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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 →

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

Electrical System complaints

25 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2000
Electrical System

THERE CURRENTLY IS A RECALL FOR FORD RANGERS UP THROUGH 1993'S. MINE IS A 1994 AND HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE RECALL STATES THE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM WAS MOUNTED INCORRECTLY NEAR THE ENGINE AND CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. MY RANGER HAS THIS PROBLEM AND I WANT FORD TO INCLUDE THE 1994 RANGER IN THIS RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #736834

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2000
Electrical SystemSteering

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

NHTSA ODI #874379

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2000
Electrical System

A FUSE BLEW OUT, CAUSING ABS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE/ TAIL LIGHTS TO BE INOPERABLE, AND CRUISE CONTROL TO FUNCTION ERRATICALLY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #863971

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2000
Electrical System

WHEN IT RAINS, THE DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM UNDER TRUCK HOOD GETS WETS AND TRUCK WILL NOT START UNTIL IT DRIES OUT. ONE CAN ONLY GUESS THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE SEAL THAT DOES NOT KEEP RAIN OUT. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOLLOWING MODERATE OVERNIGHT RAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719282

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857372

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2000
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHEN FUSE 10 IS BURNED OUT - APPLYING BRAKE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL

NHTSA ODI #718085

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

PROCESSOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #543224

Mileage unknown · May 9, 1997
Electrical System

CAR COMPUTER SHUTS DOWN AND VEHICLE CUTS OFF COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER HAS REBOOTED COMPUTER 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810478

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 1996
Electrical SystemSuspensionUnknown Or Other

'CHECK ENGINE' WARNING LIGHT ON DUE TO TWO FAILED SENSORS.

NHTSA ODI #503673

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1996
Electrical System

WHEN DRIVING IN WET WEATHER AND WATER SPLASHES ON ENGINE, THERE IS A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FUNCTIONS INCLUDING POWER STEERING, AND OTHER FUNCTIONS

NHTSA ODI #982460

Official recalls

4

96V024001 · 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

1

EA95018 · 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.