FORD RANGER EV · model year

2001 FORD RANGER EV

13 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001FORDRANGER EV carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 1 fatality. 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 2001 RANGER EV is latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch with 1 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank (1) and air bags (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 2001 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.

13
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

13 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK1
AIR BAGS1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
SUSPENSION1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recent Complaints

20190402VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE "PLASTIC" WHICH COVERS THE TWO "SPEED CONTROL SWITCHES," LOCATED ON EACH SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL, BADLY MELTED OVER TIME - APPARENTLY FROM HEAT OF THE LAMPS UNDER THE COVERS. IT HAS MADE ME AFRAID TO ATTEMPT TO USE THE SPEED CONTROLS FOR FEAR OF FURTHER HEAT PROBLEMS AND/OR IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE DAMAGED CONTROLS. PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGED PARTS ARE ATTACHED. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH THESE COMPLAINTS AND PHOTOS AND ALL I GOT WAS A "THANKS" FOR MAKING THIS KNOWN TO THEM - NOTHING MORE.

Mileage: 45,000

20160606SUSPENSION

THIS 2001 FORD RANGER TRUCK'S BODY AND INTERIOR ARE PERFECT. THE FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED AND NO ONE WANTS TO PASS IT FOR INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF THE FRAME. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE TRUCK HAS 103,000 HIGHWAY MILES AND IS MECHANICALLY PERFECT. I FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD EITHER REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRAME OF THE TRUCK OR BUY IT BACK FROM ME. THIS TRUCK WAS MY SECOND VEHICLE AND I NEED SOMETHING DONE WITH IT.

Mileage: 103,000

20160219SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EV. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD ERRONEOUSLY UNLOCK. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V227001 (SEAT BELTS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

20111121STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

RUSTED FRAME ON 01 4X4 RANGER . RUSTED REAR SPRING HANGERS& BRACKETS. RUSTED TAIL END OF LEFT & RIGHT FRAME . RUSTED TOP SECTION OF FUEL FILLER TUBE. RUSTED CROSS MEMBER BEHIND CAB. HAD TO REPLACE REAR BRAKE DRUM THAT RUSTED INTO (2) TWO PIECES. BOTTOM OF TRUCK BOX HAS BAD RUST HOLES. ONE AUTO TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE RUSTED IN 2 INCH AREA JUST BEFORE RADIATOR INLET. LEFT SIDE OF FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED TO MUCH TO SAFELY USE TK. *TR

20090311POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EV. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT A NORMAL EXPECTANCY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE BODY TSB MODIFICATION AND SHIFT SOLENOID FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $612.38. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,980.

Mileage: 55,000

20050830ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THIS MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCK FROM A ONE-TIME OWNER THROUGH A DEALERSHIP ON JULY 23, 2005 WITH 30,000 MILES. ON AUGUST 29, 2005, THIS VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD TO HAVE FRIENDS GIVE THE TRUCK A PUSH TO START. THIS DID GET THE TRUCK TO START, AND IT RAN FOR ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE DECELERATING AND STOPPING COMPLETELY. NOW, NOT EVEN WITH A PUSH FROM OTHERS WILL THIS TRUCK START. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE TRUCK HAS FAILED TO START. I PLAN TO TOW THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 31ST TO GET IT CHECKED OUT UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

Mileage: 31,295

20050822ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EDGE. HE BOUGHT IT NEW IN 8-2001. THE NEXT WEEK HE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. IT WOULD CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING INTERSTATE. HE LET IT SIT FOR 30 MINUTES -1 HOUR, AND IT WOULD START AGAIN. THE FRONT DOORS STARTED TO COME OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THEN IT FINALLY JUST QUIT RUNNING AT 10,800 MILES. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY 52 TIMES. THEY WOULD NOT CREATE ANY PAPER WORK AT THE DEALERSHIP;. THEY WOULD NOT MAKE A SERVICE ORDER ON THE TRUCK. FORD FINALLY AGREED TO LET AN AREA ENGINEER MEET WITH HIM AND LOOK AT THE TRUCK. THEY AGREED TO FIX THE TRUCK. HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THESE ISSUES RESOLVED. THE DAY HE MADE THIS APPOINTMENT IS THE DAY THAT THE DEALERSHIP GAVE HIM A MEMO STATING THAT FORD WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE TRUCK UNLESS THE CONSUMER SIGNED A DOCUMENT SAYING THAT HE WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR WORK. OTHERWISE, DEALER WOULD NOT WORK ON IT. HE TOOK IT TO FOUR DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. THEY TOLD HIM

Mileage: 75

20050822STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EDGE. HE BOUGHT IT NEW IN 8-2001. THE NEXT WEEK HE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. IT WOULD CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING INTERSTATE. HE LET IT SIT FOR 30 MINUTES -1 HOUR, AND IT WOULD START AGAIN. THE FRONT DOORS STARTED TO COME OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THEN IT FINALLY JUST QUIT RUNNING AT 10,800 MILES. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY 52 TIMES. THEY WOULD NOT CREATE ANY PAPER WORK AT THE DEALERSHIP;. THEY WOULD NOT MAKE A SERVICE ORDER ON THE TRUCK. FORD FINALLY AGREED TO LET AN AREA ENGINEER MEET WITH HIM AND LOOK AT THE TRUCK. THEY AGREED TO FIX THE TRUCK. HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THESE ISSUES RESOLVED. THE DAY HE MADE THIS APPOINTMENT IS THE DAY THAT THE DEALERSHIP GAVE HIM A MEMO STATING THAT FORD WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE TRUCK UNLESS THE CONSUMER SIGNED A DOCUMENT SAYING THAT HE WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR WORK. OTHERWISE, DEALER WOULD NOT WORK ON IT. HE TOOK IT TO FOUR DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. THEY TOLD HIM

Mileage: 75

20050808SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND THE PULLEY IS COMPLETELY BROKEN. *NM

Mileage: 60,258

20050328CrashFatalAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON FEBRUARY 11, 2005 MY FATHER WAS DRIVING HIS 2001 FORD RANGER WHEN HE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK. AS A RESULT OF THE HEART ATTACK MY DAD HIT A TREE HEAD ON WITH THE FORD RANGER. THE TRUCK SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FRONTAL DAMAGE WHICH ULTIMATELY WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY DAD'S INSURANCE COMPANY. DESPITE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY DAD NEVER REVIVED AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. *JB

Mileage: 53,955

20040823CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN A RECENT ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS HIT IN MY 2001 FORD RANGER WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. MY VEHICLE WAS SLAMMED INTO FROM THE BACK BY AN SUV AND KNOCKED INTO A SMALL TOYOTA TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WHO WAS ALSO STOPPED AT THE IINTESECTION. MY TRUCK WAS TOTALED WITH THE TRUCK BED LOOKING LIKE AN INVERTED V WITH FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD DAMAGE AND A FLUID LEAK. NEITHER THE DRIVER OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN AFTER BEING HIT THAT HARD FROM BOTH FRONT AND BACK.*AK

Mileage: 36,500

20021223CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS INTAKE. ALSO STATED THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WERE HE WAS HIT WHERE THE GAS INTAKE IS LOCATED AND STARTED LEAKING GAS. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALLED. TS

20021219LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

DOOR AJAR INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON. APPARENTLY THE DOOR SENSOR UNIT OR LOCATION IS FAULTY.

Mileage: 26,000

Compare 2001FORDRANGER EV to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 FORD RANGER EV have?
The 2001 FORD RANGER EV has 13 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 FORD RANGER EV?
The most-complained component for the 2001 FORD RANGER EV is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2001 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.