Photo: JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2006 Ford Ranger: common problems and reliability
One of the weaker Ranger years.
271 owner complaints, most about air bags. 12 recalls.
Should I buy a 2006 Ranger?The 2006 Ford Ranger has 271 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 12 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and structure.
Safety record for the 2006 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2006 Ford Ranger vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Ranger years only. How we score it
Is 2006 a good year for the Ranger?
Across the 25 Ranger model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2017) to 818 (1999). With 271 complaints, the 2006 Ranger sits about the same as the model's median of 243.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2006 Ranger
air bags:frontal
Campaign 21V076000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 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.
air bags:frontal
Campaign 21V081000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. 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.
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 16V036000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 18V022000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006 Ford Ranger trucks. Ford is requesting owners NOT TO DRIVE these vehicles until they have been repaired. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. On January 11, 2018, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 2,700 model year 2006 Ranger vehicles built with passenger-side air bag inflators. As of February 9, 2018, Ford is expanding the recall to a total of 33,310 model year 2006 Ranger vehicles built with passenger-side air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Show 8 more recalls
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 18V023000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006 Ford Ranger trucks. Ford is requesting owners NOT TO DRIVE these vehicles until they have been repaired. On January 11, 2018, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 2,700 model year 2006 Ranger vehicles built with driver-side air bag inflators . As of February 9, 2018, Ford is expanding the recall to a total of 33,310 model year 2006 Ranger vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 17V787000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 17V788000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is superseding a previous recall for certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks to implement a final repair. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 15V322000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Ranger trucks manufactured March 24, 2003, to May 4, 2006. 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.
exterior lighting:tail lights
Campaign 11V352000FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." 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.
visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Campaign 05V520000ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 23V125000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement frontal passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Campaign 23V306000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Ranger vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on the generation discussed. For older models (pre-2011), there is a strong, positive consensus on their durability, simplicity, and value, with specific engines praised for exceptional longevity.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Ranger. See the full Ranger owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Ranger listings typically run $18,998–$27,490.
Other Ranger model years
Compare every Ranger year side by side to see how 2006 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Ranger against its rivals
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