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..
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
8 reportsCHASSIS FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY. ALL ENAMEL PAINT IS GONE AND CHUNKS OF RUSTED METAL IS FLAKING OFF
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.
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?!!
CK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING WHICH OFTEN SCARES THE DRIVER, THE DOOR CHIME STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE SHUT AND IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BIG HEADACHE AND ROAD RAGE, AND THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AND HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED SO THAT IT DOES NOT RUN THE BATTE…
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CK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING WHICH OFTEN SCARES THE DRIVER, THE DOOR CHIME STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE SHUT AND IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BIG HEADACHE AND ROAD RAGE, AND THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AND HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED SO THAT IT DOES NOT RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. NOW, THESE COMPLAINTS APPEAR TO BE SEPARATE IN THEIR OWN PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE READ THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SAME PROBLEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WE HAVE RECENTLY PAID THE 700.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON BECAUSE THE CHIME GOT TO WHERE IT WOULD NEVER TURN OFF AT ALL. WE ARE MILITARY AND HAD TO RELY ON OUR PARENTS TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE PROBLEMS WERE ON GOING FOR A WHILE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO "LIVE" WITH IT RATHER THAN PAY THE HIGH COST REPAIR. NOW I HAVE FOUND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE A QUALITY ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. OUR TRUCK IS UPKEPT VERY WELL AND OTHER THAN THESE PROBLEMS IT HAS BEEN A GOOD TRUCK. FORD HAS MADE A FAULTY PRODUCT AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT ISNT CAUSE BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OR OWNER NEGLECT. I HAVE WENT IN CIRCLES WITH THE 1800-392-FORD REP AND THE DEALER AND BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER 65000 MILES THEY WONT EVEN ATTEMPT TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. I HAVE GATHER NUMEROUS COMPLAINT FROM THE INTERNET AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING A FORD REP LOOK INTO MY COMPLAINT, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES SUFFERING THE ILL EFFECTS OF A FAULTY PRODUCT.*AK
BELL AND DOME LIGHT STAY ON WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. BELL WILL NOT STOP RINGING FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 10 MIINUTES. PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE RECTIFIED. *AK.ET.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, DOOR CHIME STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, LIGHT DOME STAYS ON EVEN AT NIGHT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, HEATER DOESN'T WORK, AND MOST IMPORTANT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITIENTLY AND SPRAY FLUID DISTRACTING DRIVER. I'VE ALMOST HAD ACCIDENTS WITH THE WIPERS NOT WORKING RIGHT, SOMETIMES THE WIPERS DON…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, DOOR CHIME STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, LIGHT DOME STAYS ON EVEN AT NIGHT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, HEATER DOESN'T WORK, AND MOST IMPORTANT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITIENTLY AND SPRAY FLUID DISTRACTING DRIVER. I'VE ALMOST HAD ACCIDENTS WITH THE WIPERS NOT WORKING RIGHT, SOMETIMES THE WIPERS DON'T WORK AT ALL WHEN RAINING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THANK-YOU, SHANNON CASE
UNSPECIFIED.
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
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