2005 Ford Ranger problems, complaints & recalls

2005 Ford Ranger recalls (9)

• Recall 23V306000Apr 28, 2023231,942 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 23V125000Feb 24, 202398,550 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement frontal passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

  Risk: 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 This recall has been fully superseded by recall 23V-306.

• Recall 21V076000Feb 17, 2021144,340 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 21V081000Feb 16, 20211,067 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 17V787000Dec 11, 2017328,213 vehiclesDo not drive
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 17V788000Dec 11, 2017328,213 vehiclesDo not drive
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 16V036000Jan 25, 2016361,692 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 15V322000May 28, 2015362,327 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger trucks manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 11V352000Jul 13, 201126,715 vehicles
  EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

  Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 ranger trucks built from january 25, 2011, through april 25, 2011 at the twin cities assembly plant, and service parts distributed to dealers for certain 2004 through 2011 model year ranger trucks, 2002 through 2005 model year excursion vehicles, and 2002 through 2007 model year f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (slider) that may experience deformation. A multi-function switch with a deformed slider may malfunction causing the turn signal, tail lights, hazard warning signal flashers and/or brake lights not to activate.

  Risk: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

• EA15001Opened Feb 24, 2015Openled to recall 14V668

  Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field fai…

• PE14016Opened Jun 11, 2014Closed Mar 2, 2015led to recall 13V172000

  Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field fai…

• PE05066Opened Dec 5, 2005Closed Mar 24, 2006

  Brake lights inoperative

  This pe was opened based on technical service bulletin (tsb) #05-6-19 issued by ford motor company and service bulletin #09-008/5 issued by mazda motor corporation to address concerns of the center high mounted stop light (chmsl) wiring harness chaffing. The tsb's affected the ford super cab and mazda cab plus vehicles only.service technicians contacted the ford hotline because it was difficult for the technicians to diagnose and locate the cause of the inoperative brake lights.ford and mazda issued the tsb's to aid technicians in the identification and repair of the wire chafe condition.of al…

Recent 2005 Ford Ranger complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Feb 4, 2025223,000 miORBrakesTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that upon arriving to the residence and applying the parking brake and exiting the vehicle, the vehicle started to roll backwards. The contact stated that the vehicle came to a complete stop after rolling across the street and through the neighbor’s fence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not…

   NHTSA complaint #11640744 · source
2. Filed May 29, 2024130,000 miWACrash1 injuredTowedAirbags

   The contact owned a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended by a driver who ran the stop sign. The impact caused the vehicle to flip over multiple times. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered severe head trauma and PTSD from the accident. It was unknown if the other driver sustained any injuries. The contact was taken to the local hospital where medical attention was received for his injuries. A police report was…

   NHTSA complaint #11591400 · source
3. Filed Oct 24, 2023228,000 miOKAirbags

   The contact owns a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact had taken the vehicle to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V125000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that while the vehicle was having the air bag replaced, the contact became aware that the passenger’s side air bag had not been seated correctly. The contact asked the Service Manager to return the vehicle to have the mechanic properly seat the air bag and secure the air bag correctly. The contact stated that the Service…

   NHTSA complaint #11551579 · source
4. Filed Sep 12, 2023NCBrakes

   The contact owns a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V306000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was totaled. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted.

   NHTSA complaint #11544124 · source
5. Filed Jun 12, 2023205,000 miMDCrashTowedAirbags

   The contact owned a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle struck the rear of another vehicle causing a fender bender. The contact stated that the front air bags deployed, and a powdery substance and metal fragments flew out of the air bag and landed on the contact. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and deemed a total loss.…

   NHTSA complaint #11526653 · source
6. Filed Apr 12, 2023NHCrash1 injuredTowedAirbags

   I was in an accident and the airbags did not inflate. I was going 30-35 MPH, there was a patch of ice, and I hit a tree. The truck was totaled. I smashed my face on the steering wheel, fracturing a bone. Some weeks later I received a letter in the mail from Ford Motor Company with regards to a passenger side airbag recall. I am afraid that this could perhaps be a bigger problem than just passenger side airbags.

   NHTSA complaint #11516807 · source
7. Filed Apr 10, 2023TNCrash1 injuredTowedAirbags

   The contact owned a 2005 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH during rain weather conditions, the contact lost control of the vehicle while going around a curve, causing the vehicle to crash into a ditch. No air bags deployed. The contact suffered a head injury and several other unknown injuries due to the seat belt. The paramedic had to cut the seat belt to release the contact from the vehicle. The contact was taken to the hospital to seek medical attention.…

   NHTSA complaint #11516287 · source
8. Filed Feb 13, 2023WAAirbagsOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

   At 200k miles I got an air bag light on my guage cluster. The blinking code corresponded to a bad connection at the CLOCKSPRING. I also noticed my cruise control and horn were also inoperable, also an indicator of a bad CLOCKSPRING. Ford part number 1l5z-14a664-ab is the replacement part and is currently unavailable, for the last 6 months. This part covers a few different models and has been exhausted by the dealers when correcting the Airbag recall. The dealer can not give…

   NHTSA complaint #11506987 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology