2000 Ford Ranger recalls and problems

The 2000 Ford Ranger has 3 recalls and 670 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is tires.

2000 Ford Ranger
Photo: 2000 Ford Ranger by TheHorrendous, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2000 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 23 Ranger model years — the most of any year.

3recalls
670complaints
86crashes
12fires
84injuries
82,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 3, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V336000 · 3,600,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected October 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on August 13, 2007, and mailing completed by September 19, 2007. Owners May contact Ford at 1-888-222-2751.

Ford recall no. 05S28.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration;s vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Seat Belts

Aug 18, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V228001 · 144,435 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and MINI vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant May not be properly restrained.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began October 26, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Engine

Mar 28, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V094000 · 49 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Pickup trucks equipped with 2.5L ohc engines. Engine coolant circulation through the heater circuit is prevented because of a plugged heater return tube (water pump inlet tube) at the water pump. These vehicles do not comply with the intent of FMVSS no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging systems."

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L OHC ENGINES. ENGINE COOLANT CIRCULATION THROUGH THE HEATER CIRCUIT IS PREVENTED BECAUSE OF A PLUGGED HEATER RETURN TUBE (WATER PUMP INLET TUBE) AT THE WATER PUMP. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE INTENT OF FMVSS NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS."

Risk: As a result of no heat in the heater circuit, defrost performance is compromised.

Original NHTSA wording

AS A RESULT OF NO HEAT IN THE HEATER CIRCUIT, DEFROST PERFORMANCE IS COMPROMISED.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the plugged heater water return tubes.

All vehicles are at transportation yards or dealerships.no vehicles have been delivered to customers.no owner notification will be required.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

1999: 1 complaints19992000: 147 complaints1472001: 104 complaints20012002: 72 complaints2003: 54 complaints20032004: 39 complaints2005: 28 complaints20052006: 10 complaints2007: 15 complaints20072008: 19 complaints2009: 11 complaints20092010: 18 complaints2011: 27 complaints20112012: 16 complaints2013: 20 complaints20132014: 23 complaints2015: 19 complaints20152016: 13 complaints2017: 11 complaints20172018: 4 complaints2019: 7 complaints20192020: 4 complaints2021: 5 complaints20212022: 3 complaints20223

2000 vs. other Ford Ranger years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2000. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2000 Ford Ranger have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2000 Ford Ranger, the latest from Aug 3, 2007 (vehicle speed control). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Ford Ranger?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention tires (139), structure (105), service brakes (73). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.