42 complaints reported

1996 Ford Ranger SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
42
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
3

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Sep 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2011
Feb 2011

1. UNDERBODY CORROSION LEADING TO PERFORATION OF METAL BRAKE LINES 2. PARTIAL UP TO COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING FUNCTION. FIVE TIMES IN THREE YEARS. CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF BRAKING 3. REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LINES - OLD CORRODED LINES AVAILABLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2008
Apr 2010

MY 1996 FORD RANGER HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM OF THE FRONT BRAKES STICKING. THIS OCCURS MOST OFTEN IN WET WEATHER BUT ISN'T STRICTLY LIMITED TO THAT. I NOTICED A FORD RANGER THAT HAD SLID INTO ANOTHER CAR ON A SANDED CORNER AND RECALLED THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO AS MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THE GRAVEL CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND I ONLY MISSED RUNNING INTO THE CAR IN THE OTHER LANE BY LETTING OFF THE BRAKE AND TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT POOR MAN PROBABLY GOT A TICKET FOR GOING TOO FAST BUT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, NOT A MATTER OF SPEED. I BELIEVE THE TRUCK IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANTILOCK BRAKES, BUT THAT IS NOT HOW ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO PERFORM. MECHANICS HAVE VERIFIED TO ME THIS BEHAVIOR PROBLEM FOR RANGER'S SO IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. HAD MY BRAKES REWORKED A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH NO CHANGE. YESTERDAY THEY LOCKED UP AGAIN AND SEEING AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT TOYOTA I FINALLY OUT WHO TO REPORT THIS TO. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2010
Aug 2008 Crash

1996 FORD RANGER TRUCK HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT BERM AND GOT WEDGED BETWEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE BRIDGE WALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS BRAKES FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0535-91)*JB LETTER UPDATED 03/17/10*BF

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2008
Mar 2005 Crash

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKES BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE. THIS OCCURRED ON MAY 24, 2005. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAW THE BRAKE PEDAL HANGING DOWN. UPON INSPECTION, THEY NOTICED THAT THE MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. THE MOUNTING THIS WAS MADE OF POT METAL, AND IT HELD THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TOGETHER. THE WHOLE THING BROKE. THE ESTIMATED SPEED WAS ABOUT 30-35 MPH.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2005
Jan 2002

ABS FAILED WHEN PEDAL HELD DOWN IN RAPID STOP. PULSES AND THEN DROPS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE REENGAGING. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES DURING ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED TRUCK. TECHNICIANS CAN FIND NO INFORMATION ON WHY THIS MIGHT OCCUR. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Oct 2001

THERE WAS LOOSE GRAVEL ON ROAD AND PAVEMENT WAS WET AT THE INTERSECTION, WHEN ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN BRAKES LOCKED UP, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2001
Mar 2001

BRAKES LOCK UP ONLY DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 1996
Oct 2000

WHEN TRUCK IS DRIVEN IN THE MORNING, NO MATTER AT WHAT SPEED, REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. TRUCK IS FINE FOR THE REST OF DAY. OWNER PHONED TWO DEALERSHIPS ABOUT PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD BY ONE OF DEALERSHIPS THAT THERE WAS A NEW MATERIAL ON THE BRAKE LINING THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Oct 2000

PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEEL LOCKS UP WHICH CAUSES BRAKE LOCK UP, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. FIRST TIME IT WAS THE REAR BRAKES. CURRENTLY, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 1999
Apr 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2000
Aug 1999

BRAKES GRAB IN DAMP AND HUMID WEATHER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 1996
May 1999

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THEY FREEZE/LOCK UP, AND THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT, ALSO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Feb 1999

ABS LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE ABS BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 1999
Oct 1998

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET, APPROX. 30-35 MPH, NEEDED TO APPLY BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE/SHAKE/ AND OUT OF CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPAIR AT THE COST TO CONSUMER. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 1998
Oct 1998

WHEN IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Sep 1998

HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 1998
Sep 1998

WHEN DRIVING DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED SOFTLY THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP AND DON'T WANT TO RELEASE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 1997
Jul 1998

BRAKES GRAB CONSTANTLY, WORSE IN DAMP WEATHER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
May 1998

FRON TAND REAR ABS BRAKES FAILED. ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND SHOES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Mar 1998

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING AND STEERING WHEEL MUST BE GRIPPED TIGHTLY TO CONTROL. ALSO, REPLACED PADS/MACHINED ROTORS AND SANDED SHOES. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 1996
Mar 1998

VEHICLE PULLS LEFT WHEN BRAKING AND STEERING WHEEL MUST BE GRIPPED TIGHTLY TO CONTROL. REPLACED PADS/MACHINED ROTORS AND SANDED SHOES. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 1996
Dec 1997

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SLIDE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Nov 1997

ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP 20 TIMES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 1995
Oct 1997

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1996 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 1997

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1996 Ford Ranger has 42 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.