The 1996 Ford Ranger has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,634,770 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 533 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED…
Consequence
A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy
FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27,…
EQUIPMENT96V1610001996-08-29134,770 affected
Defect
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence
INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
33
2crashes1fires3injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
29
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
22
2crashes2injuries1deaths
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
19
15crashes13injuries
TIRES
19
3crashes3injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
16
1crashes1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
16
1crashes3fires1injuries
INTERIOR LIGHTING
13
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
12
2fires1injuries
SEAT BELTS
11
Total complaints533
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Heading back from picking up meal at pizza hut when "pop" sound from front of truck and then cabin filled with smoke. Within 20-30 seconds of exiting the car it was in flames (see attached photos) recall notification was never sent to current owner and current owner didnt own in 2009 when it was…”
“My 96 ford ranger has tremendous frame rot on the drive side at the front of the spring shackles. Someone had sprayed rhino liner like material on the rot to cover it up or to try to make it hold. The rest of the frame is in outstanding condition except for it being almost broken into at the gas…”
“My 96 ford ranger has tremendous frame rot on the drive side at the front of the spring shackles. Someone had sprayed rhino liner like material on the rot to cover it up or to try to make it hold. The rest of the frame is in outstanding condition except for it being almost broken into at the gas…”
“Nano and micro particulates/contaminants have been sprayed from an airliner and caused severe damage to my body and my vehicle; it includes flakes, tubules and highly reflective particles and metals. The vehicle has stalled and lost two gears as a result. It has a gas leaking issue caused by the…”
“Nano and micro particulates/contaminants have been sprayed from an airliner and caused severe damage to my body and my vehicle; it includes flakes, tubules and highly reflective particles and metals. The vehicle has stalled and lost two gears as a result. It has a gas leaking issue caused by the…”
“Takata recall. I crashed my 1996 ford ranger in 2010. Both airbags deployed. My collision shop replaced the airbags with unknown year ford ranger airbags, buying some new parts from ford to complete the install. There is no way to know if these are recalled takata airbags without an inspection. My…”
“Tl* the contact owned a 1996 ford ranger. While driving 30 mph, flames appeared under the hood. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The cause of the fire was unknown. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not towed, but was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford ranger. While driving down a hill at less than approximately 20 mph, the vehicle crashed into a tree. None of the air bags deployed. The driver sustained minor bruising, which did not require medical treatment. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Ford Ranger as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.