Ford Ranger won't start problems

Filed Aug 15, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · WI

Vehicle received and installed an over-the-air software update to the Body Control Module, identified on the vehicle screen as BCM-26.6.3 and associated with Safety Recall 26S29 (A-pillar/sun visor wiring, the federal safety agency 26V238000). The update screen displayed a status of "Not Completed." Since that update the vehicle will not start and is inoperative. Current condition: opening the driver door wakes the center infotainment screen only. The instrument cluster does not illuminate. Pressing the brake pedal produces no response - no cluster illumination, no warning lamps, no chimes, no messages, no crank. 12V power is present; the manufacturer's telematics app still reaches the vehicle and returns status. Symptoms are consistent with a Body Control Module that is powered but not communicating on the vehicle network. No warning lamps, messages, or symptoms were present before the update. The vehicle operated normally until the update was installed. Safety risk: the vehicle became immobile without warning immediately following installation of a manufacturer-pushed safety recall remedy. The transmission cannot be shifted electronically, requiring the manual park release to move or tow the vehicle. Had this occurred away from home or in a traffic lane, the vehicle would have been stranded and unable to move under its own power. The BCM also governs exterior lighting and hazard lamp function. Note: the update screen header displayed "25S29" while the body text referenced completing Safety Recall 26S29. The vehicle has a dealer-installed Ford Performance ProCal calibration. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the dealer or manufacturer. It is available for inspection upon request.

Filed Dec 13, 2024 · Electrical · OH

Truck cut off at an intersection without warning and would not turn back over. After multiple attempts and AAA service members checking batter car would not start. Has power but will not turn over dealership is saying there is a module issue but is not sure.

Filed Feb 3, 2023 · Transmission · CO

The transmission and or converter on the vehicle continue to have harsh vibrations in all gears. The unit has a difficult time finding the right gear for the traveling speed. Some times accelerates slightly from a stopped position which requires excessive force on the brake. At highway speeds downshifts are very slow and sometimes not at all when trying to pass slower vehicles. Employee's refuse to drive this vehicle due to excessive vibration felt through the steering wheel and foot pedal's when coming to a stop. They don't feel that the vehicle is going to come to a stop. I would agree. It's as if the transmission does not start downshifting as the vehicle slows, and then drops into first very hard as the vehicle is coming to a stop. The vehicle started doing this at 220 miles and continues to get worse. It has been to the Dealer four times, with the first being a driveshaft shim placement to the driveshaft per a TSB. Second visit, the dealer states there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. Third visit, complete drive shaft and components replaced, with no remedy. Fourth visit, an engineer from Ford came to the dealership and determined there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. These problems have been occurring since the vehicle had 220 miles on it. The vehicle has 1700 miles and note being driven very much.

Filed Mar 31, 2020 · 145,000 miles · TX

As I was driving headed to my doctors appointment down the freeway and as I exited the off ramp my vehicle shut off with traffic be hide me and I coasted off to the side. I learned that it was my inertia switch that cause my vehicle to shut off. The vibration of the road reflector and small potholes which cause inertia switch to shut the vehicle off. My truck has stalled out after exiting the freeway and on small streets. I kept taking my vehicle to the ford dealer to see why my truck never starts and would always shut off while driving down the freeway. Finally one machinic at the ford dealer told me that the inertia had been engaged and that was the reason why my vehicle lost power and wouldn't start.

