IllustrationCONSUMER HAD FOUND CRACKS ON THE FOUR SET OF FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, SIZE P265/75R15. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P265/75/R15 *MW
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
Tires complaints
28 reportsALL FOUR TIRES ARE SERIOUSLY CRACKED AT THE TREAD AREA. MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE VEHICAL IS FINE THAT THE STEERING PROBLEM IS BECAUSE OF BELT SEPARATION IN THE TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265/75R15 )
I HAD A BLOW OUT JUNE 2000. THE BLOW OUT OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, AND FOR NO APPERENT REASON THE TIRE JUST BLOW OUT. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 7000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE TIRE IN NOV. OF 1999.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R14 )
HAD 4 NEW OEM FIRESTONE TIRES PUT ON WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN MAY 97. IN JAN 98, ~3000 MILES LATER, I DROVE 12 HRS FROM FLA TO CHAPEL HILL, NC WITH 2 @15 MINUTE STOPS TO GAS UP. TOOK I-95 AND RAN 70-80MPH THE WHOLE TIME. WHEN I LEFT THE HWY FOR THE LAST TIME, TRUCK BRAKING WAS VERY BAD. ALL OVER THE ROAD. I DID NOT LOSE CONTRO…
Read full complaint
HAD 4 NEW OEM FIRESTONE TIRES PUT ON WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN MAY 97. IN JAN 98, ~3000 MILES LATER, I DROVE 12 HRS FROM FLA TO CHAPEL HILL, NC WITH 2 @15 MINUTE STOPS TO GAS UP. TOOK I-95 AND RAN 70-80MPH THE WHOLE TIME. WHEN I LEFT THE HWY FOR THE LAST TIME, TRUCK BRAKING WAS VERY BAD. ALL OVER THE ROAD. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL ONLY BECAUSD THE OFF RAMP WAS VERY LONG NEAR MY HOUSE AND I TOOK A L O N G TIME TO STOP. SCARY. TIRE WAS DESTROYED. LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE TOOK A GRINDER TO ABOUT 1/6TH OF THE TIRE, ALONG THE OUTSIDE EDGE. THE STEEL BELT HAD BITS OF METAL STICKING OUT OF IT, THE TREAD NEAR THE HAND SIZED HOLE HAD PEELED OFF THE INNER TIRE (BUT WAS STILL ATTACHED ON THE INSIDE 2" OR SO) . WHAT A MESS. DID I RUN OVER A LAND MINE? I PUT IT DOWN AS A FLUKE, BUT THOUGHT I SHOUDL REPORT IT NOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/R1570 )
IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRE HAPPENED TO US, WHERE WE HEARD A BIG SOUND WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHERE IT ALMOST FLIPPED OVER BUT DIDN'T AS WE WERE ABLE TO USE ALL FREEWAY LANES TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK (THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND US AT THAT TIME). WE PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED A REAR …
Read full complaint
IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRE HAPPENED TO US, WHERE WE HEARD A BIG SOUND WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHERE IT ALMOST FLIPPED OVER BUT DIDN'T AS WE WERE ABLE TO USE ALL FREEWAY LANES TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK (THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND US AT THAT TIME). WE PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED A REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE IN A BIG WAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/60R15 )
SPARE TIRE IS RUBBNG AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING A HOLE, AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES.*AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODE, THE BACK BRAKES SEEM TO GRAB QUICKER CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK ON ALL 4 WHEELS. THIS CAUSES THE VEHIVCLE TO GO IN TO A UNCONTROLLED SLIDE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES ON HILLS OR EVEN LEVEL GROUND IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, THE BRAKES APPEA…
Read full complaint
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODE, THE BACK BRAKES SEEM TO GRAB QUICKER CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK ON ALL 4 WHEELS. THIS CAUSES THE VEHIVCLE TO GO IN TO A UNCONTROLLED SLIDE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES ON HILLS OR EVEN LEVEL GROUND IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, THE BRAKES APPEAR TO ACT NORMAL. BUT WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE THE BRAKES LOCK AND PULSE, THERE IS NO CONTROLLED DEPLOYMENT OF THE PADS. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE THE SIZE THAT THE MANUFACTURER CALLS FOR, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT I USE STUDDED TIRES ON THE REAR. AS I STATED THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205,70R-15 )
WHILE DRIVING (65) MPH ON INTERSTATE, ABOUT 80% OF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT REAR, CAUSING $2,100 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND THE SIDE PANEL OF TRUCK. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STEER TRUCK OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. *AK TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX, SIZE P235/75R15 M+S TUBELESS, DOT # VNHL1MO090, TIRE HA…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING (65) MPH ON INTERSTATE, ABOUT 80% OF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE ON THE RIGHT REAR, CAUSING $2,100 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND THE SIDE PANEL OF TRUCK. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STEER TRUCK OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. *AK TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX, SIZE P235/75R15 M+S TUBELESS, DOT # VNHL1MO090, TIRE HAD ONLY BEEN ON VEHICLE ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE FAILING, IT WAS A SPARE AND DID CAUSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
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