Your vehicle report
1994 Ford Ranger
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 438
- Received Jan 1995 to Aug 2019
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Tires blow out or tread separates52 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline48 complaints · 11% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Parking brake fails to hold or release30 complaints · 6.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #96V024001The studs which attach the brake master cylinder to the power brake vacuum booster assembly can develop stress corrosion cracking after being operated for an extended period of time in the southern california location.
- Recall #95V231001During extreme cold, northern climate winter conditions, ice can form in the throttle body of the engine causing the throttle plate to remain in the highway cruising position after the accelerator is released or the speed control is deactivated.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 53 crashes, 15 fires, 26 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 79 |
| 1996 | 48 |
| 1997 | 28 |
| 1998 | 33 |
| 1999 | 34 |
| 2000 | 65 |
| 2001 | 32 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 438 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 52 | 12% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 48 | 11% | – | NHTSA recall #94V111001 |
| Parking brake fails to hold or release | 30 | 6.9% | – | NHTSA recall #94V169001 |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 27 | 6.2% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 25 | 5.7% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 15 | 3.4% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 14 | 3.2% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 13 | 3.0% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 13 | 3.0% | – | |
| Radiator transmission cooler leaks fluid into transmission | 11 | 2.5% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 9 | 2.1% | – | NHTSA recall #95V231001 |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 9 | 2.1% | – | |
| Vehicle rolls backward out of park | 8 | 1.8% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 7 | 1.6% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 7 | 1.6% | – | |
| Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal | 7 | 1.6% | – | NHTSA recall #96V024001 |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 7 | 1.6% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 6 | 1.4% | – | |
| Transfer case shifts into 4-wheel drive unexpectedly | 6 | 1.4% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 6 | 1.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #96V024001February 5, 1996108,000 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic
The studs which attach the brake master cylinder to the power brake vacuum booster assembly Can develop stress corrosion cracking after being operated for an extended period of time in the southern california location.
If a crack occurs, it could result in one or both studs fracturing. The master cylinder could then separate from the vacuum booster, when the brakes are applied, preventing the service brakes from activating increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the power brake vacuum booster assembly.
NHTSA recall #95V231001December 5, 199526,000 vehicles affected
vehicle speed control
During extreme cold, northern climate winter conditions, ice Can form in the throttle body of the engine causing the throttle plate to remain in the highway cruising position after the accelerator is released or the speed control is deactivated.
The vehicle stopping distances Can be increased possibly resulting in an accident.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the air intake duct and valve assembly with revised units.
NHTSA recall #94V169001September 7, 1994835,791 vehicles affected
parking brake: conventional
The parking brake control self-adjust pawl does not line up properly with the self-adjust rachet causing the pawl to slip over one or more teeth in the rachet.
When the above occurs, it Can result in parking brake system ineffectiveness. The parking brake will not hold the vehicle, causing the vehicle to roll freely, if the transmission is not left in gear.
Remedy
A wedge will be installed which will serve to lock the parking brake self-adjust mechanism pawl into engagement with the rachet. Also, owners will be advised to release and reapply the parking brake whenever tooth skip occurs and will be reminded to always turn off the engine and leave the vehicle in gear when the vehicle is parked.
NHTSA recall #94V111001June 13, 199411,400 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
The front fuel lines have a section of flexible hose that is susceptible to cracking which Can allow fuel leakage.
Leaking fuel Can result in a fire when exposed to a source of ignition.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front fuel line assembly.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1994 Ford Ranger.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN