1998 Ford Ranger Problems, Recalls & Reliability
744 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Ford Ranger, alongside 11 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 82/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Wheels & tires leads the reports.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1998 Ford Ranger sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990–1991, 2009–2010, 2020–2022.
Avoid
Where 1998 sits among all Ranger years
What owners report
“Customer no service at firestone service center, would not replace tire( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Ranger
“Driving 35mph, with cruise control on, vehicle hit a patch of ice. The throttle stuck. Vehicle took off. Spun around in opposite direction & then hit the median. Vehicle then flipped 3 times.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Ranger
“Fuse for the abs light failed causing the abs light and emergency brake light to illuminate even though the emergency brake was not engaged. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Ranger
“Rear driveshaft exhibits a clunking noise/feeling upon acceleration from stop. Begins at around 10,000 miles on new vehicle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Ranger
“Batteries fail intermittently causing the consumer to have to get his vehicle jump started or towed on several occasions. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Ranger
“The rear of the frame rusted causing the bumper to hang off. It will fall off if not addressed”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Ranger
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 140 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 109,575 miles. Half of those reports fall between 55,842 and 150,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (11)
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
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.
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…
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE…
Fix: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND…
Fix: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT…
Fix: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE TRANSAXLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THE PARK DETENT SPRING MISALIGNED. IF THE SPRING IS MISALIGNED, THE PARK MECHANISM MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSAXLE AND ANY WITH MISALIGNED PARK DETENT SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OFF-ROAD OPTION. THE TIRE AND RIM IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION IS INCORRECT ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A SAFETY CERTIFICAITON LABEL PARTIAL OVERLAY WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE CORRECT RIM SIZE, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIXING THIS LABEL TO THE VEHICLE. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR FORD…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES. THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTED FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LINE COULD CONTACT THE MANIFOLD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP TO HOLD THE FUEL LINE IN THE INTENDED DESIGN POSITION.
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
289 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 1998 Ford Ranger. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Ranger TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Ford Ranger reliable?
The 1998 Ford Ranger drew 744 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 82/100, scored against the model's worst year (1999).
What are the most common 1998 Ford Ranger problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Ford Ranger are wheels & tires (157 complaints), speed control (75), and brakes & stability (71).
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Ranger problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Ford Ranger problems around 109,575 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 55,842 and 150,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Ford Ranger have recalls?
11 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Ford Ranger. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.