 2007 Ford Ranger Sport. Click image to enlarge |
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2007 Ford Ranger Sport by Paul Williams Manufacturer’s web site |
By Chris Chase; photos by Paul Williams
Photo Gallery:
2007 Ford Ranger
The compact pickup truck is a dying breed. The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier are now more like mid-sizers, and the Dodge Dakota was never anything but that. That leaves but a handful of little pickups to carry the compact banner. Among these are General Motors’ Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, and the Ford Ranger – and its Mazda B-series twin – that you see here.
The Ranger dates way back to the early 1980s, and it was that first generation that spawned the Bronco II, Ford’s first compact SUV. The more sophisticated Explorer shared many of its underpinnings with the second-generation Ranger.
 2007 Ford Ranger Sport. Click image to enlarge |
In 1998, the fourth-generation Ranger was introduced. While it didn’t look vastly different than the third-gen truck, it had a longer wheelbase, and regular-cab trucks got a three-inch longer cab for more interior space. Also, the front suspension was significantly redesigned.
The base engine was a 2.5-litre four-cylinder (replacing a 2.3-litre engine) generating 119 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. Optional motors included 3.0- and 4.0-litre V6s (150 hp/185 lb-ft and 160 hp/225 lb-ft) respectively. A five-speed manual transmission was standard; a four-speed automatic was the option in four-cylinder and 3.0-litre engines, while the 4.0-litre got a five-speed auto. In 2001, the 4.0-litre “Vulcan” V6 was replaced by the more advanced “Duratec” 4.0-litre V6; this engine offered 203 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque.
| Verdict |
| Highs: Low used prices; basic models quite durable |
| Lows: Reliability falters as options are added |
Rear-wheel drive was standard, and four-wheel drive was available, but only in V6 models. The Ranger was sold in regular and extended cab configurations, but only one box size was offered.
 2007 Ford Ranger Sport. Click image to enlarge |
The four-cylinder engine disappeared in 2000 and wouldn’t return until 2002, when a smaller, 2.3-litre engine replaced the 2.5-litre as the base powerplant. Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide suggests that the four-speed automatic transmission was dropped in 2002, leaving the five-speed auto as the only transmission option, but other sources suggest that the four-speed remained in production until 2004.
In early models, fuel economy ratings ranged from 10.7 L/100 km (city) and 8.0 L/100 km (highway) for a four-cylinder, manual transmission model, to 15.3 L/100 km (city) and 10.7 L/100 km (highway) for a version fitted with the 3.0-litre V6, four-speed auto and four-wheel drive.
Despite the newer four-banger’s smaller displacement, it actually made more power than the old 2.5-litre. It also got more favourable fuel consumption ratings: 9.8 L/100 km (city) and 7.7 L/100 km (highway). With the four-cylinder engine, the Ranger and B-series regularly earned the title of most fuel-efficient new pickup trucks in Canada.
 2007 Ford Ranger Sport. Click image to enlarge |
A glance at Consumer Reports’ entry for the Ranger paints this little truck as a so-so choice reliability-wise. Trouble spots like transmissions, four-wheel drive system and brakes resulted in an “average” used vehicle verdict.
TheRangerStation.com offers this handy list of things to look out for in used Ranger. There’s also a list of known trouble spots. According to this list, common automatic transmission problems include four-speeds slipping out of park.
According to this thread, the electric motor that handles shifting four-wheel drive trucks between two- and four-wheel drive can get cranky. Here’s a how-to for fixing/replacing it.
 2007 Ford Ranger Sport. Click image to enlarge |
Both regular and extended cab Rangers earned an “acceptable” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in that organization’s frontal offset crash test. In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) frontal crash test, the Ranger earned four stars each for driver and front passenger protection. Regular cab models earned five stars for front seat side impact protection, while extended cab models got four stars in this test.
According to Canadian Red Book, used Ranger values start at $3,100 for a 1998 regular cab 4×2 model, to about $14,400 for a 2007 Ranger regular cab XLT 4×2 (Red Book doesn’t list values for extended cab trucks. The list of values for the B-series is more extensive, however: here, a 2007 Cab Plus SE 4×4 (the rough equivalent to a Ranger XLT extended cab 4×4) is worth $20,325.
I’m a bit of a sucker for four-cylinder pickups (yeah, I’m weird), so a basic 2002 or 2003 Ranger or B-series looks appealing for a price between roughly $3,800 and $5,800. And if you’re only buying it to haul stuff for projects around the house, why not go older.
 2007 Ford Ranger Sport. Click image to enlarge |
What’s interesting about the Ranger is that it seems to hold its resale value better than many of Ford’s cars. Where that basic 1998 Ranger is worth $3,100, a 1998 Taurus SHO – which cost more than double the Ranger’s MSRP new – is worth just $3,175. Also, while it doesn’t hold true across the line, the Ranger generally seems to hold its value better than the B-series.
