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2004 Ford Ranger consumer reviews

$14,575–$15,745 MSRP range
side view of 2004 Ranger Ford
(39 reviews)
92% of drivers recommend this car
Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.2
  • Interior 4.2
  • Performance 4.2
  • Value 4.5
  • Exterior 4.4
  • Reliability 4.8
Explore the 2004 Ford Ranger

I've had my little Ranger for 3 years and driven it

I've had my little Ranger for 3 years and driven it around 40k miles of the 140k miles it has on it so I feel I can leave an honest review of it. It has 2.3l with a 5 speed Manual transmission. My wife refers to it as my old man truck since I recently turned 62. So that should give you an idea of it take off ability. Getting on expressways at rush hour isn't fun as it's a slow buildup of speed to get on. Once you get merged on its not hard to get up and maintain your speed. But the payback that I'm getting from this little truck is great, I get approximately 26 MPG in the city and 30 on the highway. I did recently have to put a little money into it for front Struts and a muffler but those are normal Maintenace items on a 21-year-old 140k mile truck. Other than changing the oil I've been able to drive 40k miles on $1,600 worth of repairs. Everything else on the truck is great, solid body with no rust.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 3.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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HAPPY GRANNY. (85) and going strong

My third Ranger a 2004 Xlt 5 speed Manual tranny 6cyl that I bought in 2007 with 52k. I now have 230,000 miles only issue when a ford dealer Mechanic didn’t know how to drive a manual, when I finally stopped doing all oil and all filter changes myself last year, I requested an experienced manual driver for my truck. I only use Motorcraft products and rarely change my gas only use Conoco I get 20+mpg have no fluid leaks or useage. I pulled a 18ft camper and several uhaul trlrs. Never had any issues. Have great speed pickup in traffic. This truck will be my forever vehicle to pass on to my great grandchild. LOVE MY RANGER

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
9 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Tough little truck

Had a 2004 4x4 manual ranger as a business vehicle for years I could recommend them if they aren't rotted out. Ours lasted 260,000 miles before the frame got really bad and it's now a farm truck. The engine is relatively reliable easy to replace and parts are cheap. The interior is sparse and cheap like an old pickup truck it's fine for what it is The exterior gets the job done and the 4x4 worked great in the winter. The manual shifter felt like a truck you knew it was in a gear. And it drove fine on the highway just don't expect it to be a race car I could overall recommend this truck to anyone as long as the frame isn't completely rotted out

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 3.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
6 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Hands down most reliable truck

I took over payments on this truck from my grandfather. It had 116000 miles. It’s got over 300000 and it doesn’t use oil. I’ve always put synthetic oil and maintained it. Brakes, tires, bolt on parts etc... wear out but it’s a solid truck. That’s why you still see them on the roads and not many for sale. I would trust it to drive cross country. No lie

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
38 people out of 41 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Great choice for first car for my son

I am glad we got this car for my son, we decided to get a 2 door so he wont be giving a ride to a lot of his friends and we got it for a good price and good condition

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Great little truck

I brought it used with 133k on the truck. It was a fleet lease truck. I owned the truck for 7 years and put another 150k on it. Never a major repair until the end(which I didn't do) it needed a new engine. But at 283k and 17 years old ...something would give out especially when I didn't maintain it has it should have. It developed a miss fire since The spark plugs weren't change by me after I put over 100k on a set of plugs. Other then that just keep oil in the engine. I did replace the Radiator too... other then that and brake pads she ran fine. Ford can build trucks that last forever. Absolutely would buy another.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
15 people out of 16 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Very Stylish We’ll Taken care of Truck

I loved driving this truck for the 4 years I owned it, It is very comfortable and drives smoothly. Its very well taken care of and I always felt cool driving it and stepping out of it.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Good as long as it is loaded properly

If you dont place a load at the very front of the bed the front wheels come up and handling and braking are adversely affected.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 3.0
  • Value 3.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Does not recommend this car
2 people out of 6 found this review helpful. Did you?
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The little simple truck

It is exactly what I wanted...a small truck, capable of putting my family of four in or going to the golf course. It can handle the light duty hauling and other small tasks I do around the house and still serve the family.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 5.0
  • Interior 5.0
  • Performance 5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 5.0
  • Reliability 5.0
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Most Reliable Truck Owned

Great vehicle for the money,great mileage,low maintenance,great, mechanical's. I have owned three ford Rangers and everyone of them were great and dependable trucks.I am not sure about the new 2017 Model Rangers,I prefer the original style and dependability record it provided.

Rating breakdown (out of 5):
  • Comfort 4.0
  • Interior 4.0
  • Performance 4.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Exterior 4.0
  • Reliability
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Does recommend this car
1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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