Is the 2004 Ford Ranger a bad year?
404 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Ranger years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2004 Ford Ranger are in line with other Ranger years. Air bags and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Ranger owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 89,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 188 (47%) | 60k–137k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 46 (11%) | 62k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 29 (7%) | 45k–118k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Speed control | 19 (5%) | 10k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 17 (4%) | 45k–108k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 27 (7%) | 12k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 24 (6%) | 21k–85k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 23 (6%) | 22k–60k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 21 (5%) | 40k–86k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 17 (4%) | 9k–62k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 89,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 404 complaints: 42 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 30 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I took my vehicle to have the diagnostics checked on it , because my engine light kept coming on , after having the plugs changed.
2004 Ford ranger FX4. Auto transmission slips frequently, and also seems to "Float" Gears even at highway speeds.
2004 Ford ranger 3.0L 5SPD automatic transmission changes gears in an excessive amount when inclining over the slightest hill (Eg 5th to 4th to 3rd to 4th to 3rd).
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 89,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Ford Ranger: 12
The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly. An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The replacement frontal passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly. An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (Slider) that may experience deformation. A multi-function switch with a deformed slider may malfunction causing the turn signal, tail lights, hazard warning signal flashers and/or brake lights not to activate. Non-functioning lights could increase the risk of a crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
On certain pickup trucks, the frame may have a center rail section flange that was not formed properly. In the event of a side impact crash, the frame rail scould puncture the fuel tank, resulting in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 3
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Ford Ranger. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan…
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Brake lights inoperative
Neighbouring years
2003 Ranger: 243 complaints, keep it · 2005 Ranger: 289 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Ranger year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Ranger years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Ford Ranger a bad year?
404 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Ranger years. At 89,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Ranger?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (188), body structure (46), suspension (29), speed control (19), electrical system (17).
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Ranger have?
12 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 23V-306), Air bags (NHTSA 23V-125), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-076), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-081) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.