Ford Ranger info

jframe · Feb 10, 2013

I spent several years in Ford parts, as a lot of you know, and I never saw many issues with Rangers. I just bought a 2006 model regular cab yesterday, with a four cylinder/five speed combo. Got 87000 miles on it and felt like I got a good deal at 3500.00. Any of you folks got a personal experience with these trucks, as far as regarding reliability and problem areas? I've heard tell of these trucks running a ton of miles with very few issues.

A10 · Feb 10, 2013

I'm currently driving an 07 with a four liter 6 in it. Fine little truck. No mechanical issues but it does seem to eat rotor pads kinda quickly.

charlie sherrill · Feb 10, 2013

I've owned several and got good service out of all of them. A friend recently sold his 10 year old Ranger with 330,000 miles on it for $2500.

aphelion · Feb 10, 2013

We had a 2003 4 cylinder 2WD and put 90,000 miles on it with no trouble. My only beef with it was it got no better fuel mileage than our 2004 Exploder with the 4.6 V8. Of course the Exploder went through 2 rear ends, an 800 dollar ABS module, various issues with the heater and A/C controls, and the transmission was giving signs it was going to puke when we traded it in back to the dealer.

kudzu3 · Feb 10, 2013

My neighbor has a 4 cyl ranger, don't know what year, more than 200,000 mi, still problem free.

Mike7.62 · Feb 10, 2013

I know that they're good trucks, but unfortunately, Ford has seen fit to discontinue its manufacture for sale in the USA. It will continue to sell overseas versions with the diesel engine that we can't seem to get here, even though it does get in the low 30's mileage wise. Ford's excuse was that more people would be induced to pony up the money for an F150 if the Ranger wasn't available, but at the prices for which I've seen the F150 selling, I rather doubt it.

As to the durability of the Ranger, an old acquaintance of mine used to run them in the HDRA circuit, and his pre runner was used with little modification of the drivetrain. He did mod the suspension to give it more travel and clearance, but the motor/tranny combo seemed to run without alot of extra maintenance. It was a Toyo manual tranny, and seemed to take the abuse in stride.If I recall, the Mazda "B" series truck was/is the same truck as the Ranger, but I could be mistaken.

IMO, if the truck is in good condition, it should give excellent service.

LVSteve · Feb 10, 2013

Mike7.62 said:
I know that they're good trucks, but unfortunately, Ford has seen fit to discontinue its manufacture for sale in the USA.

....If I recall, the Mazda "B" series truck was/is the same truck as the Ranger, but I could be mistaken.

They have gone away in the US because they are not up to the latest safety and emissions standards. The body and drivetrain both need replacement. Ford likely decided not to invest in a small truck for the US as there is less profit in them compared with a larger truck like the F-150. Aslo, some of the things called Ranger overseas bear only a superficial resemblance to the US original.

Yes, the Mazda B series is a badge engineered Ranger.

timn8er · Feb 10, 2013

I've got a '96 Ranger with the 4.0L motor. It's been a pretty
good truck. Miles are relatively low at 147,000. It replaced an
'84 Ranger with a 2.3L. I bought it with the XLT package, so it
came with everything but the CD changer. My only regret is that
I didn't pony up just a little more & get the extended cab version.

bishopm14 · Feb 10, 2013

I drove a '98 regular cab, 4.0L 4x4 for 9 years. Bought it with 40,000 miles on it, and traded it off with one sixty something on it. Good truck, had a five speed and no air as I bought it in Alaska. No air was not that big a deal up there, kinda important in the lower 48. Went through three front hubs, and the 4 wheel drive system wasn't super reliable. I suspect there was something in its life before I took ownership of it to blame for that. Tiny 15 or 16 gallon gas tank sucked, good for about 250 miles before it was time to worry according to the gas gauge, mileage varied from mid 20s to about 17 or 18 by the time I got rid of it. I wouldn't consider another that wasn't an extended cab. Ford is really screwing up not offering an updated four door version here. My regular cab F150 needs more room, but I don't need something the size of an extended or crew cab 150.

mr.jbk79 · Feb 10, 2013

Overall I think Rangers are pretty decent and reliable trucks especially when maintained regularly. Other than normal wear/tear issues that come with age/mileage, I've seen several older ones,(10yrs+) where the rear leaf spring mounts/shackles rust out where they attach to the frame. This is probably more of an issue in the northern parts from rough winters and road salt.

