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1995 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Ranger years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 144.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 41 of 321 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports9 fire reports11 injury reports

Interior Lighting complaints

29 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2003
Electrical SystemEquipmentInterior Lighting

I AM AN OWNER OF TWO FORD RANGER PICK UPS AND HAD OWNED ANOTHER RANGER IN THE PAST. ALL T HERE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DOOR CHIMES DINGING NON STOP, DOME LIGHT FAILURE, RADIO POWER FAILURE AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNING ON AND OFF ALL BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. I MADE SEVERAL COMPLA…

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I AM AN OWNER OF TWO FORD RANGER PICK UPS AND HAD OWNED ANOTHER RANGER IN THE PAST. ALL T HERE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DOOR CHIMES DINGING NON STOP, DOME LIGHT FAILURE, RADIO POWER FAILURE AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNING ON AND OFF ALL BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. I MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO FORD AND WAS TOLD TO STOP HARASSING THEM. MY DEALERSHIP SAID AND I QUOTE "YOU'RE JUST BEING A WOMAN." WELL THIS AFTER NOON THE PROBLEM TOOK A VERY SERIOUS TURN. RETURNING HOME FROM A VACATION MY 1995 FORD RANGER EX CAB XLT 2.3 LITER ENGINE. BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. IT STARTED WITH POWER LOSE TO THE RADIO THEN A POWER SURGE TO THE WIPERS, AND THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THOSE AREAS OF PERSISTENT CONCERNS. THEN THEY ALL STOPPED. I NOW HAVE A COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS, SPEED CONTROL, ODOMETER (LET'S TRUST THAT READ OUT),INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO AND SEVERAL OTHER SYSTEMS. I ATTEMPTED TO FIND A FUSE OR RELAY TO REPAIRS THEM BUT ALL OF THOSE WERE INTACT AND REPLACEMENT MADE NO CHANGE. ESTIMATED DAMAGER AND REPAIR COST IS WELL ABOVE A GRAND. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 1996 AND HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY FORD. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041679

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2002
Interior Lighting

INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WILL STAY ON OR COME ON AT ANY GIVEN TIME, SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN AT NIGHT WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS TO REMOVE BULB. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8004665

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2002
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting

DOME LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. LIGHTS SHUT OFF OR DO NOT COME ON AT ALL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004544

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Interior Lighting

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN CONSUME R IS DRIVING, AND HE CANNOT GET IT TO GO OFF WITHOUT REMOVING THE FUSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8003273

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Interior Lighting

INTERIOR DOME LIGHT AND "DOOR AJAR" LIGHTS STAY ON RANDOMLY. CREATES LARGE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAVE HAD A NEAR MISS ON A TWO LANE WITH A PEDESTRIAN DUE TO GLARE AND POOR NIGHT VISION AS A RESULT OF THE DOME LAMP BEING ON. WINDSHIELD WASHER DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY CREATING PROBLEMS IN WINTER CONDITIONS. ALSO, W…

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INTERIOR DOME LIGHT AND "DOOR AJAR" LIGHTS STAY ON RANDOMLY. CREATES LARGE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAVE HAD A NEAR MISS ON A TWO LANE WITH A PEDESTRIAN DUE TO GLARE AND POOR NIGHT VISION AS A RESULT OF THE DOME LAMP BEING ON. WINDSHIELD WASHER DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY CREATING PROBLEMS IN WINTER CONDITIONS. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON RANDOMLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757564

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2001
Interior Lighting

I HAVE CHANGED THE DRIVER SIDE SWITCH TWICE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONCE. I FEEL THIS IS AN ANNOINCE AND A HAZARD WHEN YOUR DOME LIGHT AND DOOR BUZZER COME ON AT RANDOM OR WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. PARTICULARY AT NIGHT, WHO CAN DRIVE SAFELY WITH THE DOME LIGHT ON. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCEDENCES WHERE I HAVE TRYED, FOO…

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I HAVE CHANGED THE DRIVER SIDE SWITCH TWICE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONCE. I FEEL THIS IS AN ANNOINCE AND A HAZARD WHEN YOUR DOME LIGHT AND DOOR BUZZER COME ON AT RANDOM OR WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. PARTICULARY AT NIGHT, WHO CAN DRIVE SAFELY WITH THE DOME LIGHT ON. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCEDENCES WHERE I HAVE TRYED, FOOLISHLY, TO PULL THE BULB WHEN THE LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE DRIVING OR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. ALSO TRY TO DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD WITH YOUR DOOR BUZZER SOUNDING, I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL FORD OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND ALL HAVE SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT THEIR VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS QUITE HELPFUL AT FIRST CONVERSATION BE WHEN I BROUGHT UP SAFTY ISSUES THEY SAID "SORRY" NOTHING IN OUR DATA TO SHOW A RECALL, WE'LL CHANGE IT FOR YOU( AT A PRICE) BUT THEN IT ONLY HAPPENS AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS. THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT THAT IS STILL BEING USED IN NEWER VEHICLES AND THEY KNOW IT. THE WIPERS ARE TYHE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN, COMMING ON AT WILL. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING LET ALONE WHEN THEY SHUT OFF DURING A RAIN. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THE SAME THING, SORRY, NOTHING WE CAN DO. YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT ONE ALSO. IT IS NOT AN ISSUE OF MONEY, IT'S SAFTEY AND TIME. WE LIVE VERY HECTIC LIVES AND I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO CONSTANTLY HAVE MY VEHICLE TIDED UP AT A DEALERSHIP FOR ITEMS THAT SHOULD WORK PROPERY FOR A CONSIDERABLE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT BE A HAZARD TO THE DRIVER. SORRY FOR VENTING, THIS IS AGRIVATING WHEN YOU SEE AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND YOU GET THE RUN AROUND. HELP IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745491

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2001
Interior LightingPower TrainVisibility

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE CHIME STAYS ON, INTERIOR LIGHTS AS WELL AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS START. WHEN TAKING FUSE OUT TO STOP, SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885994

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2001
Exterior LightingInterior LightingVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND DOME LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOT COVER UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE WIPER AND DOME LIGHT PLUS WARNING SOUNDS HAD BEEN A SUBJECT OF RECALLS IN OTHER TYPE OF …

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND DOME LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOT COVER UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE WIPER AND DOME LIGHT PLUS WARNING SOUNDS HAD BEEN A SUBJECT OF RECALLS IN OTHER TYPE OF VEHICLES. *YH

NHTSA ODI #882152

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2001
Interior LightingVisibility

DOOR AJAR CHIME CONTINUOUSLY RINGS AND DOME LIGHT REMAINS ON CREATING DISTRACTION DURING DRIVING, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY OPERATE AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK ON HIGH SPEED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740592

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2001
Interior LightingVisibility

I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ACTUALLY. THE TWO MORE SERIOUS IS, 1) THERE IS A CONSTANT DINGING WHILE IM DRIVING, AND THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, CAR ON OR OFF. THE SAFTEY ISSUE IS THAT, HOW AM I TO COCENTRATE ON DRIVING WHILE BOTH OF THESE TWO DEFECTS ARE CONSTANTLY OCCURING. 2) MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL RANDOMLY CUT ON…

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I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ACTUALLY. THE TWO MORE SERIOUS IS, 1) THERE IS A CONSTANT DINGING WHILE IM DRIVING, AND THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, CAR ON OR OFF. THE SAFTEY ISSUE IS THAT, HOW AM I TO COCENTRATE ON DRIVING WHILE BOTH OF THESE TWO DEFECTS ARE CONSTANTLY OCCURING. 2) MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL RANDOMLY CUT ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS ANOTHER BIG DISTRACTION, EXPECIALLY WHILE TRYING TO CONCENTRATE. I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER FRIENDS WITH A RANGER "DIFFERENT YEAR" THAT THESE SAME DISTRACTING EVENTS OCCUR WITH THIER TRUCK. I HOPE YOU ISSUE A RECAL ON THESE TWO ITEMS BEFOR SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS. PLEASE WRITE BACK AND TELL ME PROGRESS WITH THIS SITUATION. LOOK FORWARF TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON. SHANNON WINBURN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740559

Official recalls

1

09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Oct 13, 2009

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

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

1

EA02011 · Safety Belt Assembly Failure

Opened Jul 2, 2002 · Closed May 21, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

ODI RECEIVED 18 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FORD IDENTIFIED ANOTHER FOUR REPORTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS INDICATE INABILITY TO LATCH THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAUSED BY A BROKEN LATCH RELEASE SPRING.NONE OF THESE 22 REPORTS RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES OR CRASHES.NO COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.FORD CONDUCTED LIFE-CYCLE TESTING ON 6 FIELD SAMPLE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.THE RESULTS OF THAT TESTING DEMONSTRATED THAT THE TESTED BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES COULD BE EXPECTED TO OPERATE PROPERLY BEYOND THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.BASED ON THE LIMITED NUMBER OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS RECEIVED, AND A DECLINING COMPLAINT TREND, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXIST DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION