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1998 Ford RangerProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 576 owner complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger, most often about the tires. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

29
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.5× the Ranger median · #3 of 35 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints576129 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage51kTires, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 27, 2021. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Ford Ranger has problems

576 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Tires13615
Vehicle speed control7117
Power train608
Service brakes, hydraulic5410
Suspension522
Engine and engine cooling516
Structure453
Air bags3227
Electrical system297
16 other systems14420

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

1998 Ford Ranger recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 99V-204 · Jul 28, 1999 · 326 vehicles

Risk. IF THE PARK MECHANISM DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATOR HAS NOT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE AS IF IN NEUTRAL.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 99V-062 · Mar 30, 1999 · 898,739 vehicles

Risk. IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 97V-186 · Oct 28, 1997 · 2,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other Ranger year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Ranger median. How we score

'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'14'16'17'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1998 Ford Ranger safety ratings

1998 Ford Ranger in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1998 Ford Ranger frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Ford Ranger, and the recalls they led to.

  1. STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATIONSPE99045 · closed Oct 29, 1999
    No recall
In owners' words

What Ranger owners report

Recent tires complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE ON FREEWAY LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CENTER DIVIDER. VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS. THE TIRE FAILURE APPEARS AS TREAD SEPARATION. *TR
Complaint 10248882 · Nov 15, 2008
ON JULY 10, 2003 MY COUSIN'S 1998 FORD RANGERS LEFT REAR TIRE PEELED APART, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO FLIP AND BLOW-UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING, WHAT-SO-EVER. MY COUSIN AND A PASSENGER WERE BOTH KILLED. THE REAR TIRES WERE COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES. A TIRE EXPERT LATER DETERMINED THAT THIS TIRE HAD BOTH…
Complaint 10197122 · Jul 21, 2007
I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I HEARD A 'POPPING' SOUND AS IF MY TIRE WAS FLAT. THE NOISE CAME FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT. MY TRUCK (A 98 FORD RANGER) WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE GRASS ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS SOON AS I HEARD THE NOISE, I ATTEMPTED TO…
Complaint 10036684 · Aug 27, 2003

Own a 1998 Ranger?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.