Most common 2000 Ford Ranger problems
Share of the 670 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Ranger complaints by model year
Best Ranger years: 2023, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2019, 1999, 2000, 1998, 1996. Compare all years →
2000 Ford Ranger recalls (3)
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected…
Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began October 26, 2000.
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with 2.5l ohc engines. Engine coolant circulation through the heater circuit is prevented because of a plugged heater return tube (water pump inlet tube) at the water pump. These vehicles do not comply with the intent of FMVSS no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging systems."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the plugged heater water return tubes.
What 2000 Ford Ranger owners say
Wheels & tires all 145 →
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger equipped with Kenda Tire, tire line Kenetica, tire size P235/75/R15, and Dot Number K3DK. The contact stated he notice that tread separation from the rear passenger side tire. On another occasion the contact had a blowout on the front driver side where the tread separation. The front driver side tire was replaced with a used tired and the rear tire was not replaced. The manufacturer was not contact. The failure mileage 5,000 and 24,449.
I went through 3 supposedly new alternators within one month. Dealerships in both tennessee and georgia denied any problem with the alternators and refused to repair/replace them at no charge. I paid for three alternators in one month!!!! Don't tell me there's nothing wrong with them. Also, the first replacement alternator was supposed to be new (I was charged over $500 for it) but after it failed and was inspected, it was determined that it was a rebuilt alternator. Why did the dealership charge me for a new one, and why wasn't I refunded any money?!?! Also, I have wilderness ht p225/10/r15 tires. They always squeal when going around corners or over speed bumps, no matter how slow I am going. Is there something wrong with them? I have read a lot of complaints about them. Thanks for the help.
Body & structure all 105 →
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the entire subframe of the vehicle was corroded and was cracking and disintegrating. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The back end frame has completely rusted out, while the cab frame is in perfect condition. I have read about everyone that has a ranger from 1995-200 has had this issue. My truck only has 127k miles on it and has been kept in wonderful condition, and the bed frame has made it unsafe to drive.
Brakes all 78 →
My frame is rusted out, 110,000, miles, replaced transmission, brake lines, gas lines, and a # of other things, due to a rusted out under carriage, the motor is great, things on the frame are breaking off all the time, so much rust cant even see a bolt.
Brakes fail at slow speeds. Sometimes they work, some times they start working and quit and the truck slides. No ABS lights coming on and the ABS doesn't pump. Slid into parking curb stop, almost struck oreilly auto parts building in atchison and jammed my neck. Had brakes checked, master cylinder replaced and brakes were bled with new fluid. Every thing in good shape, but brakes are still failing. Mechanic in atchison said this is the second Ranger he seen with this problem; on the other Ranger they removed the ABS fuse and brakes functioned fine. Was told there were no codes or ABS lights on vehicle until fuse was pulled. With no codes being set, unable to figure out this problem. Ford not willing to instruct as to what is going on without charging $80 an hour for repairs. Have limited income, can not afford to take vehicle to Ford. Vehicle is dangerous is going to cause a collision. …
2000 Ford Ranger engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | 2WD | 62 / 54 / 58 MPGe | 50 mi |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 24 / 22 | — |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 23 / 20 | — |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 21 / 18 | — |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 21 / 18 | — |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 | — |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 | — |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 | — |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 16 | — |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 | — |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Ford Ranger a good car?
Based on 670 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Ranger rates avoid: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ranger at the same age. It is one of the Ranger years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Ford Ranger?
The wheels & tires — 145 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tread/belt. Next are the body & structure (105) and brakes (78).
How many recalls does the 2000 Ford Ranger have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2000 Ford Ranger, the most recent from August 3, 2007 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Ranger?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2022 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 1999, 2000, 1998 and 1996. See the full Ford Ranger years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Ranger problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 23% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.