1996 Ford Ranger vs 1998 Ford Ranger
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Ranger | 1998 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 413 | 576 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 176 | 289 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 41 | 66 |
| Fire reports | 18 | 29 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16–21 | 16–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 116,501 mi | 102,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Ranger | Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 41 | 136 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 60 | 54 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 | 71 |
| Power Train | 28 | 60 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 51 |
| Suspension | 21 | 52 |
| Visibility | 52 | 16 |
| Electrical System | 38 | 29 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 14 | 32 |
| Rust / corrosion | 13 | 45 |
| Brake problems | 8 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 19 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 10 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 10 |
1996 Ford Ranger
1998 Ford Ranger
Compare all Ford Ranger vs Ford Ranger years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.