NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Ford Ranger. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER XLT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH DOWN A TWO-LANE, DRY MOUNTAIN ROAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY ACROSS THE ROAD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND TRAVELED 60 FEET DOWN THE SNOW COVERED MOUNTAIN. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT DETERMINED THE DAMAGES THAT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,000.
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT THROUGH NORMAL OPERATION APPEARS TO WEAR A HOLE IN THE SEATBACK EXPOSING SEAT MATERIAL. THE METAL BRACING IN THE SEAT IS EXPOSED RUBBING ON THE SEATBELT CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO FRAY. FRAYING MAY CAUSE FAILURE OF THE SEATBELT IN A CRASH. *TR
I OWN A 2006 RANGER 3.0 AUTO. THAT HAS 35,300 MI. THE FUEL DELIVERY INERTIA SWITCH HAS KICKED OUT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS TWICE. FIRST TIME AT 32,172 MI. AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE SWITCH AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 35,100 MI. THIS TIME I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN A PARKING LOT, INSTEAD OF OUT IN MOVING TRAFFIC. WHEN TIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE, OF COURSE, DIES IMMEDIATELY. THE SWITCH CANNOT BE RESET WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE AS THEY CANNOT FAIL THE SWITCH DURING " THEIR" ROAD TEST. *TR
FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE FRONT WHEEL ROAD NOISE AFTER 1ST OIL CHANGE AT DEALER, AT SECOND OIL CHANGE REQUESTED INSPECTION OF FRONT END, DEALER STATED NO PROBLEMS THAT ROAD NOISE WAS TIRES, ONE DAY BEFORE THIRD OIL CHANGE WHEELS SHOOK WHILE DRIVING, UPON INSPECTION BEARINGS WERE WORN OUT, LESS THAN 19300 MILES ON 2006 RANGER, VEHICLE IS UNSAVE TO DRIVE, AND FORD WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY. CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO REPLACE BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY AXLES AT NON DEALER CERTIFIED LOCATION. WHAT CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO FAIL? THIS IS CONSIDERED AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY THE HEAD IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WILL NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
I PURCHASED A 2006 FORD RANGER BRAND NEW IN MAY OF 2006. SOON AFTER AT PROBABLY 5000 OR SO MILES MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AND GO OFF WITHOUT ME HAVING TURNED THEM ON. THEN WHEN IT WOULD RAIN HARD AND I HAD TO USE THE WIPERS IN HIGH SPEED MODE THEY WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN I TURNED THEM OFF. THEN ALSO SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. THE OTHER DAY IT STARTED POURING DOWN RAIN AND THEY WOULD NOT COME ON AND I NEARLY HAD A WRECK. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. BUT THE PROBLEM IS ONLY OCCASIONAL BUT IS GETTING WORSE. MY VEHICLE IS NOW AT 47000 MILES AND OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM IS STILL ONGOING AND GETTING WORSE. *TR
NO EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE. ENGINE JUST QUIT. NO WARNING OF ANY KIND. ENGINE WOULD QUIT AND OPERATOR WOULD HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE RESTARTING. AT ONE POINT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART WITHOUT THE HELP OF A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE DAY AFTER A SNOWSTORM IN OUR AREA. SUDDENLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I ASKED THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT ICE PROBABLY ACCUMULATED IN THE VENT IN FRONT OF MY WINDSHIELD AND I SHOULD POUR HOT WATER INTO THE VENT TO THAW THE ICE. I CAN'T DO THIS WHENEVER IT SNOWS AND I'M ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE 2006 FORD RANGER THE PASSENGER KICKED THE EMERGENCY SHUT OFF SWITCH AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A COVER OVER THE SWITCH BECAUSE THE SWITCH COULD BE EASILY KICKED WHILE DRIVING, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF INSTANTLY, LOSING ALL POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *AK
TAKATA RECALL I'VE BEEN CALLING FORD DEALERS FOR 2 YEARS AND THEY NEVER HAVE THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS
