KnownCarProblems2001 Ford Ranger Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 515 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Ranger, most often about the body and structure (22% of complaints, typically around 98,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Ranger model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2001 Ford Ranger problems
Body and structure
112 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 98,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Noticed my truck was sitting crooked. Took it to repair shop to have repaired. About 2 hours after I dropped it off the repair shop called my phone and asked me to come to their shop. The mechanic showed me the rusted spring shackles and rusted spring hangers and the rusted frame. This shop would not put my trailer…
The frame on my 2001 Ford Ranger has rotted away. It has been deemed unsafe to drive by my state inspection center. I have been driving this truck with my children in it and it has been unsafe for quite a while without me knowing it.. It only has 95,000 miles and is now unusable. It is the truck I use for my carpentry…
Suspension
87 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 106,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Failed component 2: frame ahead of leaf spring shackles on both sides. Left was completely fractured and right was 1/2 fractured. Right shock strut mount broken. Driving around town hit several bumps in road due to road construction. When I parked the truck I noticed the truck bed was leaning to the right. Further…
Failed component 2: frame ahead of leaf spring shackles on both sides. Left was completely fractured and right was 1/2 fractured. Right shock strut mount broken. Driving around town hit several bumps in road due to road construction. When I parked the truck I noticed the truck bed was leaning to the right. Further…
Air bags
62 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window, on-off switch assembly.
: the contact stated while driving 55mph in normal conditions, the vehicle crashed and neither air bag deployed. The vehicle impacted another vehicle from behind and the front end of the contact's vehicle sustained damage. As a result, the contact's head crashed into the windshield and major facial lacerations were…
Dt: seat belt retractor failed on the consumers 2003 Ford explorer . The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and they said this happened all the time. The consumer was involved in a car accident and the air bags did not deploy at 40 MPH . The consumer had to manually place the seat belt back into its position it…
Speed control
57 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, accelerator pedal.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. After the contacts vehicle was repaired under the speed control recall, the transmission began to fail. While driving between 50 and 55 MPH, the transmission automatically shifts into neutral and the engine revs. The vehicle also shifts into neutral whenever the cruise control is…
I was driving on a residential road, coming up to a third speed bump. I stepped on the brakes to slow down a little bit and my engine revved and started going faster. I hit the brakes and my truck spun out, off the road and stopped. The seat belt harness did not lock up; the shoulder strap stayed loose, and my head…
Brakes
55 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist, pedals and linkages.
While turning into grocery parking lot applied brakes to stop vehicle, but vehicle keep going and smashed through store entrance.vehicle brakes did not respond they are anti lock
I was parked in my driveway, when I reached to release the parking brake. As I pulled the release handle, the bracket and release handle fell onto the parking brake pedal; upon inspection, I noticed that the bolts for the bracket had fallen out without my knowledge. I attempted to put the bolts back in, but only one…
Transmission
51 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, driveline, manual transmission.
While driving and approching a freeway entrance the vehicle stick shift became very difficult to shift. Finally when entering 5th gear the vechile slipped into neutral and the stick shift froze up. I had to coast of to the side of freeway and be towed to nearest Ford dealer. The diagnosis was a faulty master and slave…
The shift knob of my stick shift slips off leaving me in neutral as I shift from 1st to 2nd or 3rd to 4th gears. This has nearly caused 2 accidents where I was almost rear-ended as the knob came off while I was trying to accelerate into traffic. This prevented me from accelerating into the traffic flow. Because I was…
Seat belts
45 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 98,500 miles. Parts named most often: front.
Driver side seat belt retracting mechanism came apart and made seat belt inoperative. I bought a new seat belt and replaced it. Replacement seat belt did same thing 9 months later. Dealer replaced it free of charge. 3 months later same thing happened again. Dealer replaced it again. 3 months later it broke again.…
Both drivers and passenger seat belts came unlatched while driving. I have informed Ford motor company customer service and they indicated that there was a recall on this issue, however they had replaced the belts with defective ones that sporadically come undone while driving. Customer service indicated that they are…
Wheels and tires
44 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles. Parts named most often: temporary/emergency spare tire, tread/belt, rim, sidewall.
On february 27,2004, I purchased four (4) new tires (hoosier tires - dot adyk 9j0037) from a k&d offroad auto accessories,702 s.collins street, plant city florida, 33563 (mike taylor-owner). Eleven months later (january 15, 2005), my vehicle showed signs of severe tire vibration in the ride and handling. I immediately…
Consumer was driving on the free way and when exiting heard a grinding sound. When consumer looked at vehicle he noticed the entire front suspension dropped down. This happened due to the rim of the wheel breaking into pieces. This was a standard rim from the manufacturer. Brake caliper behind the rim was damaged.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Ford Ranger recalls
Speed control: vehicle speed control
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Speed control: vehicle speed control
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: buckle assembly
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.
Full defect summary
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 plan
Body and structure: hinge and attachments
Risk: A hood fly-up while the vehicle is being operated could result in reduced driver visibility.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hood striker.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Summary
During the initial recall campaign in 2001, the subject vehicles were inspected by ford dealerships using a test tool that would detect a defective front seat outboard seat belt buckle assembly.approximately one million vehicles passed the inspection test for one or both front buckles.subsequent to the recall service action, odi received 15 consumer reports alleging that a passed inspection buckle subsequently failed to latch or inadvertently unlatched during use.in addition, ford has identified 543 owner and field reports alleging buckle failure subsequent to passing the inspection test.ford tested and examined over 100 warranty-returned buckles and found that 44% of the buckles had no prob
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Summary
Under recall campaign (01v227), ford recalled approximately 1.3 million vehicles to inspect and if necessary replace the front driver and/or passenger seat belt buckle.approximately 1.1 million owners responded by taking their vehicles to a dealer for inspection of the buckle using a specialized buckle test tool.ford reported that 829,927 vehicles had both buckles pass the tool test and another 167,336 vehicles had one buckle pass.odi and ford received complaints alleging seat belt buckle failure shortly after passing the original recall inspection service.complainants alleged that the buckle failed by either not latching or false-latching (partial engagement of the latch to the latch plate)
Questions about the 2001 Ford Ranger
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Ranger?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (112 complaints, typically around 98,500 miles); suspension (87 complaints, typically around 106,500 miles); air bags (62 complaints, typically around 58,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Ranger have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 13, 2009 (speed control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Ford Ranger?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Ranger model year since 2000, with 515 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.