KNOWN DEFECT. FORD IS NOT INTERESTED IN REPAIRING. THEY ARE ON THEIR THIRD COMPONENT UPGRADE. LIVE IN INTERIOR BRITISH COLUMBIA. ONLY HAD ACCESS TO STATES, NO PROVINCES.THANKYOU FOR YOUR WEBSITE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK
1994 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than 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: 72 of 438 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 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
438 reportsTHROTTLE IS STICKING TO FLOOR, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT , DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX VEHICLE, BUT DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT DEALER AGAIN.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH WHEEL WILL LOCKUP. THEN, ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. THIS HAS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND ALWAYS HAD HAPPENED ON LOW SPEED.*AK
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT, APROXIMATELY 75 MPH. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT A JERK, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE HAD FLAT TIRES IN THE PAST, AND THIS WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FEEL. MY STEERING WAS ALMOST INOP, AND BREAKING WAS ALMOST NON EXISTANT. I ONLY THANK GOD FOR LOOKING DOWN ON ME AT T…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT, APROXIMATELY 75 MPH. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT A JERK, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE HAD FLAT TIRES IN THE PAST, AND THIS WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FEEL. MY STEERING WAS ALMOST INOP, AND BREAKING WAS ALMOST NON EXISTANT. I ONLY THANK GOD FOR LOOKING DOWN ON ME AT THAT MOMENT. AFTER NEARLY CRASHING, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OVER TWO LANES AND FINALLY COME TO A STOP. WHEN I INSPECTED THE TIRE, I HAD FOUND IT COMPLETELY SEPERATED IN ONE WHOLE PIECE. AFTER REMOVING THE TIRE, I HAD TO LITERALLY UNRAP THE WHOLE TREAD THAT HAD RAPPED AROUND MY TIE ROD END, AND KICK THE OTHER PORTION THAT WAS JAMMED IN BY BRAKE. I HAVE WORKED ON AIRPLANES I N THE USAF FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS AND NEVER ONCE EXPERIENCED A TIRE THAT BADLY MUTILATED. IT APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. YOU MIGHT ASK YOURSELF HOW CAN I MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION? I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS IN AVIATION, AND I SEE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE A BACHELORS IN PROFESSIONAL AERONAUTICS, WITH A MINOR IN AVIATION SAFETY. I THINK YOU GUYS ARE MAKING A SERIOUS MISTAKE BY ONLY RECALLING ATX P35/75 R15S. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH MORE ATX TIRES. THE QUESTION IS, HOW MANY LIVES WILL IT TAKE BEFORE MORE TIRE SIZES ARE RECALLED. REMINDS ME OF THE "BLOOD PRIORITY". I WILL BE TAKING PICTURES TOMORROW OF THE DAMAGED TIRE AND THE WHOLE TREAD THAT WAS SEPERATED. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE PICTURES, I WILL GLADLY SEND THEM. I AM STILL SEVERELY SHAKEN UP OVER THIS WHOLE EPISODE, SO I APOLIGIZE FOR ANY TYPOS OR GRAMATICAL ERRORS. BESIDES, IT IS VERY HARD TO TYPE IN THIS SMALL SKINNY WINDOW. I DONT QUITE UNDERSTAND THE RATIONAL OF IT. I'M SURE YOU GET THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS A DAY, AND YET, I HOPE YOU SEE THE SEVERITY OF THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK (TIRESIZE: P265/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/75R15 )
THE FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES (P235/75R15) WERE SHOWING METAL WIRES. NLM
THE FIRESTONE ATX P235/75R15 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEPARATION AND WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO RECALL (00T-005), CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *MJS
PE00 020; CONSUMER SAID THAT ROCK GRAVEL WENT INSIDE OF TIRES, AND TIRES WOULDN'T HOLD AIR PRESSURE. TIRES WERE FLAT. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P23570R16. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
WHEN APPLING EMERGENCY BRAKE IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE HAS CAUGHT, BUT IT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. WHEN APPLIED ON AN INCLINE IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN HILL INTO A HOUSE. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHCILE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
I WAS COMING FROM PORT AUTHOR TEXAS, AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 1 OR 2 MILES FROM MY HOUSE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CALIPER THAT WORKS THE BRAKE CAME OUT AND LOCKED THE WHEEL UP. I WAS TRAVELING AT 55MPH WHEN IT LOCKED UP, AND I DID NOT APPLY MY BRAKE FOR IT TO HAPPEN. I REALIZE MY TRUCK IS A 1994 MODEL, HOWEVER, THE …
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I WAS COMING FROM PORT AUTHOR TEXAS, AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 1 OR 2 MILES FROM MY HOUSE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CALIPER THAT WORKS THE BRAKE CAME OUT AND LOCKED THE WHEEL UP. I WAS TRAVELING AT 55MPH WHEN IT LOCKED UP, AND I DID NOT APPLY MY BRAKE FOR IT TO HAPPEN. I REALIZE MY TRUCK IS A 1994 MODEL, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE I'AM TRYING TO STRESS IS THIS; I ONLY HAVE 15,000 MILES, AND DRIVE IT VERY LITTLE. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE WEAR AND TEAR FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED! I FEEL IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT, AND I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, AND A REMIBURSMENT FOR THE REPAIR COST I HAVE ALREADY MADE. POINT TO MENTION: IF IT WAS NOT A DEFECT, THEN WHY DID THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CHANGE THE FRONT LEFT CALIPERS. *AK
CONDITIONS: ENTIRE TREAD AND ATTACHED SIDE WALL EXTENDING ABOUT HALF WAY TO THE WHEEL RIM SEPERATED. THERE WAS NO AUDABLE SOUND. WEATHER: CLEAR DAY, ABOUT 80 DEG. F. SPEED: ABOUT 70 MPH. TIRE INSTALLED 6/6/00 AND RUN FOR ABOUT 8,300 MILES. IDENTICAL TIRE ON RIGHT SIDE HAS NOT FAILED BUT WILL BE REPLACED. THE SERIAL NUM…
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CONDITIONS: ENTIRE TREAD AND ATTACHED SIDE WALL EXTENDING ABOUT HALF WAY TO THE WHEEL RIM SEPERATED. THERE WAS NO AUDABLE SOUND. WEATHER: CLEAR DAY, ABOUT 80 DEG. F. SPEED: ABOUT 70 MPH. TIRE INSTALLED 6/6/00 AND RUN FOR ABOUT 8,300 MILES. IDENTICAL TIRE ON RIGHT SIDE HAS NOT FAILED BUT WILL BE REPLACED. THE SERIAL NUMBER ON THE FAILED TIRE APPEARS TO BE: 32097. PRECEEDING THAT NUMBER IN A COLUMN OF NUMBERS ARE: P1107AA2 FOLLOWED BY E-25931 (DOT NUMBER: CN72U479 TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)
Official recalls
496V024001 · 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.
94V111001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jun 13, 1994
THE FRONT FUEL LINES HAVE A SECTION OF FLEXIBLE HOSE THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING WHICH CAN ALLOW FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LEAKING FUEL CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FRONT FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY.
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
1EA95018 · 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.
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