2006 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
271 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
69,440 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 172 of 271 complaints (63.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 3.7% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 1.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 1.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 172 |
| Structure:Body | 20 |
| Suspension | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
Air Bags: 172; Structure:Body: 20; Suspension: 18; Unknown Or Other: 16; Engine: 12; Electrical System: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 10
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 166 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 112 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2006: 5; 2007: 5; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 9; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 9; 2015: 11; 2016: 39; 2017: 26; 2018: 112; 2019: 9; 2020: 7; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10183920 · 2007-03-01 (March 1, 2007)
I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN MY 2006 FORD RANGER WITH APPROXIMATELY 3500 MILES ON IT WHEN ENGINE SPUTTERED AND STOPPED AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE GAS TANK WAS NEAR FULL AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER I COASTED ACROSS A LANE OF MOVING TRAFFIC ONTO THE MEDIAN. HAVING EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN MY 1986 RANGER, I CALLED THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER TO ASK WHERE THE FUEL SAFETY SHUT OFF SWITCH WAS LOCATED. AFTER BEING ASSURED THAT THE SWITCH COULD NOT BE THE PROBLEM UNLESS I HAD BEEN IN A COLLISION OR HIT A VERY LARGE POT-HOLE, I …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219312 · 2008-02-27 (February 27, 2008)
NO EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE. ENGINE JUST QUIT. NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. ENGINE WOULD QUIT AND OPERATOR WOULD HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE RESTARTING. AT ONE POINT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART WITHOUT THE HELP OF A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,219 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219312 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268669 · 2009-05-13 (May 13, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY THE HEAD IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WILL NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310641 · 2010-02-15 (February 15, 2010)
INERTIA SWITCH IN 2006 FORD RANGER CAUSES TRUCK TO STALL RANDOMLY. SWITCH IS LOCATED ON PASSENGER-SIDE IN COMPARTMENT BY THE FOOT. THIS RANDOM STALLING IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE IN THREE LANE TRAFFIC, RAILROAD CROSSINGS, INTERSECTIONS, BRIDGES, ETC.. THIS SWITCH IS DESIGNED TO CUT ELECTRIC TO FUEL PUMP IN CRASH BUT MOST OFTEN FAILS DURING NORMAL DRIVING OPERATION. THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE COMPLAINT TO 2006, BUT BY OTHER YEARS REPORTED ON THE INTERNET. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS AND IS PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE DEATHS DUE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256976 · 2009-01-30 (January 30, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER XLT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH DOWN A TWO-LANE, DRY MOUNTAIN ROAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY ACROSS THE ROAD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND TRAVELED 60 FEET DOWN THE SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316799 · 2010-03-04 (March 4, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WHILE DRIVING SINCE THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHENEVER HE DROVE MORE THAN 20 MPH. OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157908 · 2006-05-20 (May 20, 2006)
I BOUGHT MY TRUCK BRAND NEW LAST MONTH ON APRIL 18TH I HAVE JUST OVER 1000 MILES ON IT AND WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES I HAD PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THE TRUCK, WHEN I TURN THE KEY MOST OF THE TIME IT STARTS, BUT OCCASIONALLY IF I LET GO OF THE KEY ABOUT THE TIME IT NORMALLY STARTS THE ENGINE DIES AND ONCE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN I HEARD THE STARTER MAKE THE NOISE LIKE IT DOES IF YOU TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE IS ALREADY RUNNING. ALSO MY TRANSMISSION WILL OCCASIONALLY JERK WHEN IT SHIFTS GEARS. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159138 · 2006-06-06 (June 6, 2006)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T MAINTAIN ENOUGH PRESSURE TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE GAS IS NEED TO REBUILD THE PRESSURE IN THE TRANSMISSION TO STOP THE ROLLING ACTION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184859 · 2007-03-12 (March 12, 2007)
SHIRT & COAT SLEEVE BUTTONS CATCH IN STEERING WHEEL. BETWEEN HORN & STEERING WHEEL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10184859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191668 · 2007-05-24 (May 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAP ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A GAP THAT CIRCLES ALL THE WAY AROUND. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, HIS CLOTHING GETS CAUGHT IN THE GAP. THIS FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS IS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT OCCURS WHEN WEARING CLOTHING WITH SLEEVES, CUFFS, BUTTONS, ETC. WHICH IN TURN CATCHES UNDER AIRBAG/HORN CAP W…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10408562 · 2011-06-22 (June 22, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED DUE TO A FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THEY STATED THE FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE FIRE COULD HAVE BURNED DOWN HER HOME IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CLOSER TO THE HOUSE. THE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10408562 at NHTSA ↗