Complaints
744
Crashes
85
Fires
38
Injuries
44
Fatalities
7
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Ford Ranger Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#183 complaints
Tire Defects
Crash-related:11
Fires:1
#251 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:118,249 mi
Crash-related:6
Fires:5
#347 complaints
Tires:Tread/Belt
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Ford Ranger.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tire Defects | 83 | 11 | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 51 | 6 | 5 | 118,249 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 47 | 3 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 24 | 5 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 23 | 20 | 1 | 8,583 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 23 | — | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 22 | — | — | 115,356 mi | |
| Interior Lighting | 19 | — | — | 48,500 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 15 | — | 2 | 103,564 mi | |
| Body Structure | 14 | 1 | 2 | 116,035 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 14 | — | — | 66,111 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 13 | — | — | 44,045 mi | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 13 | — | — | 50,580 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 | — | 2 | 96,000 mi | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 12 | 1 | 1 | 35,000 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 12 | — | — | 125,805 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 12 | 1 | 5 | 67,667 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 9 | — | — | 122,490 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 7 | 1 | — | 71,667 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 7 | — | 1 | 150,000 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 6 | 1 | — | 80,000 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | — | 1 | 198,000 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | 4 | 2 | 63,000 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | 1 | 98,988 mi |
Tire Defects
83
complaints
Crashes
11
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
51
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
5
Avg Miles
118,249
Tires:Tread/Belt
47
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
24
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
23
complaints
Crashes
20
Fires
1
Avg Miles
8,583
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
23
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
115,356
Interior Lighting
19
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,500
Electrical Faults
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
103,564
Body Structure
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
116,035
Suspension:Front
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,111
Automatic Transmission
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
44,045
Tires:Sidewall
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,580
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
96,000
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
35,000
Structure:Frame And Members
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
125,805
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Avg Miles
67,667
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
122,490
Manual Transmission
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,667
Transmission / Drivetrain
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
150,000
Seat-Related Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,000
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
198,000
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
63,000
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
98,988
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Ford Ranger. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Ranger Years
1998 Ford Ranger — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Ford Ranger reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Ford Ranger has 744 NHTSA complaints, 85 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Tire Defects with 83 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Ford Ranger?
Top reported problems: Tire Defects (83 complaints); Unintended Acceleration (51 complaints, avg 118,249 mi); Tires:Tread/Belt (47 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Ford Ranger?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,811 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Ford Ranger include 85 crash-related reports, 38 fire reports, 44 injuries, and 7 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Ford Ranger as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Ford Ranger?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (tire defects) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Ranger reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Ford Ranger
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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