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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,646 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.

2004 Ford Ranger drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2004 Ford Ranger Owner Comments

problem #9

Apr 282022

Ranger

  • miles

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

Truck surged forward while braking at red light if some one was in front of me I would have hit them.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #8

May 252018

Ranger

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the transmission was faulty and the vehicle hesitated without warning. As a result, the vehicle lunged forward and almost struck other vehicles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000.

- East Taunton, MA, USA

problem #7

Mar 082015

Ranger 4WD 6-cyl

  • 35,800 miles
Tranny dropped down causing vibration and vehicle pulled off road and towed. Found 2 cross supports rotted and separated also.body of truck is like new. Frame unsafe. Toyota recalled for this same reason. Ford needs to be held responsible also.

- Coventry, CT, USA

problem #6

Sep 112011

Ranger 4-cyl

  • 89,000 miles

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

I was driving at the speed limit 60 mph requirement on I35 North when all of a sudden the my speed begin to accelerate on it on increasing up to 100 mph. I was scare out of my shoes not really knowing what was happening are knowing what I should do. I pressed on my brakes over, and over and it still didn't low down. I was afraid for my life and the traffic around me. I finally came up on an access exit and got off the freeway, but I almost hit someone because the traffic on the access road was merging and I was exiting at a high rate of speed. I just started blowing my horn repeatedly. Other people driving around me had to think I was losing my mind to be driving that fast and exiting off the freeway, but it was out of my control. I turned my truck off, but it still was moving fast. When I came to a stop sign I had to roll right though it because the truck would stop. I pumped my breaks again, and again, it slowed up to some degree so it did, I then had to shift it into park to get it to stop. It almost through me out of the truck because of me having to shift into park to force it to stop. It was a frightening experience and I could have gotten killed are killed someone. It has placed fear in me when I'm driving it and more importantly, it has affect my power train/transmission due to this incident. I feel Ford motors should be responsibility for giving me another truck are replacing my transmission. Can you please help me? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Seguin, TX, USA

problem #5

Aug 202010

Ranger

  • 140,000 miles
I was driving down the road to work on the interstate. I looked down and my O/D ( overdrive ) light was flashing. The truck was riding fine and then all of a sudden it goes into gear real hard. I am now driving with the O/D off which seems to control this but it is using a lot of fuel.

- Aexis, NC, USA

problem #4

Dec 202008

Ranger

  • 66,000 miles
I took my vehicle to have the diagnostics checked on it, because my engine light kept coming on, after having the plugs changed. The diagnostics said it was a fix it problem, with the valves, I then called the dealership, it seems the warranty has expired because of the mi. Being 66,000 my wife and I were planning to go out of town to visit our grandchildren, but cannot now. The dealership says they are aware of the problem but says there are not enough complaints to make a recall. I will be contacting everyone about this problem, please help us by telling everyone you know!! merry christmas ! who stole our christmas Ford ! call your gov, officials help make this a recall not a fair warranty 3yrs or 36000 mi. Buy a foreign car from now on.

- Stevenson, AL, USA

problem #3

Nov 262008

Ranger

  • 66,016 miles

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

Mil on with various misfire related dtc's PO300-PO306 and PO316 - 3.0L-2V vulcan engine.

- Monrovia, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 282008

Ranger 6-cyl

  • 32,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. When the contact attempted to place the vehicle into gear, the engine revved uncontrollably. He had to depress the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from moving. Once the vehicle was in gear, the gear shift lever would not return to the park position. He had to shut off the vehicle and remove the key. The failure occurred twice and once the vehicle shut off, it could be restarted without any further failures. The failure only occurred during cold starts. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 32,000 and current mileage was 32,700. Updated 09/15/08 updated 09/17/08.

- Stevenson, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 182005

Ranger 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles
2004 Ford Ranger caught on fire.** answer required***. while driving the vehicle suddenly began to vibrate. The driver looked out of the rear view mirror and saw sparks coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle suddenly lost all power and the driver had to coasted to the side of the road. At that time a bystander informed the driver that the vehicle was on fire and extinguished it with a fire extinguisher. When the clutch plate exploded it flew into a parked car catching it on fire as well. The vehicle was still under warranty but the manufacturer refused relief under the warranty stating that the transmission had been abused. The vehicle had been driven under 700 miles and only fro a month an a half.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

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