1996 Ford Ranger: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 533 complaints
533
Total Complaints
117,000mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
53
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

90,000 25th Percentile
117,000 Median Mileage
154,178 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
33
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
29
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
22
TIRES
19
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
19
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
16
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
16
INTERIOR LIGHTING
13
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
12
SEAT BELTS
11

Severity Assessment

53
Crashes
22
Fires
39
Injuries
10
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, RADIATOR LEAKS EXCESSIVELY. BROOKDALE FORD HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT A BULLETIN BY FORD WILL SUPPLY ADDITIONAL ANTI-FREEZE UNTIL.*AK"
"UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, RADIATOR LEAKS EXCESSIVELY. BROOKDALE FORD HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT A BULLETIN BY FORD WILL SUPPLY ADDITIONAL ANTI-FREEZE UNTIL.*AK"
"WHE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28