all rotted out?, as do all the ford rangers and ford will not do anything about it, at least toyota came to the plate for their owners. Great truck except for the rotting frame issues. Found this out by hearing a crack one day and when checking found a crack in frame by left rear wheel , and also when looking found a crack and hole by left rear shock mount, when pulling this apart to fix it, also found a gas tank strap broken off, after pulling tank down it was found that the whole cross member was rotted and also the left front side of the left rear frame rail.

Filed Dec 29, 2020 · Body, Steering · 127,642 miles · VA

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.

Filed Dec 20, 2019 · 115,000 miles · MA

Replaced rear shackles due to rot, spare tire frame rotted off and spare fell out, was fixing truck and noticed rot hole in frame by left rear shock when replacing, so that was repaired and also noticed crack in frame and gas tank strap broken. Took down gas tak and the whole frame on left side was rotted and ready to break in half and the crossmember is all rotted out.

Filed Sep 21, 2019 · Fuel system, Suspension · TN

Frame is very rusted and big holes in the frame. I think there is a gas leak as well but the frame is very bad.

Filed Apr 9, 2019 · 250,000 miles · CA

I am upset that this tire shop sold me tires that have been discontinued. I paid 312.00 for two tires and when I went to buy two more I was told they were discontinued. Their is no warranty except a manufacturers warranty. I wanted to get all 4 the same. That is my complaint

Filed Mar 14, 2019 · WV

Rusted out straps and mounts to the gas tank and other major rust damage to the underside of truck do not know if should repair or not

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Compare the 1999 Ford Ranger

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Other model years

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Questions about the 1999 Ford Ranger

Is the 1999 Ford Ranger reliable?

Owners have filed 755 complaints about the 1999 Ford Ranger, 3.2 times a typical Ranger model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1999 Ford Ranger?

Tires, with 178 complaints, typically around 103,000 miles. Next is body (89).

How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Ranger have?

4 recalls, covering vehicle speed control, power train and fuel system, gasoline.

What year does the Ford Ranger have bad tires?

The Ford Ranger model years with the most tires complaints are 1999 (178 complaints), 2000 (139 complaints) and 1998 (136 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1999 Ford Ranger get?

Official estimates for the 1999 Ford Ranger range from 15 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 18-19 city and 23-24 highway.

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