Total Complaints
7 filings
FORD RANGER EV · model year
1998 FORD RANGER EV
7 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDRANGER EV carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 RANGER EV is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 2 filings, followed by equipment:appliance:air conditioner (1) and power train:axle assembly (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1998 RANGER EV, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
7
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20071102VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER EV. ON OCTOBER 23, 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY OF 2008. SHE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ
20070606ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A VEHICLE WITH AN EXPRESS 45 DAY GUARANTEE. WITHIN THE 45 DAYS I WAS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT, IT WAS OVERHEATING, LEAKING OIL AND RADIATOR FLUID. SINCE THE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK INTO THE COMPANY FOR REPAIRS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT IS NOW FOUR MONTHS LATER AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WITH ALL THE BAD REPAIRS AND INSTALLS DONE ON THE VEHICLE IT'S LIFE EXPECTANCY IS NOW SHOT. THE COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER COMPARABLE VEHICLES TO PUT US IN AND IS REFUSING TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK FOR THE PRICE I PAID ON IT.
Mileage: 108,000
20041207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER CAN REMOVE THE KEY AND STILL TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Mileage: 30,000
20001004TIRES
THE BELTS CUT THROUGH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE FROM THE INSIDE. FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE TIRES HAVE THREE CUTS IN THEM SO DEEP THE BELTS CAN BE SEEN. I REPLACED THE TIRES BECAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL SCARE. I STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES THOUGH.THE TIRE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE BELT HAD SEPERATED AND CUT THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE. DRIVING IT FELT LIKE THE TIRE WAS FOLDING OVER ITSELF ESPECIALLY WHEN I TOOK A TURN.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )
20000822POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT WHAT THE POSSIBLE CAUSE COULD BE, AND THE ANSWER GIVEN WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." THIS DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE SINCE THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED BY THIS DEALERSHIP SINCE NEW, AND HAS NO SEVERE USE, OR UNUSUAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. MOST MILEAGE HAS BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WITH NO APPRECIABLE LOAD. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HAS APPROXIMATELY 150 OF THESE MACHINES ON A LONG TERM LEASE WHICH WILL EXPIRE AT APPROXIMATELLY FEB 2001. *AK
19990823EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C LINE FAILED. YH
19990823ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
REAR MAIN SEAL FAILED. YH
Compare 1998FORDRANGER EV to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 FORD RANGER EV have?▼
The 1998 FORD RANGER EV has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD RANGER EV?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD RANGER EV is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER and POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1998 FORD RANGER EV safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.