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: 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
What owners actually said
321 reports
230,000 miles · Oct 23, 2020
EngineExterior LightingWheelsFire
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE POWER TO THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO CUT OUT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE OR STEER THE TRUCK TO SAFETY I THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GOOD AND HEADLIGHT. SO I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE POWER TO THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO CUT OUT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE OR STEER THE TRUCK TO SAFETY I THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GOOD AND HEADLIGHT. SO I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME AND SPRAYED THE TRUCK PUTTING THE FLAMES OUT. AND CUTTING THE WIRES TO THE BATTERY
NHTSA ODI #11366006
195,000 miles · Aug 4, 2019
StructureSuspensionUnknown Or Other
THE REAR HALF OF THE TRUCK FRAME IS ROTTED TO PIECES. THE BRACKETS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE SHOCKS ARE RUSTED OFF AND MISSING..
NHTSA ODI #11241619
52,000 miles · Jan 22, 2019
StructureUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
CHASSIS FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY. ALL ENAMEL PAINT IS GONE AND CHUNKS OF RUSTED METAL IS FLAKING OFF
NHTSA ODI #11171298
200,000 miles · Jan 24, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1995 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUFFERED A FRACTURED C7 AND T5 VERTEBRAE. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1995 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUFFERED A FRACTURED C7 AND T5 VERTEBRAE. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL AND THEN TO UVA MEDICAL CENTER TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OFFICE OF CHIEF COUNSEL WOULD RESPOND WITHIN 15 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #11064722
133,282 miles · Mar 27, 2017
Unknown Or Other
THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND CRACKED ON THE LEFT REAR END. THE BARS TO SUPPORT THE DRIVE SHAFT IS RUSTED OFF AND THE MOUNTS FOR THE REAR SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ONCE AND ARE ALMOST RUSTED OFF AGAIN. THERE IS HEAVY RUST ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME BUT NOT RUSTED THROUGH. THE TRUCK BODY HAS ONLY 3 SURFACE RUST MARKS AND 2 SMALL …
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THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND CRACKED ON THE LEFT REAR END. THE BARS TO SUPPORT THE DRIVE SHAFT IS RUSTED OFF AND THE MOUNTS FOR THE REAR SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ONCE AND ARE ALMOST RUSTED OFF AGAIN. THERE IS HEAVY RUST ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME BUT NOT RUSTED THROUGH. THE TRUCK BODY HAS ONLY 3 SURFACE RUST MARKS AND 2 SMALL DINGS. THE TRUCK HAS ORIGINAL PAINT (EXCEPT FOR LEFT FENDER AND HOOD). TRUCK WAS GARAGE KEPT AND INTERIOR IS PERFECT.
NHTSA ODI #10968783
226,000 miles · Jun 14, 2016
Air BagsCrash
BRAKES LOCKED UP A 50 MPH, HIT LARGE GRASS/DIRT BANK AT 40 MPH APROX. AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA ODI #10874126
175,000 miles · Mar 31, 2016
Unknown Or Other
MY COMPLAINT IS THE VEHICLE FRAME, SPECIFICALLY THE REAR MOST PART WHERE THE REAR BUMPER MOUNTS TO THE FRAME. THE FRAME IS FULL OF RUST HOLES IN THAT AREA AND I CAN ONLY SURMISE IN A LIGHT REAR END COLLISION THAT THIS AREA WILL CRUMBLE. THIS IS ABSOLUTLY A FAILUREBY FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL WITH A PROPER REPAIR! NOW AT THE OWNERS …
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MY COMPLAINT IS THE VEHICLE FRAME, SPECIFICALLY THE REAR MOST PART WHERE THE REAR BUMPER MOUNTS TO THE FRAME. THE FRAME IS FULL OF RUST HOLES IN THAT AREA AND I CAN ONLY SURMISE IN A LIGHT REAR END COLLISION THAT THIS AREA WILL CRUMBLE. THIS IS ABSOLUTLY A FAILUREBY FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL WITH A PROPER REPAIR! NOW AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE, NOT INEXOENSIVE BY ANY MEANS A FULL FRAME OR REAR FRAME SECTION REPLACEMENT! THIS IS ON MANY RANGERS, IN FACT I REPLACED A FRAME ON A FAMILIES1997, TOTAL BALONEY! WHO ADE THE FRAME TOYOTA?!!
NHTSA ODI #10852795
200,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Suspension
1995 FORD RANGER. MY NEPHEW WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE RIGHT REAR SHACKLE LET LOOSE AND HE LOST STABILITY. I REPLACED BOTH RIGHT SIDE FRONT AND REAR SHACKLES. I PULLED THE BED OFF TO REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT AND FOUND BOTH LEFT SIDE SHACKLES ROTTED, LEFT SIDE FRAME ROTTED IN HALF, CROSS MEMBER, GAS TANK SPLASH PAN AND S…
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1995 FORD RANGER. MY NEPHEW WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE RIGHT REAR SHACKLE LET LOOSE AND HE LOST STABILITY. I REPLACED BOTH RIGHT SIDE FRONT AND REAR SHACKLES. I PULLED THE BED OFF TO REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT AND FOUND BOTH LEFT SIDE SHACKLES ROTTED, LEFT SIDE FRAME ROTTED IN HALF, CROSS MEMBER, GAS TANK SPLASH PAN AND STRAPS, ALONG WITH ALL CAB MOUNTS ROTTED COMPLETELY. I PARKED THE TRUCK AND HAVE NOT DROVE IT SCIENCE 2012. THE BODY IS BEAUTIFUL, AND ALL THE MECHANICS HAVE BEEN KEPT UP. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP ON THIS TRUCK.
NHTSA ODI #10809479
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2015
Suspension
ALL LEAF SPRING BRACKETS AND FRAME HAVE RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT AND HAVE SEEN THIS MANY TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #10795266
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2015
Air Bags
I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AS OF RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO CUT OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG / AND AM WORRIED ABOUT TRANSPORTING MY YOUNG GREAT NEICE & OR NEPHEW PICKING THEM UP FROM SOME SCHOOL FUNCTIONS ....AND WOULD APPRECIATE A CALL OR LETTER KNOWING THIS IS GOING TO SOON BE TAKEN CARE OF ..THANKS
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
1995 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year