2006 FORD RANGER — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 267 complaints · 12 recalls
Most-reported system: AIR BAGS (172 complaints · 64.4%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 13
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 9
  • Deaths 3
Compare with 2005 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution AIR BAGS appears in 172 of 267 owner complaints (64.4%) in this vehicle snapshot. AIR BAGS: 172 complaints, 64.4% of reports AIR BAGS 172 · 64.4% · 10 crash reports STRUCTURE: 20 complaints, 7.5% of reports STRUCTURE 20 · 7.5% ENGINE: 13 complaints, 4.9% of reports ENGINE 13 · 4.9% FUEL SYSTEM: 11 complaints, 4.1% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 11 · 4.1% SUSPENSION: 10 complaints, 3.8% of reports SUSPENSION 10 · 3.8% · 1 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 5 complaints, 1.9% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 · 1.9% · 1 fire reports STEERING: 4 complaints, 1.5% of reports STEERING 4 · 1.5% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 4 complaints, 1.5% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 · 1.5% · 2 crash reports POWER TRAIN: 3 complaints, 1.1% of reports POWER TRAIN 3 · 1.1% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 55 complaints, 20.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 55 · 20.6% · 3 crash reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
AIR BAGS 172 64.4% 10 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 20 7.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 13 4.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 11 4.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 10 3.8% 0 crashes · 1 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 1.9% 0 crashes · 1 fires
STEERING 4 1.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 1.5% 2 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 3 1.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 55 20.6% 3 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2006; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 2005. 2006-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2016-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2016-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2017-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2017-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q1: 75 owner reports 75 2018-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2018-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2019-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Nov 2005 Apr 2025 Recall campaign 05V520000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V520000 Recall campaign 11V352000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V352000 Recall campaign 15V322000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V322000 Recall campaign 16V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V036000 Recall campaign 17V787000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V787000 Recall campaign 17V788000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V788000 Recall campaign 18V022000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V022000 Recall campaign 18V023000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V023000 Recall campaign 21V081000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V081000 Recall campaign 21V076000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V076000 Recall campaign 23V125000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V125000 Recall campaign 23V306000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V306000
  • Campaign 15V322000 was reported 3,246 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V036000 was reported 3,488 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V787000 was reported 4,174 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V788000 was reported 4,174 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V022000 was reported 4,205 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V023000 was reported 4,205 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V081000 was reported 5,337 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V076000 was reported 5,338 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V125000 was reported 6,075 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V306000 was reported 6,138 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2006-Q2 Owner reports 2
2006-Q3 Owner reports 3
2007-Q1 Owner reports 4
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 1
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 5
2010-Q2 Owner reports 2
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 4
2011-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 2
2012-Q3 Owner reports 2
2012-Q4 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 2
2014-Q1 Owner reports 3
2014-Q2 Owner reports 4
2014-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q1 Owner reports 3
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q4 Owner reports 5
2016-Q1 Owner reports 7
2016-Q2 Owner reports 10
2016-Q3 Owner reports 11
2016-Q4 Owner reports 11
2017-Q1 Owner reports 8
2017-Q2 Owner reports 3
2017-Q3 Owner reports 4
2017-Q4 Owner reports 11
2018-Q1 Owner reports 75
2018-Q2 Owner reports 23
2018-Q3 Owner reports 6
2018-Q4 Owner reports 8
2019-Q1 Owner reports 4
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2019-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 2
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 3
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 3
2022-Q2 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
2025-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 05V520000
Recall campaign 1 11V352000
Recall campaign 1 15V322000
Recall campaign 1 16V036000
Recall campaign 1 17V787000
Recall campaign 1 17V788000
Recall campaign 1 18V022000
Recall campaign 1 18V023000
Recall campaign 1 21V081000
Recall campaign 1 21V076000
Recall campaign 1 23V125000
Recall campaign 1 23V306000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (12)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 05V520000

    Report date
    Component:
    VISIBILITY
    Consequence:
    AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 11V352000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V322000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    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. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V-787.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 16V036000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    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. Note: This recall supersedes 14V-343 and only applies to Rangers manufactured in North America.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V787000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    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. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V-036 which was an interim repair. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V788000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    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. The recall began January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V322 which was an interim repair. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S42.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 18V022000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with sharp metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners instructing them to not drive their vehicles, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall for the original population began on January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S02.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 18V023000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with sharp metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners instructing them to not drive their vehicles, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall for the original population began on January 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S02.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V076000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V081000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V125000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
    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. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall has been fully superseded by recall 23V-306.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V306000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
    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. Ford's number for this recall is 23S08. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 23V-125.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 267 complaints · page 1 of 11

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources