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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.

About this comparison →

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
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BOTH FRONT ROTORS WARPED AND REAR DRUMS TURNED AT 6000 MILES, CAUSING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL. TT

NHTSA ODI #979388

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1996
Suspension

MISALIGNMENT CAUSES VEHICLE TO DRIFT LEFT OR RIGHT. TT

NHTSA ODI #501151

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE TRUCK WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH ENGINE ON TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #977988

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 1996
Power Train

THROW OUT BEARING FAILURE. *AW

NHTSA ODI #600419

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1996
Air Bags

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT, DUE TO FAULTY IMPACT SENSOR. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #490967

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1996
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TWICE DUE TO SWITCH FAILURE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #601334

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

WATER PUMP FAILED. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #600500

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

THE TRUCK SPED UP BY ITSELF.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #976724

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED 6 TIMES. *SD

NHTSA ODI #500184

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS: BRAKE PADS ARE PREMATURELY WORN AT 6,000 MILES; LOUD GRINDING SOUND. TT

NHTSA ODI #976310

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