2005 Ford Ranger Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 3%of 289 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 44,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2005 Ford Ranger, 3% of the 289 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“2005 Ford Ranger with a 2.3 l engine. Changed oil at 33k and retrieved a valve keeper. Subsequent removal of overhead cams and timing chain assembly (5.8 hours of labor) and 500+ dollars out of my pocket revealed no valve keepers were missing. The dealership gave me a 1-800 number to ask questions.”
NHTSA complaint #10381740, filed 2011-02, 33,409 miles“I was coming down off 57 in rush traffic when the car died unexpectedly. Completely shut off, no warning, and would not start again. Several tries, more gas, more shut offs,screaming horns and I got it to the gas station off the highway. It went to garage. Its exhaust valve, wires and plugs were changed. Died on drive off the garage. Went in, had more repairs. Died in parking lot. Had computer diagnostics. 172 and 174 were diagnosed-failure of computer in exhaust system and mass air valve control. Basically, the exhaust system failed and shut off the engine. …”
NHTSA complaint #10443973, filed 2012-01, 50,000 miles“The vehicle will shut down and you lose total control. Power steering gone. Engine gone. It will happen at any time. The reason it is so dangerous is because I have had it shut down on the freeway going 65mph. I was lucky enough never to have gotten hit but it was a close call. 1. The vehicle would just stall like it was running out of gas. 2. When the part was going bad it would occur every day. When the part was totally malfunctioning it would not even start. 3. The first time I had the dealer replace the part via the warranty. The second time I paid to have it replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #10356230, filed 2010-09, 5,000 miles“Purchase vehicle july 2005, vehicle never had a good pull to it and I thought it was the way the truck just pulled until may 2006 when I was hit from behind by a Ford explorer, my truck got worse. In june 2007 engine light came on wouldn't go off. Gas cap light came on wouldn't go off. Tried to tighten cap, lights still haven't went off. Took truck to mechanic found out that my truck had a cracked head that was indicated that it could have been a defect from the manufacture and or possibly due to collision also Ford manufacture had a defect call back on all 2005 Ford Ranger. …”
NHTSA complaint #10205059, filed 2007-10, 16,413 miles“My Ford Ranger (2005) lost power going down the freeway. After much investigation, time, safety issues (quitting at 55 + MPH) and money it turned out to be the inertia switch.”
NHTSA complaint #10341382, filed 2010-07, 62,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to…
- 10021051Feb 27, 2007Possible engine damage - install special service tools prior to removing crankshaft pulley bolt.
- 10020173Jan 1, 2006Possible engine damage - install special service tools prior to removing crankshaft pulley bolt - service tip.
- 10017886Apr 1, 2005No start/hard start/rough running during cold weather - incorrect seasonal fuel blend.
- 10012949Feb 21, 2005Hard start or flooding during cold start on 2.3l engine.
- 10018950Jan 1, 2005Mil on with various misfire related dtc's p0300-p0306 and p0316 - 3.0l-2v vulcan engine.
- 10013315Jan 1, 2005High idle at cold start.
- 10013308Jan 1, 2005Hard start or flooding when engine is cold.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 3 | 3% |
| 2020 | 2 | 2% |
| 2019 | 5 | 2% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 | 3 | 2% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 1% |
| 2006 | 7 | 3% |
| 2005 | 10 | 3% |
| 2004 | 17 | 4% |
| 2003 | 18 | 7% |
| 2002 | 39 | 11% |
| 2001 | 29 | 6% |
| 2000 | 37 | 6% |
| 1999 | 45 | 6% |
| 1998 | 51 | 9% |
| 1997 | 14 | 3% |
| 1996 | 31 | 8% |
| 1995 | 14 | 4% |
| 1994 | 23 | 5% |
| 1993 | 12 | 5% |
| 1992 | 16 | 8% |
| 1991 | 16 | 12% |
| 1990 | 10 | 10% |
| 1989 | 11 | 15% |
| 1988 | 13 | 15% |
| 1987 | 7 | 14% |
| 1986 | 7 | 20% |
| 1985 | 3 | 11% |
| 1984 | 2 | 17% |
| 1983 | 1 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2005 Ford Ranger
132 complaintsFuel system
50 complaintsBody and structure
34 complaintsSuspension
26 complaintsOther or unknown
22 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsTires
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsSteering
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Ford Ranger
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology