IllustrationON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE SLIDING WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PROBLEM OCCURS AT LOW OR HIGH SPEED. VEHICLE BEING INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. DEALER / M.ANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *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.
53 crash reports15 fire reports22 injury reports
What owners actually said
438 reportsTRAVELING BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT ON DRY PAVEMENT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND ROLL OVER. PLEASE CONTACT JOHN REUTTER AT SUPERIOR INVESTIGATIONS IF FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED. 727-848-3923. THANK YOU JOHN.
FUEL RUBBER HOSE DEVELOPED A HOLE, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE. *AK
AUTO-LOCKING HUBS MAKE WHINING SOUND AND 4WD WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE. UNDERSTAND FROM AREA MECHANICS THAT THIS IS COMMON DUE TO POOR DESIGN IN AUTO LOCKING HUB FEATURE. PREPARING TO BRING TO DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE. THIS ITEM SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT FROM NORMAL DRIVING. (REF. SIMILAR: SBN# BC2261060194, NHTSA ITEM# SB036362)
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. THERE IS A RECALL 94V077 CONCERNING EMEGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO VIN. BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, IT CLICKS OR "RACHETS" DOWN AS IF FUNCTIONING BUT THEN VEHICLE BEGINS TO ROLL. *AK
FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER FIBER DISC BRAKE PISTON BENT, CAUSING, THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. DEALER REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS WITH STEEL PISTON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN TOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
A STANDARD JACK CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN JACK WAS USED FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FRAME CRACKED, CAUSING THE JACK TO GET STUCK UPRIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE FRONT FIBER DISC BRAKE PISTON BENT WHICH CAUSES THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS WITH STEEL PISTON. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER ENGAGED CRIUSE CONRTROL AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH. CONSUMER COULDN'T GET CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF, AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK
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.