2004 Ford RANGER: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE FISH-TAILED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED ON IT'S LEFT SIDE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR SCRAPES AND BRUISES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE DRIVE SHAFT ON THE REAR END WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048635 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 45 MPH, WHEN HE ROUNDED A CURVE, HIT AN ICE, VEHICLE FISH TAILED, HIT AN ICE AND WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A TREE. UPON COLLISION WITH THE TREE, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE BRUISING OF THE CHEST. F…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053615 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING UP A HILL IN ARIZONA AT 70-75 MPH AND HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR TIRE. LATER, DISCOVERED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRES TREAD CAME OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND FLIP OVER. BOTH CONSUMER AND WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057841 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL BEING TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME ON MANY OCCASIONS. *AK *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063376 at NHTSA ↗

REPEATEDLY HIT THE ACCELORATOR PEDAL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063715 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED MORE THAN THIRTY TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. FOUR DIFFERENT DEALERS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND NONE OF THEM COULD FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064724 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AFTER FIVE MINUTES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065165 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE LANDED IN A DITCH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 584 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067514 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE FRAME MAY HAVE A CENTER RAIL SECTION FLANGE THAT WAS NOT FORMED PROPERLY.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE IMPACT CRASH, THE FRAME RAIL SCOULD PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRAME TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FRAME WAS INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED. FORD AND THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 19, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2011-07-13 (July 13, 2011)

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2015-05-28 (May 28, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger trucks manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S22. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V-787.

Reported: 2016-01-25 (January 25, 2016)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S03. Note: This recall supersedes 14V-343 and only applies to Rangers manufactured in North America.

Reported: 2017-12-11 (December 11, 2017)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V-036 which was an interim repair. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed.

Reported: 2017-12-11 (December 11, 2017)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V322 which was an interim repair. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42.

Reported: 2021-02-17 (February 17, 2021)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Reported: 2021-02-16 (February 16, 2021)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Reported: 2023-02-24 (February 24, 2023)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement frontal passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

Consequence: An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 23V-306.

Reported: 2023-04-28 (April 28, 2023)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

Consequence: An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 23V-125.