2000 Ford Ranger Problems, Recalls & Reliability
849 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2000 Ford Ranger, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 97/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Wheels & tires leads the reports, typically around 41,578 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2000 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 2000 sits among all Ranger years
What owners report
“How could you say any firestone tires are safe( dot number: tire size: 245/75/16 )”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Ranger
“The frame is rotting away.the bed is about to fly off,and i fear the rear bumper,and spare is also.the truck is still running good,but i am very hesitent about using it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Ranger
“When pressing on the brake to make a quick stop on dry pavement, the brake pedal bent approximately 15 degrees preventing me from stopping in time to avoid hitting the car in front of me. The truck did not skid nor did the the anti-lock brake systems activate.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Ranger
“The frame rails at the rear of the vehicle where the shocks bolt up has completely cracked through the metal on passenger side & the driver side has completely rusted away and frame cracked”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Ranger
“Transmission fluid all leaked out good thing i wasn't driving had to replace original transmission vehicle was parked in garage at that time”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Ranger
“Consumer states that when hit at 40mph in the front center of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. Dealer notified ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 2000 Ranger
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 364 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 85,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 52,000 and 128,858 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
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 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: 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…
Fix: 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,…
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PLUGGED HEATER WATER RETURN TUBES.
Technical service bulletins
190 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 2000 Ford Ranger. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2000 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 2000 Ford Ranger reliable?
The 2000 Ford Ranger drew 849 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 97/100, scored against the model's worst year (1999).
What are the most common 2000 Ford Ranger problems?
The top reported problems for the 2000 Ford Ranger are wheels & tires (159 complaints), body & structure (110), and brakes & stability (87).
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Ranger problems show up?
Owners most often report 2000 Ford Ranger problems around 85,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 52,000 and 128,858 miles.
Does the 2000 Ford Ranger have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 2000 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.