Filed Jul 12, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 275,000 miles · FL

When vehicle is either stationary or in motion the passenger head lamp melts, something is causing that one light to over heat and has melted the entire head unit. I have very little visibility with head lamps on. Battery is constantly corroded, no mattet how much I clean it. Ac/defrost does not work. Right blinker does not stay on, shuts off with the slightest movement of steering wheel. Gauges do not function properly nor do the light indicators. Check engine line comes on after exceeding 30mph and when I have it checked it's only the o2 sensor. Truck gets hot but does not over heat and all fluids are topped off. When in motion I can smell the exhaust and can feel the heat from the engine coming through the gear shift manifold. At times does not want to shift in reverse. Passenger side door does not shut properly, I believe it was wrecked and the door was point of impact. I bought the truck from previous owner for $1,100 and he was unable to tell me anything regarding the vehicle except that it didnt have a spare or owner manual. My fuel is leaking and I can't seem to find the point of escape. I've already had to replace the starter and solenoid twice because it would not start. After replacing those items it still wouldn't start until I had pulled by a u-haul and I had to pop the clutch to get it to start. I have bought over 6 head lamps in two weeks alone. I work at night and im constantly getting pulled over; so I explain to the officers what's happening. I have had the truck since february and didnt know what to do until I talked to a mechanic. The tailgate does not open and I had to tie my muffler up because it came detached from the frame and drags the ground. I can't afford to buy another vehicle and I dont know what to do.

Filed Oct 31, 2018 · Engine · 70,000 miles · PA

Ford 4.0 sohc v6 timing chain hydraulic tensioner, timing chain cassette and timing chain failure providing no start situation. Ford is well aware of this problem. It is widespread across models with this engine, rangers, explorers and mustangs. Starting with model year 2001 when they began using the 4.0 sohc until end of production of this engine, 2011 they should be held responsible for low mileage failures. My vehicle has less then 70,000 miles. Timing chain shouldn't fail and dealership should pay for repair. I was parked, went to start it and it backfired and wouldn't start and hasn't since. Diagnosed and determined it was timing chain. Again, the 4.0 has had this problem from start of production across many models and years. Ford should be held responsible since they acknowledge this problem.

Filed Dec 30, 2017 · Transmission · 132,588 miles · HI

Vehicle bogged and stalled while attempting to parallel park, turning the steering wheel to the left and right end points. After engine died, it did not start again and needed to be towed to my home. Happened on hilo town on holomua street.

Filed Nov 14, 2017 · Airbags · WA

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 ford ranger. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v024000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer (lakewood ford, 11503 pacific hwy sw, lakewood, wa 98499) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminated. The failure mileage was unknown. Vin tool confirms parts not available. *bf consumer stated air bag light comes on and stays on. Sometimes the truck will not start. No power to start truck sometimes it will after sitting for awhile. Updated 8/8/18

Filed Oct 4, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 57,000 miles · OH

The dash lights would blink intermediately and if the truck was turned off while that is happening, the engine immobilizer would engage and the truck would not start. I drove the truck this way for a while and just let it run and not shut it off. Ford didn;t know what was causing it. Eventually I found out that the wiring harness that came together in a y shape, and was supposed to be securely taped only had one strand of tape wrapped around the wires. The metal, where the wires went through had rubbed through the one strand of electrical tape and into one of the wires occasionally shorting it out, thus setting off the engine immobilizer. I bought the truck new so it had to have came from the factory that way. It had less than 50 thousand miles when it started and you would never know when it was going to do it, sitting, driving, city, highway, but usually always running, unless it was shut off while it was doing it and then tried starting it again. It would not crank over , just like there was no battery in it. It was my first new vehicle and what a disappointment. The truck was wired for fog lights but no lights themselves in it, just plastic covers. The short was on the fog light wire where the wires went through the front metal pannel the radiator was bolted on. I wrote in before complaining about this but had not found out what it was then. Ford said it may be the cluster, but it wasn't. They also said they didnt know for sure what it was. It went on last year till I fixed it this year with a roll of electrical tape that ford was either too cheap to use or poor workmanship. It started last year and took me till this year to fix it.

Filed May 25, 2015 · Fuel system · 114,500 miles · PA

Traveling on state rout 56 entered the off ramp to continue on state rt.366, after stopping and accelerating to 50 miles an hour the truck just stalled. Was able to coast to berm of road and waited to be towed, would not start.