Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford Ranger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The brakes and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000.
On several occasions attempted to apply brakes and with brake pedal clear down to floor, vehicle continued to move, seeming to accelerate, rather than slow down. First few times this happened, there was no one else in front of me or my wife at the stop sign, but today, there was. I had to swerve into the ditch to avoid a pile up. This occurred at 35 MPH. Damaged a fence and parked truck on someone's personal property. Minor damage to the Ford Ranger. Did not get problem checked out the first 2 times, as this occurred when wife was driving and the problem went away and was forgotten. I will definitely be taking it to the shop next week to have this checked out. Based on the other complaints, this seems to be a common problem with these rangers. How many others just haven't been reported, or perhaps died due to failure of the brakes and couldn't report the problem???
Traveling approx 68 MPH I swurved to avoid going off road.as I jerked the stirring wheel to my rt then back to my left I stepped on my brakes with a hard and consistant presssure,causing my front breaks lockup,which resulted in me losing control of my truck it !!spinning out of control I went only to come to rest after a frontal impact of approximately 55 to 60 mrh as well as a rear impact speed at this point unknown. Besides my front breaks locking up, neither my driver or passenger side air bags deployed.
Consumer was braking for a speed bump when brake pedal went to the floor, when the vehicle wheels hit the speed bump both air bag deployed, as a result the driver lost control of the vehicle and ran into a ditch, and all airbags deployed. .
Picked up kids from bus stop (5 and 6 years age) with 2001 Ranger parked in gear on gravel driveway grade with emergency brake engaged. Loaded kids and myself, started vehicle and released emergency brake. Brake pedal went to floor, vehicle took off down hill. Pushed and pumped pedal hard to engage rear brake valve; no rear brakes. Engaged emergency brake (now at considerable speed on grade). Left rear wheel locked skidding vehicle to right side on gravel drive, corrected with steering avoiding roll over. Subsequent inspection revealed extensive premature corrosion to vehicle frame, suspension and brake components. Both front and rear brake lines compromised with catastrophic failure during emergency. My kids and I could have been killed or injured because Ford saved a few bucks using below standard imported steel. …
Brake pedal went to the floor, while attempting to slow down to a stop. As I was approching stopped traffic, and put my foot on the brake pedal to attempt to slow down. The pedal went to the ground and the truck continued to move. After several attempts at the brake pedal, the rear wheels locked up but the front did not. Causing me to almost spin out on the freeway going about 65mph. The local Ford sercive department says it was due to a panic stop that the brake fluid boiled and the pads over heated. But I did not attempt a panic stop. I was going 65 for about 10 minutes, when I attempted to slow down the brakes simply failed. They are charging me for new brake pads, seals and a complete brake fluid flush. Almost $350 dollars.
In 2001 purchased a new Ford 2001 xlt Ranger from a dealership. In March/April 2009, at 76,000 miles it became necessary to replace the entire rear brakeline system due to rot. In dec /jan 2009 the bed of the truck and the rear bumper became loose. In the early spring of 2010 the rear bumper fell off in my hands. The vehicle was set for service at an auto repair shop. Upon inspection the frame and bed attachment, leaf springs and frame attachments, main frame, were corroded and rotted with visible holes. The vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive. The repairs have not been undertaken because a suitable replacement frame is unavailable and repairs at this time are unaffordable.
Dt: contact states: she bought a brand new Ford Ranger in 2000 and she has had to put 2 transmissions and 2 torque converters on the vehicle within 70,000 miles. The dealer said there was nothing they were going to do about it. She wrote a letter to the president of Ford and to the new motor vehicle board and to consumer affairs. She has talked to consumer affairs at Ford. She has also talked to the representative in dearborn mi. There was 34,000 miles on the first transmission she replaced. The second transmission was rebuilt. The consumer began to feel a slipping sensation when going up an incline. The brakes were replaced.
The brakes failed due to insufficient vacuum pressure under certain normal driving conditions. There is no brake power if the accelerator is open enough for the engine speed to reach 2500 RPM, during cold idle (after start up), frequently after rapid acceleration in an emergency situation where the brakes are then applied. Dealer agreed that this was a dangerous situation and replaced the brake booster (twice), brake master cylinder, and finally the entire engine. Condition remains the same. Dealer and Ford engineer now state that it is operating as designed - evidently designed to fail in critical situations.
I was driving on a residential road, coming up to a third speed bump. I stepped on the brakes to slow down a little bit and my engine revved and started going faster. I hit the brakes and my truck spun out, off the road and stopped. The seat belt harness did not lock up; the shoulder strap stayed loose, and my head was being hit against the steering wheel. Then, somehow I fell out of the truck. This has never happened before. 05/17/13 I took my truck in to get the recall fixed, and get everything checked out.
Brake complaints in other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2001 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA has 55 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Ford Ranger, 11% of the model year's 515 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Ranger brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2001 Ford Ranger, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Ranger brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.