There are 21 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2004 Ford Ranger in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 21 of 21 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)IF I LEFT THE ENGINE IDLE MORE THAN TWO MINUTES IT WOULD NOT PASS THE STATE EMISSIONS TEST. NOW THE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WILL NOT GO OFF ANYMORE. ALMOST GOT AN ACCIDENT VEHICLE WILL NOT DRIVE OVER 20 MPH ANYMORE. I MUST HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE. I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO CHANGE THE HEADS ON THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF POOR QUALITY CAST IRON HEADS THAT WAS USED FOR LIKE THREE YEARS. MY FORD TRUCK IS ONE OF THESE YEARS THEY HAD THE ISSUES. NOW I HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FIXING IT THIS IS NONSENSE WITH THE LOW MILES I HAVE ON IT. THESE FORDS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN SUCH GOOD CARE OF THIS TRUCK AND IT STILL LOOKS LIKE BRAND-NEW I HAVE TO FIX IT! PLEASE HELP!!!
FORD SOLD THIS TRUCK WITH DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO IDLE INDEPENDENTLY. THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 12/13/2017*CN
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.0 V6 MOTORS THAT FORD PRODUCED KNOWN AS THE "VALVE RECESSION" FORD RELEASED OVER 200,000 VEHICLES WITH THESE FAULTY CYLINDER HEADS. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THEY SENT OUT A TSB (SERVICE BULLETIN) REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT YET THEY WONT RECALL THIS PROBLEM. *TR
COME TO A STOP LIGHT ENGINE IDLES ROUGH AND HESITATES AT TAKE OFF WONT GO OVER 3MPH FOR 1/4 MILE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING.
I WAS APPROACHING A INTERSECTION WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I ATTEMPTED TO STOP. AS I WAS BRAKING THE TRUCK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.THE RPMS INCREASED,AND THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND TO KEEP MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE TRUCK PUSHED ANOTHER VEHICLE INTO THE INTERSECTION,AS I WAS BRAKING. I DID NOT RECEIVE A TICKET,AND A POLICE OFFICER CONFIRMED WHAT I DESCRIBED. *TR
COMPLAINT RELATED TO 2004 FORD RANGER 4.0L V6 SOHC ENGINE WITH 81,000 MILES. ON SEPTEMBER 15TH 2010, I STARTED EXPERIENCING A SQUEAK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON MY 2004 FORD RANGER. I CHANGED THE PULLEYS THAT HAD BEARINGS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE NOISE BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. I THEN CHANGED THE BELT AND THE SQUEAK WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE. AFTER ANOTHER 1500 MILES THE SQUEAK WAS BACK AND MORE PRONOUNCED. I INVESTIGATED THIS INCIDENCE AND FOUND THAT THE PULLEY SEPARATED FROM THE HARMONIC BALANCE AND SLID TOWARDS THE TIMING CHAIN CASE. THE BELT WAS NOW RIDING ON THE RUBBER HUB OF THE CRANKSHAFT PART OF THE HARMONIC BALANCE. THE SQUEAK WAS COMING FROM THE BELT RUBBING ON THE SIDE OF THE PULLEY REPLACED HARMONIC BALANCE WITH AFTER MARKET MODEL. OLD PART AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT A VALVE SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND AS A RESULT, A PISTON FRACTURED INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,304.
2004 FORD RANGER, WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SHUTS-OFF. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL DEALERS AND AUTO SHOPS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON...CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE NO HELP THERE THEY SAID WE WHERE A FEW MILES OVER THE WARRANTY TO COVER THAT PART. SO WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE NEW IN FIVE MINUTES WHAT WAS WRONG WE HAD PAPERWORK SHOWING THE PROBLEMS FORD WAS HAVING WITH THESES TRUCKS. SO I CALLED THE NEAREST FOR DEALER AND ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE US SO MUCH TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM WE TOLD THEM WE KNOW THE PROBLEM. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE US OVER 2000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE TRUCK.SO WE HAD TO HOLD OFF DUE TO THE ECONOMY SO BAD. SO WE TOOK IT 1 WEEK AGO TO OUR MECHANIC FIXED THE PROBLEM COST US 1900 FOR EVERYTHING THEY WHERE DEFECTIVE HEADS VALUES WHERE SINKING INTO THE HEADS CYLINDERS HAD NO COMPRESSION ,SO KNOW WE ARE OUT 1900 TO HAVE THIS TRUCK REPAIRED WHERE ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO FORDS BAD PARTS THEY PUT IN THE TRUCK. FORD SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP US DO TO WE HAD A FEW MILES OVER 70,000 THAT IS BULL IF THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD US ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT IN WE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THEM TELLING US ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST ALL POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT; THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC REBUILT CYLINDER ONE. 36,000 MILES LATER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT CYLINDER ONE FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.
TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 FORD RANGER. THE FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT UNDER THE DASH BOARD. THE PASSENGERS CAN CONTACT THE COMPONENT WITH THEIR FEET BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION. THIS MAKES THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HE HAD TO PAY TO REMOVE THE VALVE AND PUT IT BEHIND THE KICK PANEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR RECALLS ON THIS VALVE. HE SENT A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 40 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE WATER IN THE FUEL TANK. HE HEARD A RATTLING NOISE AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT ASSIST AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 62,000. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF THE VALVE SPRING CAME OUT OF THE PLASTIC VALVE COVER. UPDATED 12/11/08. *JB
WHILE DRIVING WITH PASSENGER, THE INERTIA SWITCH CAN BE EASILY UNATTACHED OR LOOSENED. THIS CAUSES THE TRUCK TO RANDOMLY DIE. IF THE MANUAL VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, IN BAD TRAFFIC, OR TURNS REQUIRING POWER STEERING, THE VEHICLE CAN BE DANGEROUS. *TR
MY 2004 FORD RANGER STARTED IDLING ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THEY RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A FEW MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION IN THREE CYLINDERS DO TO THE VALVES NOT SEATING PROPERLY. THE CORRECTION IS TO HAVE BOTH HEADS REPLACED, A COST THAT NEITHER FORD OR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY IS WILLING TO PICK UP. I AM A 3RD GENERATION FORD OWNER AND EXTREMELY IRATE THAT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE MISTAKE ON THEIR PART, AND THAT THEY ARE MAKING THE CONSUMER PAY FOR THIS. FORD IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR IT. *TR
ROUGH RUNNING, MISFIRE AND A LACK OF POWER DUE TO A LOSS OF COMPRESSION. *JB
2004 FORD RANGER, 3L V6, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALER SAID WAS AN INJECTOR PRPOBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC SHOP, WHO FOUND ZERO COMPRESSION ON 5 AND 6 CYLINDERS, AND THE VALVE SEATS WERE DAMAGED. INJECTORS WERE OKAY. BOTH CYLINDER HEADS NEED REPLACING WITH THE NEW . CYLINDER HEADS WHICH WOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE, ORIGINAL CYLINDER HEADS ,PER THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN FORD RELEASED ON 05-26-2003, BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNERS OR RECALL THE VEHICLES. THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND FORD COULD BE IDENTIFIED AS A CRAP COMPANY FOR DEFRAUDING THE PUBLIC AND ROBBING ME. LIGHT CAME ON AT 55, 000 MILES.*AK
2004 FORD RANGER WITH 3.0 LITER FUEL INJECTION. BOTH CYLINDER HEADS CRACKED AROUND EXHAUST VALVE SEATS. BOTH HEADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS 46,000 MILES AND NOT ABUSED. *NM
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY 2004 FORD RANGER KEPT COMING ON, I WAS TOLD BY ONE DEALER THAT IT WAS AN EMISSION SIGNAL AND THAT IT WOULD RESET. IT DID BUT KEPT COMING BACK. THE TRUCK THEN STARTED RUNNING BAD, SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF MY ENGINES HEADS. AND OF COURSE BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON MY TRUCK, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. I SAID THAT IF FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT THEN WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED THESE ENGINES. *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STARTING PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
Showing 1-20 of 21 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
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Vehicle import recorded: Apr 29, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.