Very reliable and dependable truck
The interior dome light occasionally does not go out.
This truck is great in the snow.
The engine makes a "marbling" sound like a diesel. Has not affected performance.
Very good pick up and power on the highway.
Sometimes the four wheel drive does not disengage or engage. This truck does not have external locking hubs.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 2nd January, 2004
Well suited truck that is just as at home as a light duty work horse or a fun daily drive
-Had too replace the O2 sensor twice once at 35000km and again at 50000km (both times covered under warranty).
-Brakes seem to wear out every 30000km.
-Replaced spark plugs at 100000km.
-Door jam sensor is messed up (yet to fix it I just pulled the dome light fuse).
I love this truck it has served me faithfully and reliably since the day I brought it home. It has always got me were I needed to go (even though she's only a 2wd), and has done so in comfort. Fuel economy has been fairly decent averaging about 380km to about 52L of fuel with mixed driving conditions. The little 3.0L V-6 is a great little spirited power plant that is well suited to the truck and is very capable of highway passing and pulling small loads. The automatic transmission is also well suited to its task with prompt smooth down shifts and up shifts. Interior comfort is also very good the split bench seat offers surprising support and decent comfort (although it gets tiring on long trips). Interior noise is decent, but can get on the loud when you hit the higher rpm's. Styling is top notch I love the look of the truck with its flare side box on non-extended cab. I have only two minor gripes about the truck in that I find the interior carpeting to be fairly poor and in some areas showing the metal underneath, and that the brakes on the truck seem too small for the vehicle (the rotors usually warp after only 30000km).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st December, 2003
The 99 Ranger Flareside is a great little truck. I would recommend everybody to get one; it is the perfect combination of power, style, and still has good fuel economy.
The Ranger had been wrecked before I got it, and it still runs drives good. I would recommend everybody, if they want a little truck, to get one; they're good trucks, very dependable...
Affordable, Dependable, Power beyond the usual Ford
Windshield wipers come on without warning from time to time.
To get better mileage I had to customize my exhaust and put on a forced air intake. Now it gets about 400 miles to a 12 gallon tank.
Power steering leaks a bit, but adding fluid is cheap.
Platinum Four spark plugs also improve gas mileage as well as jump in horsepower. Also after-market plug wires.
Never had the vehicle in the shop. Maintaining is easy as long as you get the manual.
Passenger side air bag fried out at 76000 miles. Still haven't fixed. Don't care much for passengers anyway.
This truck is a demon on the road. I am quite fond of racing and I've never been beaten in this truck.
Right turns at high speeds are a little scary. The front tires don't like to hold the road.
Cabin is about all you can expect from a ford truck. Seems to leak a little though.
Rear end loves to spin if you don't have the right tires on it. It's a little light in the rear.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th December, 2003
19th Feb 2009, 18:52
If you spray some WD-40 into the lock/jam mechanism; your dome light problem will vanish. Keep a can handy however; you will need to do this about every 6 months - depending upon the climate in which you live. Humidity, rain, etc.., is the culprit. (Besides the poor design).
I have owned my '99 Ranger XLT 3.0L Flex since it rolled out. I have had to replace the stereo system, speed sensor and take the dash underneath the steering column off. The fog lights were ALWAYS on when using the headlights or parking lights. When I removed that panel, there was the push button light up switch! It was lying amongst other wires in the on position. I managed to find a crevice and poke it through as I replaced the panel. I suppose I should get the Dremmel out and make a proper mounting orifice. Yeah.. one day.
Oh, the Ford now has 160,000 miles and still runs like the day I picked it up with 1.7 miles on it.