Old 44 Guy · Feb 11, 2013

I bought a used 2007 Ranger 4X4 King cab 4.0 V-6, 5 speed manual tranny 3 years ago.It had 20,700 miles then & I'm closing in on 53,000 pretty soon. So far so good.I understand the 5 speed tranny that year had some problems but all OK so far. I did have tranny oil changed to synthetic. My mechanic recommened it.Mileage is good ,20+hiway & 17 in town. He told me the 4.0 Ford engine is bullet proof.

Marshwheeling · Feb 11, 2013

No experience to report, but I am watching this thread as I expect to pick up a '94 next week from my mechanic (need to replace the Astro van that blew up in July). They seem to just keep running. Dunno how well it will pull my big bike trailer, but at least I can throw a couple of off-road bikes in the back.

They used to build the Rangers right here in St. Paul, so there are a lot of them around.

Kanewpadle · Feb 11, 2013

jframe said:
I spent several years in Ford parts, as a lot of you know, and I never saw many issues with Rangers. I just bought a 2006 model regular cab yesterday, with a four cylinder/five speed combo. Got 87000 miles on it and felt like I got a good deal at 3500.00. Any of you folks got a personal experience with these trucks, as far as regarding reliability and problem areas? I've heard tell of these trucks running a ton of miles with very few issues.

With regular maintenance, they can go a long time. Much like the 84 Toyota pickup I had.

S. Hammer · Feb 11, 2013

Bought a used 2003 standard cab about 5 years ago with 33000 miles on it. It's at 64000 now. Fuel pump went out at 60000, and now it's starting to leak tranny fluid. Hopefully the repair won't cost much as I like this truck and hope to keep it several more years.

timn8er · Feb 11, 2013

I never have understood why Ford saw fit to kill off the Ranger.
In my opinion, not one of their "Better Ideas". If I wanted or
needed something as big as a F-150, I would buy it. The Ranger
pretty much does everything I need it to do. I guess when it comes to trucks, I prefer them compact, the same way I prefer
my guns!

Roadtrash · Feb 11, 2013

I've had five of them over the years, still driving the fifth one. Each one had well over 100k when I traded them and I have never done anything to any of them. I mean nothing. Never changed a spark plug and never had any problems with any of them. I would pull the plugs now and then and check them but never had a bad one.

Well there was that one time that the tow bar on the motorhome broke and the truck hit the back after jumping over the bar and busted the radiator and a few other parts. But you really can't count that. Or the time I was coming through VA and a guy ran a stop sign and hit me on the passenger side but really that didn't do that much damage.

As for pulling a bike trailer, two years ago I pulled an enclosed bike trailer from Tonopah, AZ to Savannah, GA, by way of Greenville, SC with no problem at all. Sure it was a little slower off the line but other than that I had no problem. That was with the one I am driving now with the 4.0 and auto tranny.

All in all I think the Ranger is one of the best things Ford has made in years and I hated to see them go. Oh well, I guess I'll just drive this one till it fall apart.

Fishinfool · Feb 11, 2013

Bought a new 1994 Ranger 4wd, extended cab, V-6, 5 speed. Nice truck. In about 180,000 miles, the only problem was the front auto locking hubs. Replaced them once, and the went again, so I replaced them with manual lock hubs. That truck held up well to a lot of off roading and towing a decent sized boat. Finally killed it when I let the coolant run low, and severely over heated it, killing the engine. My fault. Replaced it with a new 2006 GMC P/U that has not been near as reliable..

Larry

walnutred · Feb 11, 2013

The only new automobile I've ever purchased was a 2002 Ford Ranger, ext cap XLT, 3.0L motor. I told myself I was going to keep it 10 years or 250,000 miles whichever came first. I traded it off one week short of 10 years with 224,000 miles on it. Main reason I traded it off was I hit a deer. In that time I had no unexpected repairs but the tranny was starting to slip a little.

Capt. Bob · Feb 11, 2013

I had a Mazda B-series for 11 years and it was the best truck I ever had untill I got my Nissan. You can get a lost of info off the this site.
Ranger & B-Series - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

Arik · Feb 11, 2013

Rangers, especially the 4cyl are very durable and reliable trucks

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Ford Ranger info

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