I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN MY 2006 FORD RANGER WITH APPROXIMATELY 3500 MILES ON IT WHEN ENGINE SPUTTERED AND STOPPED AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE GAS TANK WAS NEAR FULL AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER I COASTED ACROSS A LANE OF MOVING TRAFFIC ONTO THE MEDIAN. HAVING EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN MY 1986 RANGER, I CALLED THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER TO ASK WHERE THE FUEL SAFETY SHUT OFF SWITCH WAS LOCATED. AFTER BEING ASSURED THAT THE SWITCH COULD NOT BE THE PROBLEM UNLESS I HAD BEEN IN A COLLISION OR HIT A VERY LARGE POT-HOLE, I RESET THE SWITCH AND THE TRUCK STARTED. THE SWITCHES IN THESE TRUCKS APPARENTLY HAS A DEFECT THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED FOR 20 YEARS. THE SERVICE PEOPLE SEEM TO BE UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE AND I SUSPECT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SOLD FUEL PUMPS AND OTHER RELATED ITEMS THAT WERE NOT THE PROBLEM. I AM JUST GLAD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT 65 MPH. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN IT RAINS, THE WIPERS WILL NOT ACTIVATE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 05S40. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WIPERS WERE WORKING NORMALLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAP ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A GAP THAT CIRCLES ALL THE WAY AROUND. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, HIS CLOTHING GETS CAUGHT IN THE GAP. THIS FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS IS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT OCCURS WHEN WEARING CLOTHING WITH SLEEVES, CUFFS, BUTTONS, ETC. WHICH IN TURN CATCHES UNDER AIRBAG/HORN CAP WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD RANGER XLT WHEN I LOST CONTROL AND ROLLED THE VEHICLE 4 - 5 TIMES. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT/SHOULDER HARNESS, BUT THE AIRBAGS ON NEITHER SIDE DEPLOYED, EVEN THOUGHT THE FRONT END AND CAB WAS DESTROYED. THE TRUCK WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS AND I AM NOW FACED WITH REHAB FOR UP TO FOUR WEEKS FOR SPRAINS AND TISSUE DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER. *JB
NO.
ON JUNE 13, 2006 APPROX. 3:00 PM MY FATHER WAS CRITICALLY INJURED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT JUST OUTSIDE OF MOSES LAKE WASHINGTON. MY FATHER STILL REMAINS HOSPTALIZED AFTER HAVING TO HAVE AN EAR REATTACHED, SEVERE HEAD LACERATIONS, A BROKEN EYE SOCKET, AND BROKEN BREAST BONE, AND HAVING THE SKIN TORN OFF HIS LEFT HAND. THE WASHINGTON STATE PATROL SAYS ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THAT HIS TRUCK FLIPPED 3-4 TIMES CAUSING TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE TRUCK. AT NO TIME DURING THE ROLLOVER AND DESTRUCTION OF THE TRUCKS FRONTEND DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW 2006 FORD RANGER WITH LESS THAN 2,500 MILES ON IT. IF IT WAS NOT FOR A PASSING NURSE AND EMT THE STATE PATROL SAYS MY FATHER WOULD HAVE LIKELY DIED. I CALLED BOTH THE DEALER, AND SENT AN EMAIL TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BOTH DECLINED TO COMMENT. I AM VERY DISTURBED THAT VEHICLES ARE BEING SOLD WITH SUCH PROBLEMS. SINCERELY, PATRICK MARTIN. *NM
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T MAINTAIN ENOUGH PRESSURE TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE GAS IS NEED TO REBUILD THE PRESSURE IN THE TRANSMISSION TO STOP THE ROLLING ACTION. *NM
I BOUGHT MY TRUCK BRAND NEW LAST MONTH ON APRIL 18TH I HAVE JUST OVER 1000 MILES ON IT AND WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES I HAD PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THE TRUCK, WHEN I TURN THE KEY MOST OF THE TIME IT STARTS, BUT OCCASIONALLY IF I LET GO OF THE KEY ABOUT THE TIME IT NORMALLY STARTS THE ENGINE DIES AND ONCE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN I HEARD THE STARTER MAKE THE NOISE LIKE IT DOES IF YOU TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE IS ALREADY RUNNING. ALSO MY TRANSMISSION WILL OCCASIONALLY JERK WHEN IT SHIFTS GEARS. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TECH DROVE IT AND THE SHOP MANAGER DROVE IT TOO AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I AM STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD HATE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CONTINUE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AND THEN I AM STUCK WITH A HUGE BILL TO FIX IT. *JB
SHIRT & COAT SLEEVE BUTTONS CATCH IN STEERING WHEEL. BETWEEN HORN & STEERING WHEEL. *JB
TAKATA RECALL
TAKATA RECALL - IHAVE RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES (18V022 & 18V023) EVERYTIME I CALL MY OR ANY LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY TELL ME THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS ARE ON BACKORDER, AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE. THE NOTICE SAYS TO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE... BUT I NEED THIS VEHICLE. NOT HAPPY, WHAT IS THE TIME ON GETTING THIS FIXED?