2000 Ford Ranger Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about rust: frame, spring shackles, brake lines and spare-tire carriers corroding through, often found during inspection or when a suspension part detaches. The second recurring theme is front-end wear — brakes, steering and suspension work reported mostly between 50,000 and 130,000 miles. A smaller group of complaints involves cruise-control and speed-control parts, airbag warning or non-deployment, and transmission or driveline problems.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Frame and underbody rust-through

   • 148 complaints (22%)
   • median 103,000 mi at 13.2 yrs old (113 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,750 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2022

   Complaints describe heavy corrosion of the frame, underbody, rear spring shackles and mount brackets, with holes rusted through the rail sections and the bed or bumper supports weakening. Several report rear shock absorbers or shackles detaching, brake lines rusting through, and spare-tire carriers rotting away so the tire cannot be mounted. Owners say dealers acknowledged the rust but stated there was no recall or repair program for it. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 180,000 miles, often after several years in northern or road-salt climates.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Get underneath the truck and inspect the frame rails behind the cab, the rear spring shackle mounts and the spare-tire carrier; tap the rails with a small hammer and look for flaking or holes. Ask whether the frame or shackles have been repaired or plated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2000 Ford Ranger 4x4. The frame is rotting away towards the back end of the truck. In 2011, the rear bumper was falling off. I had to remove it before it completely came off. I was afraid it would fall off while I was driving. In 2008 I towed a car a couple of hundred miles on the highway. I shudder to think how weak that bumper was and what could have happened if the car I towed was a bit heavier. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10566707, filed 2014-03, 120,000 miles

   “There is a lot of frame rust on my truck. Especially where the frame connects to the bed. I had to replace both the rear spring shackle brackets, both broke off because of rust. Twice there was a hole in the brake line, luckily I saw this when the car was parked and now while I was driving which could have been very dangerous. The rear bumpers paint has peeled off and the now is very rusty and it could fall off at anytime.”

   NHTSA complaint #10446117, filed 2012-02, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake and steering component wear

   • 156 complaints (23%)
   • median 73,750 mi at 7.0 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 29 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,000 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2019

   Complaints describe rotors needing replacement at low mileage, a brake pedal that sinks toward the floor and requires a new master cylinder, and parking-brake cables breaking at their retaining clip. Steering complaints include a clicking noise from the column traced to the rack, loss of power assist, and a column that feels loose or does not line up with the selected gear. Spread from under 30,000 miles up to about 130,000 miles, with several reports in the 50,000-90,000 mile range.

   What to check: Test the brake pedal for firmness and check for pulsation when stopping, and have the brake lines and parking-brake cable inspected. Turn the wheel through its range and listen for clicking from the column.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The steering column is loose. Sometimes have to move around bit to get into park or drive. The other day I had it in park, with the truck running and after I was out of it, it started moving. I had to run around and get back in to stop it. Luckily had the door open. No more leaving it running when not in the truck.”

   NHTSA complaint #11245535, filed 2019-08, 129,000 miles

   “On april 8th 2006 the front parking brake cable on my 2000 Ford Ranger broke due to wear from a metal clip used to hold the cable sleeve in place. When I tried to replace the cable I discovered that the parking brake assy. Was manufactured so that the parking brake/e-brake pedal assy also has to be replaced, because there is no way to remove the broken cable from the pedal assy. The cost of the part is $85.00 for the pedal assy. And $35.00 for the cable assy. Parts are only available through the dealer on special order only. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10155361, filed 2006-04, 100,310 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and driveline problems

   • 70 complaints (10%)
   • median 72,925 mi at 6.8 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2021

   Complaints describe transmissions slipping, hesitating when leaving a stop, or failing outright and needing rebuild or replacement, sometimes before 40,000 miles. Others report a loud clunk or thump from the driveline on light acceleration, a broken rear axle shaft, fluid loss from the transmission, and a shifter that no longer matches the gear engaged so the vehicle can roll while in park. Reported from under 40,000 miles through about 180,000 miles, with several reports in the 50,000-90,000 mile range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive from a stop and feel for hesitation or a clunk, check the transmission fluid level and colour, and confirm the shifter detents properly hold in park on a slope. A service bulletin describes a revised procedure for a driveline thump on light acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission went out at 70749 miles. Purchased 04/11/2003. On 09/15/2003 noticed transmission slipping, made appt for 09/18 with dealership where I purchased it used. Transmission went out on a busy intersection and had to be pushed to the side by police and towed to dealership to make my appt. Cost $3113 to replace - dealer basically to bad for you . Also - AC condenser needs replacing at a cost of $570 cannot afford to do condenser yet.... This has been a very expensive vehicle so far, we've owned it less than 6 months!”

   NHTSA complaint #10039527, filed 2003-09, 70,749 miles

   “At less than 36,000 miles, and at just 4 yrs old, the transmission needed to be completely rebuilt and a celanoid needed to be replaced. In addition, I have had to replace at least 2 sensors. Ford says there is nothing they can do at this time and will not release any data as to how many Ford rangers have required the transmission to be rebuilt or replaced. In addition, Ford will not comment as to whether the issue is even being investigated by the engineers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10052486, filed 2004-01, 35,450 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Cruise-control and speed-control concerns

   • 201 complaints (30%)
   • median 85,500 mi at 9.2 yrs old (64 state mileage)
   • 26 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2022

   Complaints reference the speed-control deactivation switch recall and describe burning smells or smoke from under the hood, with one report of an engine-compartment fire that the fire marshal linked to a safety campaign. Other owners report the cruise control being disconnected at the dealer while parts were unavailable, and sudden unintended acceleration traced to the throttle linkage. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 15 mph driving conditions and 68,000 miles up to 200,000 miles.

   Recall 07V336000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 07V336000 was completed and whether the speed-control switch was replaced or simply disconnected. Check for a burning smell near the switch area under the hood and confirm the throttle linkage moves freely.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Cruise 'control devices on numerous Ford vehicles have been recalled. Ford is disengaging the devices and does not have adequate parts to repair them, consumers are not advised of this until the device has been disengaged. At which point - in my case with a 2000 Ford Ranger I was advised the parts would not be available till december - I have now been advised that the parts will now possibly be available mid-march. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10210883, filed 2007-12, 131,000 miles

   “I experienced sudden, uncontrollable acceleration while driving at approximately 15 MPH on a suburban street. The accelerator pedal went to the floor and was seemingly disconnected from its linkage. I was able to stop the vehicle by turning off the ignition, thankfully before encountering another vehicle, pedestrian or obstacle. My vehicle is a very well maintained 2000 Ford Ranger xlt with about 68,000 miles. The vehicle was towed to a local garage who repaired it promptly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10169178, filed 2006-09, 68,500 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light or no deployment

   • 67 complaints (10%)
   • median 68,900 mi at 4.9 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 52 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,000 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2019

   Complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in a frontal impact at moderate speed, and an airbag warning light that came on with no other symptom. Owners say dealers either did not resolve the concern or were not consulted. Reported from about 50,000 to 135,000 miles, including several collisions at 30-50 mph.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light comes on at start-up and goes out, and ask whether any airbag-related diagnostics or repairs have been done.

Buying note. Rust is the main thing to look at on this model year — inspect the frame, rear shackle mounts and brake lines before buying, and walk away from a truck with holes in the rails. Beyond that, a test drive that includes a stop-and-go start and a firm brake check gives a reasonable read on the transmission, brakes and steering.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.