16th Aug 2007, 22:18

Looking to buy a Ranger, I always wanted to get another full size Chevy, but today I test drove as ranger 3.0L with a 5-speed. like the truck a lot and I was very impressed with the way the truck handled and the stance of the truck. tomorrow I am heading over to hopefully pick up a 98 4.0L ext cab flair side XLT ranger. it has 98K on it with good tread let. seems like a good deal, any ideas?

20th Sep 2007, 12:07

Have a 98 Ranger 2 wheel drive, auto, ext cab xlt. LOVE IT. It now has 132,000 miles on it and needs to have the front ball joints replaced. Of course you can't just replace the upper's, but you have to replace the whole control arm. Will cost me $600. Is it worth it? I think so. Only owe $600 on it yet and am planning on going for the most miles record. 500,000 miles. Will always be a Ford man.

20th Sep 2007, 20:10

Have 1998 Ranger also 155000 miles love it. Replaced upper ball joints also.. You do not have to buy control arm if it is 2wd.. just take upper arms off and push out joint and went to O'riely parts and got 2 new moog joints for don't remember 55.00 apiece? and had them pressed in. local wielding shop charged me total of 20.00 bucks...

But when will I have to replaced the clutch???

25th Mar 2008, 12:27

I have owned 2 Rangers in the past 20 years and only had to do the usual repairs, brakes, oil change -tune-ups etc. I only put about 6,000 miles a year on the vehicle. I live and work near the ocean_ plenty of Salt spray and the roads in my town are horrible, full of potholes.

I just replaced the upper ball joints at 55,000 miles, seems a bit unusual to have to replace them so soon. Only other problems have been with the door locks and interior light.

The INTERIOR light won't go off (I removed the bulb) and I can't unlock either door SO I NEVER LOCK IT.

I would rather have a Toyota but I can't afford one. I think the Ranger is a great truck and a good value for the money. Next time I will buy a 4 cylinder, man. trans and save some $ on fuel.

29th Oct 2008, 16:03

I love my XLT 4X4 offroad. 106K Never had a problem with it. Made a few mod's, to help it along. The 3.0 is hard to kill. if you take proper care of it. it's a good motor.

26th Mar 2009, 03:27

I have an 01 Ranger XLT 4X4 4.0L with 145000 miles and mine is a pile. I have bought my last Ford. I am the original owner and I have used it like a truck, but not abused it.

I have had to replace one of the front rotors several times because the calipers rust and stick.

I am replacing all 4 ball joints this week (way over due).

The door sensor says that the door is ajar when it's cold. The dome and bed lights won't go off now and that kills my battery.

All 3 O2 sensors went out.

There is a speed sensor that causes my check engine light to come on.

The 4X4 has a herd time going back to 2WD and makes a grinding noise.

The camber is out about 10-15 degrees, and I am told that you can't adjust it (hopefully the new ball joints will help, but I don't think that will be enough).

I changed the spark plugs once, and it took me 1 1/2 hours to get the back 2 on the passenger side.

The clutch fluid had a leak in the tranny.

The center console lid broke from me putting my elbow on it when I get in the truck.

I do love the 4.0L and the way the truck sits and the way it rides. It pulls a trailer very well for a small truck.

I guess my Toyota spoiled me. I drove the hell out of it to 198000 miles and the only things that I ever did was change the plugs wires cap & rotor, oil (not nearly as often as I was supposed to) and headlights. I am going back to Toyota or Nissans from now on.

29th Sep 2009, 13:39

A lot of money. 1998 Ford Ranger with 109,000 miles. Sway bar, shocks, needs ball joints and tie rod end. Ford did a bad job with the suspension.

20th Mar 2010, 21:18

I bought my 98 Ranger new. It has been reliable for over decade. Although I've also had the problems, door ajar, interior light, O2 sensor, broken armrest, and ball joints. But nothing last forever, at some point things wear out. Compared with 60s, 70s autos this American made truck is awesome. It has cost very little for up keep. It is as good or better than any Toyota or Nissan.

2nd May 2010, 09:19

Thanks guys. I am going crazy trying to decide if I should drive the 97 Ranger (Splash) that for most of its life has sat in my garage, because it (or I) can't make it in the deep snow we get here, or trade it for a car (recently lost my car).

I bought this truck in 99 when it still had a year warranty (useless of course), and was told way back then it needed ball joints. Thus far only one has been replaced, and this truck goes wherever it wants, including up in the air when riding a road that is not perfectly smooth, and it always has. It just keeps getting worse despite the replaced ball joint. The mechanic insisted one was all it needed. That was 2006, and again it has been sitting in garage. It has less than 50000 miles on it. I feel so not safe any time I have to go on highway.

This is the roughest vehicle I have ever driven. I see other trucks flying by at 70 mph without any trouble; not that I intend to drive that fast. Any further comments/suggestions would be much appreciated.

16th Sep 2010, 10:14

I own a 1998 Ford Ranger XLT. I purchased this truck, used, in 2002, it had 31000 miles at that time. This truck has a 4.0 V-6 with a four speed automatic.

It now has 89000 miles and looks, runs, and drives like new. The biggest problem was replacement of the cam shaft synchronizer. No other problems.

I am very pleased with the overall quality of this vehicle. I believe it competes favorably with any other brand out there.

11th Nov 2010, 09:18

I have a 1998 Ranger XLT 2 door regular cab LB. I bought this car for $600 with 175,000 miles on it and it has been in one accident before I bought it.

As I bought it, I was like, crap I gotta save up for a new one before this one breaks down. So that's what I did.

After 220,000 on it I was like, how is this thing surviving?! After 290,000 I put in a system. Finally at 352,364 this beauty met its maker. But I didn't let it die my friends.

With the money I saved up I bought a new engine for 2,100 and a new tranny for 1,200 and put the suckers in there. Now I'm driving with a combined 16,000 miles on the engine and tranny and waiting for something else to break on this.

I am never leaving this car, or the Ford family!

23rd Nov 2010, 10:30

I own a 99 Ford Ranger 2.5L 5 speed. Best vehicle I've ever owned, hands down. Just turned 210000 miles, runs perfect and gets nearly 30 MPG on the highway.

I have never touched the engine or transmission other than regular maintenance. I have replaced 2 ball joints, the exhaust and had a problem with the front brakes hanging up.

Everything else has worked perfectly. Still looks good, no rust. Hoping to get at least another 100000 miles out of it.

23rd Nov 2010, 17:34

Finding a bad Ranger is hard to do. I've owned 4 since 1991, and never had one single problem with any of mine. I just looked at a used Ranger with 346,000 miles on it. It looked and ran like new, and has never had an engine or transmission repair. That's pretty typical of Rangers.

26th Feb 2011, 09:13

I have a 1998 Ranger 4 cylinder 2.5. I drive it 100 miles a day and just hit 200k. I haven't had any major problems with it. Original clutch too!! Great MPG... Love it!!