2001 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Ranger years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 515 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Ranger. That ranks 4th out of 28 Ranger model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (112 complaints, 22%), typically at around 98,500 miles. Complaints mention 62 crashes, 9 fires, 49 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 515owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 62complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 Ford Ranger problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 112 | 22% | 98,500 | “frame rusted” (21%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 87 | 17% | 106,500 | “leaf spring” (18%) | — |
| Air Bags problems | 62 | 12% | 58,600 | “air bag” (31%) | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 57 | 11% | 73,232 | “control deactivation switch” (11%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 51 | 10% | 53,000 | “clutch pedal” (12%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 49 | 10% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 45 | 9% | 98,627 | — | — |
| Tires | 39 | 8% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 6% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 22 | 4% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 22 | 4% | 98,683 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 20 | 4% | 42,593 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 2% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 6 | 1% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 1% | 70,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | 217,900 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 1% | 30,300 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 1% | 110,004 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 109,474 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 60,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Ford Ranger recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Fix: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the abs control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Vehicle speed control
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.
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: 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.
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. Ford windstars built at oakville assembly plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. Ford rangers built at twin cities plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, and also at the edison plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. Ford f-150 truck built at norfolk plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; at ontario plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; at kansas city plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/9/01. Ford super duty f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 5/27/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/19/01. Ford excursions built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 10/2/00. Ford expeditions built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. 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 1-866-436-7332.
Structure:body:hood:hinge and attachments
Problem: Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles with steel hoods and certain pickup trucks equipped with sheet molding compound hoods. A wire formed hood striker could be susceptible to fatigue fractures. If the hood striker fractures, the hood could fly open while the vehicle is being driven.
Risk: A hood fly-up while the vehicle is being operated could result in reduced driver visibility.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hood striker.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Front seat belt buckle assembly (EA05004) — opened Feb 17, 2005, closed Jul 6, 2005.
- Front seat belt buckle assembly (RQ04011) — opened Oct 22, 2004, closed Feb 17, 2005.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The brakes and check engine warning lights were…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2001 Ford Ranger. It was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 153,244; however, at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 297,515.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle to the residence, it was discovered that the gauge on the odometer was not working. There was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the…
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was discovered that the anti-theft system was inoperable and failed to function as designed. The anti-theft warning light was illuminated. The contact had to remove the key fob several times to start the…
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's family member's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor…
Other Ford Ranger years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ranger | 7 | 8 |
| 2025 Ranger | 43 | 13 |
| 2024 Ranger | 93 | 13 |
| 2023 Ranger | 18 | 4 |
| 2022 Ranger | 37 | 5 |
| 2021 Ranger | 118 | 6 |
| 2020 Ranger | 130 | 7 |
| 2019 Ranger | 270 | 11 |
| 2017 Ranger | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 Ranger | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 Ranger | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 Ranger | 235 | 5 |
| 2010 Ranger | 156 | 8 |
| 2009 Ranger | 169 | 7 |
| 2008 Ranger | 326 | 5 |
| 2007 Ranger | 270 | 5 |
| 2006 Ranger | 272 | 12 |
| 2005 Ranger | 289 | 9 |
| 2004 Ranger | 404 | 10 |
| 2003 Ranger | 243 | 1 |
| 2002 Ranger | 346 | 3 |
| 2001 | 515 | 4 |
| 2000 Ranger | 670 | 3 |
| 1999 Ranger | 755 | 4 |
| 1998 Ranger | 576 | 5 |
| 1997 Ranger | 411 | 1 |
| 1996 Ranger | 413 | 2 |
| 1995 Ranger | 321 | 1 |
See all Ford Ranger problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Ranger?
Owners most often report structure, suspension, air bags problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 112 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Ford Ranger?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 Ford Ranger a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Ranger model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.