CarRecallWatchThe 2004 Ford Ranger has 10 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 405 complaints with NHTSA, including 42 crashes, 3 fires, 35 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Air Bags (189 reports).
2004 Ford Ranger recalls
Passenger Air Bag May Not Inflate Properly in a Crash
Replacement front passenger air bag inflators installed under an earlier recall may have been put in incorrectly.
Passenger airbag may not inflate properly in a crash
Some 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under an earlier recall, and those inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
Front air bag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger vehicles may have a replacement driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator that can explode over time.
Front Air Bag Inflator Can Explode and Send Metal Fragments
Some front air bag inflators used as replacement service parts may rupture when the air bag deploys.
Driver airbag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments at occupants
The driver-side frontal airbag inflator can develop excessive internal pressure when the airbag deploys, which may cause the inflator to rupture.
Passenger airbag inflator may rupture in a crash
The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator can build up excessive internal pressure when the airbag deploys, which may cause the inflator to rupture.
Driver Airbag May Rupture and Spray Metal Fragments
The driver-side frontal airbag inflator can build up excessive internal pressure when the airbag deploys, which may cause the inflator to rupture.
Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture in a Crash
The passenger-side frontal air bag inflator in certain 2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks may be affected by moisture intrusion over time.
Most common 2004 Ford Ranger problems
Problem areas named in the 405 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 189 |
| Structure | 48 |
| Suspension | 29 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Tires | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 17 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
What owners report
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Ford Ranger on September 11, 2026. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle mileage was reported at 74,000.The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced at O'Reilly Auto Parts, the contact was informed that the odometer was rolled back. The contact was informed that the odometer was last reported at 273,000 miles. The VIN was unavailable.
After driving for 45 minutes on smooth highway, my front driver's side tire blew while I was going 75mph. Had I been closer to the vehicle I had just passed, there could have easily been a bad wreck as I had little control of the vehicle. I was fortunately able to pull over and slam on my brakes safely. The tires have under 40,000 miles on them and showed no signs of low pressure or issues prior to the blowout. I was told by Discout Tire that they would refund me for a replacement tire, but that the Falken Wildpeak R15s on my vehicle have not been recalled, a different size of this tire model have though. There was no reason for the sidewalls of this tire to blow. The air pressure was fine
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving on the highway in rainy weather at 60 MPH, she lost control of the vehicle and drove off the road. The contact stated that she could not recount what happened moments after she drove off the road; she did recall that she pulled up to a stop sign and her air bags had deployed. The police arrived at the scene and assisted the contact with moving the vehicle out of the road; a police report was not filed. The contact did not seek medical attention but suffered burns to her right arm and chest. The contact also sustained bruising to her face. The vehicle was towed the next day to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle
since 2020 i have owned this ford ranger edge and have replaced drivers side exterior door handle 4 times, interior drivers side door handle 2 times and exterior passenger door handle 2 times. they keep breaking at the clip on the left side. It has been so bad that i actually had drivers side interior and exterior door handles break and could not get in on drivers side. It has caused me to be late for work, terminated from one service job, and a lot of stress. I have ordered handles a total of 5 times. Not any have been of quality to be called "Built Ford Tough"
The contact owned a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:Â 17V788000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
2004 Ford Ranger questions
Does the 2004 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls for the 2004 Ford Ranger: Passenger Air Bag May Not Inflate Properly in a Crash; Passenger airbag may not inflate properly in a crash; Front air bag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments; Front Air Bag Inflator Can Explode and Send Metal Fragments; Driver airbag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments at occupants. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Ranger?
Based on 405 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (189), Structure (48), Suspension (29).
How do I check if a recall on my 2004 Ford Ranger has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.