2001 Ford Ranger

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2001 Ford Ranger
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford Ranger Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2001 highlighted. 1983: 11 complaints 1983 1984: 12 complaints 1985: 27 complaints 1986: 35 complaints 1987: 50 complaints 1988: 89 complaints 1988 1989: 73 complaints 1990: 105 complaints 1991: 132 complaints 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 232 complaints 1993 1994: 438 complaints 1995: 321 complaints 1996: 413 complaints 1997: 411 complaints 1998: 576 complaints 1998 1999: 755 complaints 2000: 670 complaints 2001: 515 complaints 2001 2002: 346 complaints 2003: 243 complaints 2003 2004: 404 complaints 2005: 289 complaints 2006: 271 complaints 2007: 267 complaints 2008: 324 complaints 2008 2009: 168 complaints 2010: 156 complaints 2011: 235 complaints 2014: 1 complaints 2016: 1 complaints 2016 2017: 1 complaints 2019: 260 complaints 2020: 119 complaints 2021: 105 complaints 2022: 36 complaints 2022 2023: 17 complaints 2024: 55 complaints 2025: 27 complaints 2026: 3 complaints 2026
2001: 515 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
198311
198412
198527
198635
198750
198889
198973
1990105
1991132
1992189
1993232
1994438
1995321
1996413
1997411
1998576
1999755
2000670
2001515
2002346
2003243
2004404
2005289
2006271
2007267
2008324
2009168
2010156
2011235
20141
20161
20171
2019260
2020119
2021105
202236
202317
202455
202527
20263

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SUSPENSION 14%

14% of complaints: suspension — 73 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
STRUCTURE 10%

10% of complaints: structure — 54 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%

9% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 47 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

FORD SENT OUT RECALL NOTICES FOR FAULTY TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. MY 2001 FORD RANGER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I TOOK MY 2001 FORD RANGER TO A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180403

AIR BAGS 6%

6% of complaints: air bags — 33 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

VEHICLE HIT A DITCH AT 40 MPH, THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THEN IMMEDIATLY BURST OPEN. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN, NO INJURIES.*JB

NHTSA ODI report, 20020905

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED*AK. *SLC

NHTSA ODI report, 20010501

WAS HIT HEAD ON AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20010313

AIR BAGS 5%

5% of complaints: air bags — 25 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE HE WAS HIT HEAD ON BY SOMEONE WHO RAN A RED LIGHT. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40 (ISH) MPH. SEEMS STRANGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20120423

WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP SIGNALING FOR A LEFT TURN AND OTHER DRIVER HIT ME FROM BEHIND AT APROX. 30 MILES/HOUR. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH MY SEATBELT LOCKED AND I WAS SLUNG FORWARD, MISSING THE WINDSHIELD BY ONLY AN INCH OR TWO.

NHTSA ODI report, 20020904

SAFETY TIMELINE

2001 — complaint volume: 515
R 20010123 — structure

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 FRACTUR

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD STRIKER.

Campaign 00V394000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20010604 — tires

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 WILDERN

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 01X001000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20010725 — seat belts

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

Remedy: 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

Campaign 01V227001 — check if this car was fixed

I 20041022 — RQ (closed 20050217)

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

I 20050217 — EA (closed 20050706)

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060731 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE

Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Campaign 06E065000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070813 — vehicle speed control

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, S

Remedy: 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

Campaign 07V336000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20091027 — vehicle speed control

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

Remedy: 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 CO

Campaign 09V399000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2001 Ford Ranger — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for suspension issues (73 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for structure issues (54 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (47 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 00V394000 (structure) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 01X001000 (tires) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 01V227001 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E065000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V336000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09V399000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2022 ▲ 1986 ▲ 1987

WORST YEARS

■ 1999 ■ 2000 ■ 1998

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2001 Ford Ranger reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Ford Ranger is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Ranger?

The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 14% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Ranger have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.