Ford Ranger Complaints (2001)

527 consumer complaints on file.

#11729501April 6, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The brakes and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726742March 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2001 Ford Ranger. It was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 153,244; however, at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 297,515.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672940July 11, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle to the residence, it was discovered that the gauge on the odometer was not working. There was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 109,999 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was unknown. The contact called the previous owner, who confirmed that the odometer gauge was inoperable, and was not repaired.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11642235February 12, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was discovered that the anti-theft system was inoperable and failed to function as designed. The anti-theft warning light was illuminated. The contact had to remove the key fob several times to start the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11505442February 3, 2023
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's family member's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11494659November 23, 2022
SUSPENSION
so I recently purchased this truck thinking it was all safe, the pictures were too good to be true thats for sure, When I brought the truck back the old owner even drove with me knowing what he just sold me. The next day I was so happy so I get it registered and insured and I was so eager to hope in and drive around in my new "safe" truck I also went out with my loved one and it sickens me that the old owner was ok with selling me a not so safe truck and I could have died if the frame bracket broke or the frame cracked while i was driving but when I started to look under I saw the problem and I was scared I saw that the upper control arm bracket mount was rusted and the strut tower as well it had a Hole forming and a crack on the strut tower. I also found out that there was a crack in the frame and i've looked up online and it seems that the frame and other components rust I don't know what to do. Im also a college student who is trying to get into the mechanic world and this scares me with how many trucks like this are out on the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11463502May 5, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
The rear frame rusted so bad the bumper fell off and the frame actually cracked. This is a common issue with the late 1990s & early 2000s Ford Ranger, I do not understand why this isn't a recall yet as is it very dangerous. This happened on the highway. The front end frame, engine and all the components work flawlessly while the rear frame is just crumbling in rust.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11462673April 28, 2022
SUSPENSION
The rear leaf spring shackle rust causing the leaf spring to go through the bed. When going highway speeds the vehicle shakes and not safe to drive over 60.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11455156March 4, 2022
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
The frame has rusted so bad it has completely separated from the body. The Ranger frame rusting is a known problem but it has not been recalled like the Toyota Takoma has been.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11444132December 17, 2021
SEAT BELTS
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt would not latch properly. The contact also stated that the vehicle would hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator while driving at various speeds. The contact noticed that the temperature gauge would indicate the vehicle was hot once the hesitation started. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where both failures were linked to recalls. The mechanic linked the seat belt failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V227001 (Seat Belts) and the overheating failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V399000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The dealer was notified of both failures and informed her that the VIN was not included in either recall. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11436918October 15, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
The frame is rotted and broken on both side in the rear
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11426288July 24, 2021
SUSPENSION
Frame rusted in several places behind the cab at the rear spring shackles. Frame cracked both sides and bed is up against the cab and ready to break in two. Ford will not do anything. 145 k miles and the rest of the truck is in very good shape everything works except the cruise and is a loaded edge…..very upset just had a transmission rebuilt in it. Love the truck all the one I have looked at have the same issues over several years on fb marketplace and cannot find a good frame in any salvage yard. Didn’t Toyota’s have the same issues and they had a recall. Why doesn’t Ford have one? Call Ford directly and they won’t do a thing. Tried selling as is and replacing but can’t get a buyer for what I have in the truck. Trying to find a good frame to fix it now, but there are none out there. Very Dissatisfied.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11426128July 23, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
I noticed that there was significantly more rust than there should be. There are places where the frame has rusted through. It is a major safety concern. I researched the issue and found several others with the same concern. I also found that Toyota has previously recalled several vehicles for the same issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11398500March 1, 2021
SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER SEATBELT RELEASES RANDOMLY FOR NO REASON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397662February 24, 2021
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOESN'T LATCH AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES SPORADICALLY. OCCASIONALLY FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP AND SOMETIMES IT GOES ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE TRIP, YET OTHER TIMES IT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11375642November 20, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
REAR FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH. REAR DRIVER SIDE SPRING MOUNT HAS RUSTED AND BROKEN FROM THE FRAME. REAR BUMPER MOUNTS AND SPARE TIRE MOUNTS ARE RUSTED OUT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11349904August 17, 2020
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS CONSTANTLY COMING UNBUCKLED. WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11328253June 10, 2020
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2001 FORD RANGER 3.0 HAS A IDLE WHEN IM DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH IDLE WOULD STAY AROUND 1,300 RPM. HAPPENS USUALLY MORE WHEN AC IS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327818June 8, 2020
SEAT BELTS
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY SEAT BELT POPS OUT RANDOMLY ANY PHASE OF DRIVING AFTER I LATCHED IT AND PULLED ON IT TO CHECK. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11325883May 25, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FRAMES ON THESE VEHICLES ARE PURE JUNK, THEY BREAK USUALLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE OR AT IT, MINE IS BROKE JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE OF THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME. IF YOU GO SEARCHING FOR A FRAME, AS I HAVE, YOU WILL FIND ALMOST ALL OF THESE VEHICLES IN DESCRIPTION WILL SAY THE FRAME IS SHOT WHICH IS THE CASE OF MOST FORDS IT SEEMS ANYMORE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD TRUCK IF NOT FOR THE FRAMES RUSTING DOWN AND POSSIBLY CAUSING SOMEONE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND LOSE THEIR LIFE OVER THIS IF THEY DON'T KEEP CHECK ON THESE TUCKS. THIS TRUCK WAS AN EVERY DAY WORK VEHICLE AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO PARK IT AND FIND ANOTHER ONE BEFORE THE CHAOS STARTED WITH IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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