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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
91,170 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Ford Ranger body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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1998 Ford Ranger Owner Comments

problem #14

Apr 172021

Ranger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought this truck new, I have had transmission problems but now my frame is in bad, bad, bad rusting condition and my mechanic said it will not pass inspection. This truck only has 82,000 miles on it!!! Toyota stood behind their frames why isn't Ford?

- Riegelsville, PA, USA

problem #13

Oct 162019

Ranger

  • 170,000 miles
Rear frame excessive rusting. Spare tire carrier fell off while driving. One side of bumper fell off. Noticed when I stepped on

- Newfoundland, NJ, USA

problem #12

May 092019

Ranger

  • 210,050 miles
The frame has rusted so severely that the rear suspension is detaching from frame and frame is almost rusted completely through and will separate soon. The spare tire and carrier have fallen off where is was attached to the frame due to the excessive rust and the bed mounts have rusted away and no longer attach to the frame leaving the bed with no solid mount. Spare tire and carrier fell off on interstate while driving.

- Shelbyville, KY, USA

problem #11

Mar 312018

Ranger

  • 111,150 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle back bumper fell off due to excessive rust (while in motion). Ball joints, tie rods, upper and lower control arm brackets rusted out as well as holes in the frame (all identified while stationary).

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #10

May 052008

Ranger

  • miles
Extremely rusted car frame

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #9

Sep 012014

Ranger

  • 150,000 miles
The rear frame of the truck has rotted away. The rear suspension and bumper are about to fall off. The body itself is in excellent condition. I didn't find out until I stepped on the rear bumper and it began sagging down and then realized that a large majority of the frames cross members were already gone!

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #8

Sep 152016

Ranger

  • 99,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Frame is rusting out even though the rest of the truck looks great. The truck has not been driven in winter because I have a work car with front wheel drive that I use for this and the frame on that vehicle is in better condition than my Ranger. We have owned the truck since 2002 and it's a 1998 model.

- Princeton, WV, USA

problem #7

Jun 252015

Ranger

  • 150,000 miles
The rear frame completely rusted off between the rear spring shackles and rear bumper, the spare tire mount if almost completely rusted away, and the gas tank cross member is also nearly rusted away,1/2 is missing on the passenger side. The rear springs detached when the shackled rusted away. The vehicle was stationary

- Goshen, NY, USA

problem #6

Jun 132001

Ranger

  • 40,000 miles
I hit a deer while comming home from work at 45 mph and bent bumper, dented left quarter panel, broke left turn signal lens and cracked plastic grile. Airbags did not apply or engage. I also have taken my truck to the local dealership 4 times to get my door alarm chip replaced @ 50 dollars each time. On last attempt my extended waranty had expired and they refused to honer the problem and promise to replace.even though it was an exsisting problem. This was prior to hitting the deer.

- Florence, OR, USA

problem #5

Mar 122015

Ranger

  • 96,000 miles
Frame/ chassis is rusting. I heard Toyota was fixing this problem with their trucks. Why doesn't Ford and or have you checked these trucks out. You are welcome to come and see mine. Thanks,

- Belfast, ME, USA

problem #4

Jan 132015

Ranger 6-cyl

  • 133,933 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Took my 1998 Ford Ranger in for an inspection on 01/13/2015 only to find out that the back of the frame is almost completely rotted away. I bought the vehicle only two days earlier from a dealership in va(01/11/2015) that's run by a mechanic. I contacted the dealership as soon as I saw my mistake, and they told me they didn't see the rust, and that the vehicle passed inspection in va only two months prior to my purchase. The frame is about to split in half its so badly rusted and now I cant register it, not to mention drive it, out of fear of it snapping and me losing my life. Oh and did I mention I paid $3650 for this pos?

- Oxon Hill, MD, USA

problem #3

Mar 142014

Ranger 6-cyl

  • 250 miles
I was driving on the freeway and the truck started smoking and caught on fire, I pulled off the freeway and the whole front of the truck burst into flames.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 192013

Ranger

  • miles
While in bed at 2:00 am truck caught fire.

- Centreville, MS, USA

problem #1

Sep 302013

Ranger 6-cyl

  • 116,000 miles
Went to get estimate on replacing muffler system and was told not to do it because frame was rusted and ready to break. I have owned this vehicle since Jan. 16 2001. Also had to replace rear shackles in 2009. Does Ford have any recall on this as I have read many many others that have the same complaint.

- Woodstock, CT, USA

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