Ford’s name carries a lot of equity in the truck market, but the typical harsh depreciation that affects most domestic models means that these little pickups will be cheaper to buy than a comparable Nissan or Toyota model. Mazda’s values are low probably because few people even realize the company sells a pickup, and those who do, know that it’s a Ford underneath.
The key to success with a used Ranger or B-series appears to lie in keeping it simple. These trucks’ main trouble spots are their automatic transmissions and four-wheel drive systems. My suggestion, then, is to look for a 4×2 model with manual transmission – and if you want something you could also drive daily without guilt, choose a four-cylinder model.
There are many sites on the web dedicated to the Ranger. Among the best include RangerPowerSports.com and TheRangerStation.com, both of which are busy and have plenty of information. Other sites to check out are Ford-Forums.com/ford-ranger; FordTough.ca (this one’s Canadian); ExplorerForum.com and FordF150.net/ranger. The vast majority of the information on the Ford sites will apply to the Mazda B-series too, but just in case, there’s a Ranger section at MazdaForum.com and at Forums.MazdaWorld.org.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 1997189; Units affected: 467
1998: The flexible section of the chassis-mounted fuel line which connects to the engine may come in contact with the exhaust manifold. This could result in damage to the fuel line and a possible fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Correction: a clip will be installed to hold the fuel line in the intended design position.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 1998035; Units affected: 307
1998: Note: 4×4 vehicles with off road option. These vehicles do not comply with C.M.V.S.S. 120 – Tire selection and rims for vehicles other than passenger cars. Certification labels incorrectly identify the vehicle’s wheel size and type as 15×7.0j rather than 16×7.0j. Correction: new labels will be provided.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 1999061; Units affected: 35,668
1998-1999: On certain vehicles, the speed control cable may interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the speed control. If the speed control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially cause an accident. By not using speed control, this condition will not occur. Correction: Vehicles will be inspected and, if required, speed control cable will be replaced.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2007258; Units affected: 165,447
1998-2002: On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The failure mode appears to be different than that of Recall 2005028 (05S28). This time, the concern is with long term durability performance issues causing the switch to fail. Correction: Initially as an interim repair, owners will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. As soon as replacement parts are available, owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness designed to eliminate the potential risk of fire.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 1998175; Units affected: 9
1999: An “o” ring on the fuel injector damper assembly may have been damaged during assembly. This could result in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could potentially result in a fire. Correction: fuel injector damper assembly will be inspected and replaced if necessary.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 1999178; Units affected: 1,167
2000: Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 108 – Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. A design change removal of a fog lamp circuit relay allows the fog lamps to be activated with the headlamp switch in the OFF position and the tail lamps, side marker lamps, parking lamps and licence plate lamps not illuminated. Correction: Dealers will install a relay and wring overlay on affected vehicles.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2000227; Units affected: 3,469
2000: Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements C.M.V.S.S. 209 – Seat Belt Assemblies. The seat belt assemblies may not withstand the force requirements of the standard. In a crash, if the belt buckle fails, there is an increased risk of injury to the occupant. Correction: Belt buckle assemblies will be inspected and replaced if necessary.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2001194; Units affected: 78,402
2001: Certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans equipped with seat belts supplied by TRW. It is possible that the driver’s and/or front passenger’s outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2002017; Units affected: 78
2002: Certain manual transmission trucks equipped with the FX4 package. The rear axle differential case could fracture under a high torque event such as when customers accelerate rapidly from a stop or when a spinning tire suddenly gains traction. Differential fractures could potentially result in wheel lock-up. Correction: Dealer will replace the rear differential assembly.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2004244; Units affected: 30
2004: On certain short and long wheel base regular cab vehicles, the frame may have a center rail section flange that was not properly formed. In the event of a collision, an improperly formed center rail section could potentially puncture the fuel tank, resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Correction: Dealers will inspect the frame flange in the area of the fuel tank and, if it is found to be malformed, will replace the vehicle.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2005356; Units affected: 13,581
2006: On certain vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease applied to the output shaft gear. After a period of continuous use on the high-speed setting, lack of grease may cause the gear teeth to distort and/or fracture during operation, resulting in the loss of wiper function. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if required, apply grease to the output shaft gear.
Transport Canada Recall Number: 2001002; Units affected: 8,497
2001: Certain vehicles may have a wire formed hood striker that may be susceptible to fatigue fractures. If the hood striker fractures, the hood may fly open while the vehicle is being driven. A hood fly-up while the vehicle is being operated may result in reduced driver visibility and, potentially, a vehicle crash. Correction: Hood striker will be replaced with a revised hood striker.
Used vehicle prices vary depending on factors such as general condition, odometer reading, usage history and options fitted. Always have a used vehicle checked by an experienced auto technician before you buy.
For information on recalls, see Transport Canada’s web-site, www.tc.gc.ca, or the U.S. National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA)web-site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
For information on vehicle service bulletins issued by the manufacturer, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
For information on consumer complaints about specific models, see www.lemonaidcars.com.