2004 Ford Ranger

◆ Worse than typical

2004 Ford Ranger
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than 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

2004: 404 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1983	11
1984	12
1985	27
1986	35
1987	50
1988	89
1989	73
1990	105
1991	132
1992	189
1993	232
1994	438
1995	321
1996	413
1997	411
1998	576
1999	755
2000	670
2001	515
2002	346
2003	243
2004	404
2005	289
2006	271
2007	267
2008	324
2009	168
2010	156
2011	235
2014	1
2016	1
2017	1
2019	260
2020	119
2021	105
2022	36
2023	17
2024	55
2025	27
2026	3

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 46%

46% of complaints: air bags — 186 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving on the highway in rainy weather at 60 MPH, she lost control of the vehicle and drove off the road.

NHTSA ODI report, 20251119

My husband was involved in a single-vehicle accident where he left the highway at around45 mph, went downhill for 50+ feet where he crashed into a concrete culvert, front impact. The airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 20231102

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V788000 (AIR BAGS).

NHTSA ODI report, 20180124

STRUCTURE 9%

9% of complaints: structure — 35 distinct reports on file.

INJURY

SUSPENSION 6%

6% of complaints: suspension — 24 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3%

3% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 14 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3%

3% of complaints: electrical system — 14 distinct reports on file.

FIRE INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2004 — complaint volume: 404

R 20040719 — structure

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE FRAME MAY HAVE A CENTER RAIL SECTION FLANGE THAT WAS NOT FORMED PROPERLY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRAME TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FRAME WAS INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED. FORD AND THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE. TH

Campaign 04V331000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20051205 — PE (closed 20060324)

BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE

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 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 20110815 — exterior lighting

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Campaign 11V352000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20151204 — air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger trucks manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S22.

Campaign 15V322000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160226 — air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S03.

Campaign 16V036000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20171222 — air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.

Campaign 17V788000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180116 — air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.

Campaign 17V787000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210317 — air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after...

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021.

Campaign 21V076000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210317 — air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.

Campaign 21V081000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20230405 — air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement frontal passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Campaign 23V125000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20230522 — air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Campaign 23V306000 — check if this car was fixed