2001 Ford Ranger XL from North America - Comments

I haven't had a lot of "problems" with the truck. It has been reliable. But I've never been satisfied with it.

From the beginning:

Tons of fit and finish issues. Rattles & vibrations from day one. I tried to get these fixed, but the dealership wasn't helpful.

The truck has always idled rough. A service bulletin was put out for the Mass Air Flow Sensor and that was replaced under warranty. But didn't help much.

I've always performed regular maintenance, but now it requires so much work that it isn't worth it.

I don't need a fancy vehicle. I bought it as basic transportation with the added utility of being able to tow and haul small amounts. But it isn't great transportation.

The best gas mileage I have ever gotten was 23 mpg, not the 29 it said on the window sticker. Most of the time I only get 19 or 20. There are bigger trucks that will get close to this.

This truck is really gutless! I don't drive with my foot on the floor. It's pointless, it still doesn't go any where.

It has a horrible ride. The truck bounces around on the highway and is rather startling when it "lets go."

I've read other complaints about the ball joints and I have to agree. My front end doesn't sound good at all.

I've had or done all the regular maintenance according to the guidelines in the owners manual. But now I've come to a point where the cost of necessary repairs are more than I am willing to dump into this truck.

It has had small problems for a year and a half that when I took it to the dealer "couldn't be found" or "couldn't be made any better." Finally these problems have coompounded into $1600 to $1800 dollars worth of work.

•Faulty DPFE Sensor

•Dirty/Improperly working Mass Airflow Sensor (2nd time)

•Low Fuel Pressure

•Clogged throttle body

•Clogged Fuel Injectors.

And most importantly:

•Low compression on cylinders 1 and 2! With probable need for a valve job to cure this problem.

All this has caused missing at idle and acceleration for 15 to 18 thousand miles. If only Ford could have diagnosed the problems long ago I wouldn't be in this predicament now.

I bought the truck with the intention of putting at least 150 thousand miles on it, and keeping it close to 10 years. I was a firm believer in the quality of Ford vehicles. But now with my truck and the problems friends and relatives have had with their newer Ford vehicles I just don't think Ford builds them like they used to.

I don't want to buy a new truck, but $1800 can make for a nice down payment on a new truck. If I were satisfied with it in all other ways I might consider fixing it. Plus what problem would be next?

I have a 1997 Ford Ranger XLT reg. cab, with the 2.3L and manual trans. I’ve yet to see a day of trouble out of this great little truck. A/C on or off, rain or shine, hot or cold, this truck starts right up, and runs silk smooth. It’s driven through 6 inches of snow. City traffic on a 100+ degree day WITH THE A/C ON, and to add to it’s peril MY TRUCK IS BLACK! If you think it’s sluggish please, LEAR HOW TO SHIFT!!

This truck also has two spark plug wires burned COMPLETELY through, and a third on it’s way out, I’m told these trucks run 100% better with all 8 (that’s right a four banger with eight plugs), I wouldn’t know it’s been this way since I bought it, over 15,000 miles ago. As for the front end Mine has the old “twin I-beam” not dual a-arm, so a comparison on these parts would be irrelevant.

So far the only problems it’s had are the dome light, and the lock sticks, if it’s raining. Other than that just maintenance, brakes, tires, hoses, belts, and oil changes.

And for those of you who are saying, “just wait till she hits 100,000 miles”, “she’s” been there twice, at 202,000 it still starts every time I hit the key, and takes right off, good running, and driving.

For those of you shopping, I’ve heard the sixes and automatics are noting, but trouble, not that I’ve had those, just passing along what I hear.

This truck has always gotten great gas mileage 25mpg town 30mpg highway (a/c on or off matters little).