IllustrationREAR BRAKE LINES RUB ON SHOCK ABSORBERS, NOT AVOIDABLE. EXTREME WEAR EVIDENT. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS FLASH UNCONTROLABLY, SUSPECTED HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT.
1993 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Ford Ranger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 36 of 232 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports14 fire reports18 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
7 reports3RD BRAKE LIGHT (UPPER CAB) HAS OVERHEATED AND CAUSED SMALL FIRE IN BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING. *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING THE LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK OFF AND ON. SHORTEST DURATION ABOUT 2 SECONDS. LONGEST DURATION ABOUT 20 SECONDS WITH LIGHTS OFF RESULTING AND MY HAVING TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANYLIGHTS AT ALL. HITTING BUMPS DOESN'T SEEM TO CAUSE A PROBLEM, SO I ASSUME IT ISN'T A LOOSE COMPONENT. THI…
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WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING THE LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK OFF AND ON. SHORTEST DURATION ABOUT 2 SECONDS. LONGEST DURATION ABOUT 20 SECONDS WITH LIGHTS OFF RESULTING AND MY HAVING TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANYLIGHTS AT ALL. HITTING BUMPS DOESN'T SEEM TO CAUSE A PROBLEM, SO I ASSUME IT ISN'T A LOOSE COMPONENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE THEN ON SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT. IT HAPPENS ON HIGHBEAM AND LOWBEAM. MORE OFTEN WITH HIGHBEAM ON. I HAVE ALSO TESTED THE PROBLEM SITTING STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE SAME THING HAPPENS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH TIME.*AK
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN BRAKE ENGAGED. *YH
HEADLIGHT LENS OVER TIME BECOMES LESS CLEAR, TO POINT THAT LIGHT OUTPUT IS DECREASED, PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. LOCAL PARTS DEALER SAID THIS IS COMMON IN RANGER AND MUSTANG, BUT I AM NOTICING THIS WITH TARUS ALSO. DEALER WANTS $120.00 + FOR EACH. CONSIDERED A COLLISON PART. PROBLEM IS PART IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND SUN MUST B…
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HEADLIGHT LENS OVER TIME BECOMES LESS CLEAR, TO POINT THAT LIGHT OUTPUT IS DECREASED, PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. LOCAL PARTS DEALER SAID THIS IS COMMON IN RANGER AND MUSTANG, BUT I AM NOTICING THIS WITH TARUS ALSO. DEALER WANTS $120.00 + FOR EACH. CONSIDERED A COLLISON PART. PROBLEM IS PART IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND SUN MUST BE DESTROYING PLASTIC. BETTER WHEN HEADLIGHT LENS WERE GLASS. *AK
THERE IS A LENS ON THE VEHICLE THAT IS CALLED A FOG LENS COVER THAT RANDOMLY FALLS OFF THE VEHICLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *AK FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE, THEN THE DRIVER SIDE FOG LENSES FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. *YH
ONE LENS OF THE FOG LIGHTS FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION, AND THE OWNER MISTAKENLY RAN OVER IT. DEALER INDICATED THAT FOG LIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Official recalls
396V024001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic
Feb 5, 1996
THE STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRACK OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH STUDS FRACTURING. THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VACUUM BOOSTER, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PREVENTING THE SERVICE BRAKES FROM ACTIVATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.
95V231001 · Vehicle Speed Control
Dec 5, 1995
DURING EXTREME COLD, NORTHERN CLIMATE WINTER CONDITIONS, ICE CAN FORM IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE ENGINE CAUSING THE THROTTLE PLATE TO REMAIN IN THE HIGHWAY CRUISING POSITION AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED OR THE SPEED CONTROL IS DEACTIVATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES CAN BE INCREASED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR INTAKE DUCT AND VALVE ASSEMBLY WITH REVISED UNITS.
94V169001 · Parking Brake:conventional
Sep 7, 1994
THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF-ADJUST PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE SELF-ADJUST RACHET CAUSING THE PAWL TO SLIP OVER ONE OR MORE TEETH IN THE RACHET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WHEN THE ABOVE OCCURS, IT CAN RESULT IN PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM INEFFECTIVENESS. THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY, IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT LEFT IN GEAR.
Remedy: A WEDGE WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE TO LOCK THE PARKING BRAKE SELF-ADJUST MECHANISM PAWL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RACHET. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO RELEASE AND REAPPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WHENEVER TOOTH SKIP OCCURS AND WILL BE REMINDED TO ALWAYS TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA95018 · Separation Of Master Cylinder
Opened Jun 19, 1995 · Closed Apr 2, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.
PE93045 · Steering Gear Bolt Broken
Opened May 7, 1993 · Closed Aug 31, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available