IllustrationINTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON BY THEMSELVES. *AK DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AND CHIME SOUNDS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES DUE TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR SWITCH FAILURES. *YH
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.
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: 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 reportsTHE DOOR CHIME DOES NOT SHUT OFF OR IT STAYS ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I TOOK THE TRUCK IN WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS FIXED FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD ON WARM DAYS. I NOTICED THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS: SB 603550 AND SB 613399. THIS PROBLEM IS DISTRACTING AND…
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THE DOOR CHIME DOES NOT SHUT OFF OR IT STAYS ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I TOOK THE TRUCK IN WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS FIXED FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD ON WARM DAYS. I NOTICED THIS WAS AN ISSUE IN NHTSA ITEM NUMBERS: SB 603550 AND SB 613399. THIS PROBLEM IS DISTRACTING AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED CORRECTLY. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER SENSOR MLFUNCTIONED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST COME ON ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. ALSO, SOMETIMES IT MAKES THE DOOR CHIMES RING, AND REGULATES THE REAR INTERIOR LIGHT. DEALER WILL REPLACE PARTS FOR FREE, BUT CONSUMER HAS TO PAY TO HAVE THE RIGHT SIDE DONE FIRST.*AK
THE DOOR AND KEY CHIMES COME ON WHENEVER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. KEY MUST BE REMOVED BEFOR THEY WILL GO OFF. THE DOME LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE DOME LIGHT WONT GO OFF UNTIL DRIVING FORWARD, MAKING BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY DANGEROUS IN THE DARK, CONSUMER REMOVED FUSE BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE WORKS. N…
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THE DOOR AND KEY CHIMES COME ON WHENEVER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. KEY MUST BE REMOVED BEFOR THEY WILL GO OFF. THE DOME LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE DOME LIGHT WONT GO OFF UNTIL DRIVING FORWARD, MAKING BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY DANGEROUS IN THE DARK, CONSUMER REMOVED FUSE BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE WORKS. NLM
DOOR CHIMES AND DOME LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO PULL THE FUSE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THE FUSE IS PULLED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NO WORK NOR DOES THE SPEEDOMETER. THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURRENCE. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM (AFTER 3 DAYS IN SHOP) IN 1997. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WASHER & WIPERS…
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DOOR CHIMES AND DOME LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO PULL THE FUSE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THE FUSE IS PULLED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NO WORK NOR DOES THE SPEEDOMETER. THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURRENCE. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM (AFTER 3 DAYS IN SHOP) IN 1997. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WASHER & WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROLS. *AK
I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY DOME LIGHT AND DOOR ADJAR CHIME. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BY FORD DEALER AND AM NOW HAVING SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. CHIME AND DOME LIGHT WILL STAY ON EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS CLOSED. AS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS CLOSED. HAD TO PULL FUS…
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I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY DOME LIGHT AND DOOR ADJAR CHIME. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BY FORD DEALER AND AM NOW HAVING SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. CHIME AND DOME LIGHT WILL STAY ON EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS CLOSED. AS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS CLOSED. HAD TO PULL FUSE TO STOP CHIME NOISE. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN I DO THAT I HAVE NP WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER NOW WANTS ME TO PAY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER 1995 FORD RANGERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, I WANT THE NHTSA TO DEMAND A RECALL FROM FORD AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS CORRECTLY ONCE AND FOR ALL. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WHEN TURNED ON, ARE ERRATIC. THEY DO NOT HOLD A STEADY CADENCE. ALSO, DOMELIGHT STAYS ON AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR. IT WILL STAY ON FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES. *AK
MODULE CONTROLS DOOR CHIMES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS... WIPERS TURN ON WITHOUT USER CONTROLS. WIPERS STOP WORKING WHEN THEY ARE BEING USED OR NEEDED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM, YET THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS FROM FORD MOTOR CO. *AK
INTERIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AND DOOR AJAR CHIME STAYS ON. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM (SEE POSTINGS AT WWW.FORDRANGER.COM). OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND A SAFETY HAZARD (TRY HEARING ANYTHING GOING ON WITH THE BONG, BONG, BONG GOING ON CONTINUOUSLY). *AK
DOME LIGHT AND DOOR CHIME STAY ON NEAR CONSTANTLY WITH DOOR CLOSED. CHIME DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE SAME BEAT AS SONGS ON RADIO; DISTRACTING! *AK
Official recalls
109V399000 · 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
1EA02011 · 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