1998-2011 Ford RangerThird-Generation Ranger (1998-2011)

Ford Ranger 1998-2011 year by year

What changed in the 1998 redesign

The 1998 Ford Ranger introduced the third generation with a new frame and, most significantly, a new front suspension. Ford abandoned the Twin-Traction-Beam four-wheel-drive front suspension it had used since 1983 and switched to a short-and-long-arm (SLA) independent front with upper and lower control arms, using coil springs on conventional two-wheel-drive models and torsion bars on four-wheel-drive models plus some raised two-wheel-drive configurations. This was the biggest chassis change in the Ranger's history. The 1998 redesign also widened the track and updated the body and interior, modernizing the compact pickup while keeping body-on-frame construction.

The 2001 engine modernization

For the 2001 model year the Ford Ranger modernized its engine lineup. The new 2.3 Duratec four, a dual-overhead-cam engine rated 135 horsepower at first and 143 horsepower in later years, replaced the older 2.5 four-cylinder during the 2001 model year. At the top of the range, Ford replaced the pushrod 4.0 OHV Cologne V6 with the SOHC 4.0 Cologne V6 shared with the Ford Explorer, rated up to 207 horsepower and 238 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0 Vulcan V6 continued as the mid-range engine. This 2001 update gave the Ranger its strongest powertrain of the generation and remained largely in place through the end of production, although the 3.0 Vulcan V6 was dropped after the 2008 model year.

Trims: Edge, FX4, and the rest

The third-generation Ford Ranger offered a range of trims beyond the work-grade XL and better-equipped XLT. The Edge, introduced for 2001, was a car-like trim with monochrome styling and a raised ride height in some configurations. The FX4 was the off-road trim, offered in standard and more capable Level II and Off-Road forms with skid plates, off-road shocks, and a limited-slip or locking rear differential depending on year. The Sport and STX trims rounded out the lineup. Body styles were the regular cab and the extended SuperCab; the third-generation North American Ranger did not offer a four-door crew cab.

The end of the original Ranger

The third-generation Ford Ranger ran for 14 model years with only minor updates, becoming dated against newer compact and midsize rivals. Ford built the truck at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and ended North American Ranger production there on December 16, 2011. The final unit is commonly described as a 2012-model-year Ranger. After production ended, Ford sold no new Ranger in the United States for the 2012 through 2018 model years, even as a larger global Ranger continued in other markets. The Ranger nameplate returned to the United States for 2019 on the global T6 platform.

Frequently asked questions

What changed in the 1998 Ford Ranger redesign?

The 1998 Ford Ranger introduced the third generation with a new frame and a short-and-long-arm (SLA) independent front suspension, replacing the Twin-Traction-Beam four-wheel-drive front used since 1983. Conventional two-wheel-drive models used coil springs, while four-wheel-drive models and some raised two-wheel-drive configurations used torsion bars. It was the biggest chassis change in the Ranger's history.

What engines did the 1998-2011 Ford Ranger use?

The 1998-2011 Ford Ranger used the 2.5 four (1998-2001), replaced by the 2.3 Duratec four for 2001, plus the 3.0 Vulcan V6 and the 4.0 Cologne V6. The 4.0 was a pushrod OHV engine for 1998-2000 and a SOHC engine rated up to 207 horsepower from 2001. The 3.0 Vulcan V6 was dropped after the 2008 model year.

When did the original Ford Ranger end production?

The original North American Ford Ranger ended production at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant in Saint Paul, Minnesota on December 16, 2011. Ford sold no new Ranger in the United States for the 2012 through 2018 model years, until the Ranger returned for 2019.

What is the Ford Ranger FX4?

The Ford Ranger FX4 was the off-road trim of the third generation, offered in standard and more capable Level II and Off-Road forms. Depending on year it added skid plates, off-road-tuned shocks, and a limited-slip or locking rear differential to the four-wheel-drive Ranger.

Did the 1998-2011 Ford Ranger 4x4 use the Twin-Traction-Beam suspension?

No. The 1998 redesign replaced the Twin-Traction-Beam four-wheel-drive front suspension used through 1997 with a short-and-long-arm (SLA) independent front. The third-generation Ranger 4x4 used the SLA front for its entire 1998-2011 run.

Sources

• Ford factory specification sheets and shop manuals for the 1998-2011 Ranger
• Wikipedia, Ford Ranger (Americas), third generation
• CarBuzz, Ford Ranger third generation 1998-2011
• The Ranger Station, front-suspension and 4.0 V6 (OHV and SOHC) histories
• Twin Cities Assembly Plant production records (final Ranger, December 16, 2011)