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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

Equipment complaints

9 reports
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140,000 miles · Oct 30, 2004
EquipmentSuspensionTires

MY FORD RANGER IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. IT IS BUILT UNSTABLE/BALANCED, IT VIBRATES AND ALSO SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. IT HAS ALMOST TAKEN MY LIFE TWICE! YES I DRIVE AT THE SPEED LIMIT, AND TUNE MY CAR UP ON A REGULAR BASES. THE 2003-4 MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT IRONICALLY THE TOYOTA TACOMA HAS NO PROBLEMS AT ALL THAT AR…

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MY FORD RANGER IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. IT IS BUILT UNSTABLE/BALANCED, IT VIBRATES AND ALSO SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. IT HAS ALMOST TAKEN MY LIFE TWICE! YES I DRIVE AT THE SPEED LIMIT, AND TUNE MY CAR UP ON A REGULAR BASES. THE 2003-4 MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT IRONICALLY THE TOYOTA TACOMA HAS NO PROBLEMS AT ALL THAT ARE RELATED TO THESE OF THE FORD RANGER. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED FORD BUT NO REPLY, I AM ALSO GOING TO CONTACT MY CONGRESS PERSON TO PRESENT THESE ISSUES AND MORE WITH GOVERNED BODIES TO SEE IF THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION CAN BE IMPROVED, ANOTHER ASPECT TO THIS HAZARDOUS CAUSE OF THE FORD MIGHT BE THAT THE U.S DOESN'T USE EUROPEAN STANDARDS IN AUTOMOTIVE. YOU DON'T REALLY SEE BMW, OR OTHER CARS OF A EUROPEAN DECENT WITH THOSE PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098043

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 · Oct 16, 2000
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MAIN SHAFT BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT HITTING THE FAN. IF I WAS TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHILE THIS HAPPEND, IT WOULD HAVE STALLED THE ENGINE. I ASKED FORD WHY THIS HAPPENED & THEY SAID IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE SHAFT OF THE THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. IT …

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AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MAIN SHAFT BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT HITTING THE FAN. IF I WAS TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHILE THIS HAPPEND, IT WOULD HAVE STALLED THE ENGINE. I ASKED FORD WHY THIS HAPPENED & THEY SAID IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE SHAFT OF THE THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED EXCEPT FOR REPLACING THE WHOLE A/C UNIT. THIS HAS COST ME $858.21

NHTSA ODI #734400

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
EquipmentTires

TIRES WERE BLOWOUTS. JACK WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE SIZE OF TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE WEIGHT AND WOULD NOT RAISE THE TRUCK HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P26575R16 )

NHTSA ODI #730203

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2000
Equipment

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #724752

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Equipment

THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH AND COMPRESSOR DIED AT WHAT SEEMS TO BE A PREMATURE AGE. THE COST FOR PARTS AND LABOR CAME TO $908.19 NOT TO MENTION THE VALUE OF MY TIME GETTING IT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #712333

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1997
Equipment

FRONT LICENSE PLATE FRAME IS MADE OF PLASTIC ATTACHED WITH METAL CLIPS, OVER TIME PLATE FRAME DETACHES FROM METAL CLIPS.

NHTSA ODI #533705

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentVisibility

VEHICLE'S RPMS DROPPED.

NHTSA ODI #601186

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 1995
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY TWICE ((ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *AK

NHTSA ODI #484101

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