Overview & Reviews
Most notable for the 2001 Ford Ranger is the availability of the Explorer's 207-horsepower, 4.0-liter SOHC V6. In other engine news, the flexible-fuel feature on the 3.0-liter V6 has been dropped and there will also be a new base 2.3-liter four-cylinder coming soon after the model-year introduction. ABS is now standard on all models. A new Edge trim level has a monochromatic appearance, which includes color-keyed bumpers and wheel lip moldings. Exterior changes are numerous. All models get a new grille, bumpers, and headlamps, while the XLT 4x4 and Edge get a new hood and wheel lip moldings. Four colors are new as well as an optional in-dash, six-disc CD changer.
User Reviews:
Showing 1 through 10 of 128.00-
Like betting on college football... - 2001 Ford Ranger
By Scott Hendrickson - December 4 - 8:53 pmI read reviews of people making it to 200 with almost no problems. I dont know if these are all people that dont use their truck as a trick or what. It sends like all the reviews of people pulling trailers, doing construction, etc. start paying out like crazy to keep their poorly built ranger barely running. Mine is at 128k and has had all scheduled oil changes and maintenance. In the last 2 years it has needed a new starter, fuel pump, fuel injector, transmission rebuild, one new cylinder, aaaaand now 5 out of 6 cylinders are all misfiring and showing codes for repair. Looking like it needshould an engine rebuild now. Transmission AND engine rebuild by 128k?!?!?! Thats insane. At least I got it used. It was a nice truck while it was a nice truck. But overall its useless if it turns into an unreliable money pit starting at only 80k with quality maintenance and regular care.
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Best light trucks on the market - 2001 Ford Ranger
By Jody Owen - September 9 - 11:14 pmThis is my second Ranger. Between the two Ive owned Ive driven a combined 400,000 miles over 20 years on the 2.3/2.5 engine with manual transmission. The first was bought new with the XLT Lariat package. The second is an XL bought with 65,000 miles in it. This truck isnt a sports car. It isnt a luxury car. If you want these why are you buying a truck at all? Its a truck and it looks and runs like one. As it should. But it corners as well as my Spitfire and feels nearly as sporty with the excellent 4 speed/overdrive gearbox and peppy engine. And its comfortable and pleasant in the cab though not a luxury car. The interior is basic. It is well laid out and attractively designed enough, even in the XL base model configuration. In both my trucks the gauges are complete and well laid out. The seats are comfortable whether on longer drives or getting groceries. The interior is durable and well made. But yes, the extended cab would be nice for briefcases, groceries, dogs and so on. And this is not a family car or people carrier. Know what it does better than any of the 17 or so vehicles Ive owned before and during my 22 years of Ranger ownership? It starts, drives and stops with reasonable fuel economy every time. It hauls tools and material for my work and tows my tent trailer and small boat without problems. It costs little to maintain, being common and American. And repairs are extremely rare and pretty reasonable. Im terrible at maintanance. Over 400,000 miles Ive changed oil at most a dozen times. Rotating tires or chassis lubes? Never. But both trucks combined cost something like $1000 in non maintanance repair at my mechanics over 20 years. With my ridiculous neglect the truck simply just keeps going. Basically the bulletproof reliability of my Ranger enables me to afford the maintanance of British and Italian sports cars, to which the term reliable will never be applied. For me the manual transmission and peppy motor are just fun to drive as well. The handling and braking are good or a bit better than that. The ride is sporty. But they do bump steer when not loaded, and they are relatively noisy compared to a mid range passenger car or sport utility. Resale? In my area, suburban Puget Sound, I could sell the truck I bought 7 years ago for pretty much what I paid for it. After 7 years of hard use. These trucks are among the best things Ford ever made, itself a high compliment.
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Good choice for first truck - 2001 Ford Ranger
By fluffy500 - March 26 - 8:55 amI bought an 01 Ranger 3.0 XLT 2wd and love it. After I bought it, I let my dad drive it to Springfield from Tulsa, and he floored it the whole way- blowing the head gasket, radiator, and water pump... so dont drive it like a race car. But after replacing the motor, cooling system, and other things, it runs like a dream. I put a lot of performance parts in the engine when I had to replace it, chipped it and put dual straights on it with glasspacks and this improves the mileage 22city 37 highway!. The only problem is the delayed shifting in the aut trans. Looking for a new one that can handle the added torque and power. What kind of trans should I install? Im thinkin an F150 trans...
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Never getting rid of it!!! - 2001 Ford Ranger
By xelaciraptor - August 22 - 11:43 pmI bought this Ranger two and a half years ago with 146000 miles on it. Now it has 162000 miles on it and it still hasnt had any major or even moderate problems its entire life. The acceleration on the vehicle is outstanding with the 4.0L and it feels like I have a V8. The only lacking thing on the vehicle is the lack of room for people in the back and also the comfort of the back seats.
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I made a huge mistake buying this truck - 2001 Ford Ranger
By exhaustbearing - August 15 - 6:10 pmI own a 2WD 2001 Ranger Edge with the 3.0L V6 and an automatic transmission with only 80,000 miles on it. So far in the year Ive had it, Ive had to replace the oil pan gasket (the 3L commonly has oil pan gasket problems, mine was pushed out from the pan/block seal at both ends of the engine), fuel pump (died), blower motor (died), blower resister pack (melted), dash lights (a few behind the speedo and tach died), and starter. And Ive still got to replace the seal around the third brake light (leaks like a sieve), and the PATS system (not aftermarket, its Fords antitheft system - it often decides the factory keys are not right and locks the truck down in theft mode) Do not buy this truck
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garbage - 2001 Ford Ranger
By j433r - January 30 - 5:31 pmthis truck is absolutely awful, everytime i drive it there is something breaking on it. Just got the heater valve repaired along with all the ball joints when i noticed a hole in my vacuum and also a strange loud creaking sound coming from my front wheels. Truck is very prone to rust, and should be checked thoroughly before purchase. Not to mention, very low cosmetic appeal when compared to tacoma or frontier. Suspension is very stiff and leads to a very uncomfortable ride Also horrible on gas. Just plain a nightmare like experience, I will never buy a ranger ever again in my lifetime, or simply any American made vehicle. My uncle just hit 320xxx in his toyota which is a real truck.
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Gotta love it - 2001 Ford Ranger
By mrfilter2u - December 30 - 12:23 amI bought a 2001 extended cab 4x4 (fully loaded) for my daughter, after she had about a year behind the wheel. She had been driving a 2009 Mazdz 3 and was scared to drive the taller 4x4. I am hoping that she will soon learn to love this truck as much as i do. I runs really well, has every option, well kept extended cab with the 4.0 motor. CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT. WHY WANT SHE DRIVE IT? SHE WANTED A JEEP AND A 4X4 PICK UP IS THE NEXT BEST THINMG.
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Good for a first truck - 2001 Ford Ranger
By ii_jasons_ii - July 5 - 9:43 amReceived this truck for my 16th birthday. Outside looks stylish but the inside is cramp and uncomfortable. I cant drive over 70mph because the cab starts to shake. Trade-in is low.
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Love My Ranger - 2001 Ford Ranger
By sjaj1 - March 25 - 11:47 amI have a 2001 Ford Ranger 4x4 and the front end is shaking real bad. The steering wheel at 30 mph moves from side to side about a 1/2". I checked for wheel weights, they are all there. I am thinking ball joints, tie rod or tie rod ends. Sometimes in excess of 60 mph feels like wheel may come off.
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217K miles still runs great - 2001 Ford Ranger
By Mad Drew - December 23 - 6:41 pmWhat can I say? 217K miles so far and still going strong. 2.5L engine, 5 spd manual. Changed the timing belt & clutch at 155K and checked everything....solid little truck. The interior is getting some wear, the ball joints will probably need replacing soon as will the shocks (hey, > 200K miles on ORIGINAL parts aint bad) but the truck burns NO oil, still has decent power (tho Im sure the compression has to be down a bit...) and rides fine. Paint still pretty good, and the interior, tho showing some wear, still is decent. Heck, think Ill buy another one...
