Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Ford Ranger, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic66
- Fuel system, gasoline58
- Tires54
- Power train49
- Parking brake47
- Suspension30
- Electrical system25
- Vehicle speed control23
- Engine and engine cooling23
- Structure21
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 26 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 65 1994 Ranger vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 46 people died inside them, and 12 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1994 Ford Ranger failed the safety check 1.39% of the time — 5% more often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 137,962 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1994 Ford Ranger.
| 1996016 25 Jan 1996 | Engine OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OVER EXTENDED INTERVALS DURING EXTREME COLD CONDITIONS MAY RESULT IN ICE FORMING IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE ENGINE. THIS MAY EVENTU… |
| 1994157 17 Oct 1994 | Brakes NOTE: THIS RECALL AFFECTS VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF-ADJUST PAWL MAY SKIP OVER ONE OR MORE TEETH IN THE SELF-ADJUST RATC… |
| 1994110 8 Jun 1994 | Fuel System THE FLEXIBLE PORTION OF THE FRONT FUEL HOSE ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING. CRACKED FUEL LINES COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE, AND IN THE PRESENCE O… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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 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.
THE FRONT FUEL LINES HAVE A SECTION OF FLEXIBLE HOSE THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING WHICH CAN ALLOW FUEL LEAKAGE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1994 Ford Ranger: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635982 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND A 4.0L OHV ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE / VIBRATION, NO DRIVE, UNUSUAL NOISE DURING CRANKING OR A NO CRANK CONDITION. *TT |
| 628153 | OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM SUPPLEMENT 7 REVISED INFORMATION - REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF WILDERNESS AT TIRES. *TT |
| 627756 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A LOUD A/C CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. *TT |
| 627752 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L OHV ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NOISE WHICH MAY BE PERCEIVED BY THE CUSTOMER AS A PISTON / ONNECTING ROD BEARING KNOCK. *TT |
| 625700 | INFORMATION ON CLIMATE CONTROL, LOUD A/C CLUTCH CYCLING NOISE.*JB |
| 624982 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT LOUD A/C CLUTCH CYCLING NOISE CONDITION. *JG |
| 624656 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A LOUD COMPRESSOR CYCLING NOISE. *YH |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622665 | ON SOME VEHICLES, ENGINE OIL MAY CONTINUE TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET AREA AFTER AN ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TT |
| 619423 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CHATTER OR BINDING CONDITION WHEN OPERATING THE POWER SIDE WINDOWS EITHER IN THE DOWN OR UP MODE. *TT |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 616508 | SPECIAL FIELD ACTION REGARDING REVISED WARANTY INFORMATION. *TT |
| 613308 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLIMATE CONTROL ISSUE OF LACK OF HEAT. *TT |
| 613159 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLIMATE CONTROL ISSUE OF LACK OF HEAT. *MJS |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 612200 | PROCEDURE FOR SERVICING PARKING BRAKE- SERVICE TIP- BRONCO AND F-SERIES BUILT THROUGH 4/22/1994 AND EXPLORER/RANGER BUILT THROUGH 5/13/1994. *MJS |
| 612198 | INFORMATION REGARDING PARKING BRAKE CONTROL ASSEMBLY CONCERNS- BRONCO AND F-SERIES BUILT THROUGH 4/22/1994 AND EXPLORER/RANGER BUILT THROUGH 5/13/1994. *MJS |
| 612194 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WHICH GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH MINIMAL EFFORT- BRONCO AND F-SERIES BUILT THROUGH 4/22/1994 AND EXPLORER/RANGER BUILT THROUGH 5/13/94. |
| 610793 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT NEUTRAL GEAR ROLLOVER NOISE (A LIGHT METALLIC RATTLING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION) WHICH OCCURS AT IDLE WITH TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL CLUTCH ENGAGED (CLUTCH PEDAL UP). *TT |
| 610704 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN AUDIBLE PINGING OR CREAKING NOISE THAT MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVELINE WHEN ENGINE TORQUE IS INITIALLY APPLIED TO THE DRIVELINE. *TT |
| 609688 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT NEUTRAL GEAR ROLLOVER NOISE WHICH OCCURS AT IDLE WITH TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND CLUTCH ENGAGED. *TT |
| 609556 | OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR MANUAL REPLACEMENT. |
| 6091931 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NOISE WHICH MAY BE PERCEIVED BY THE CUSTOMER AS A PISTON / CONNECTING ROD BEARING KNOCK. *TT |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SEPARATION OF MASTER CYLINDER
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation