1993 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
170 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
93,904 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 170 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 46 | 27.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 17 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
Tires: 17; Tires:Tread/Belt: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Parking Brake:Conventional: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 134 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 38 |
| 1996 | 28 |
| 2000 | 38 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 38; 1996: 28; 2000: 38; 2001: 19; 2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2004: 9; 2005: 7; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10049593 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
THE REAR BRAKE CABLE GOES THOUGH A OBLONG HOLE IN THE FRAME. IN MY 1993 FORD RANGER THE OBLONG HOLE EDGE IS NOW RAZOR SHARPE. THIS CAN CAUSE A FATIQUE CRACK LEADING TO FRAME FAILURE. I USED RTV TO TRY TO KEEP THE CABLE AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF THE HOLE. THE FRAME HOLE IS NOW TOO SHARP FOR ME TO MESS WITH. I DO NOT WANT TO GET CUT. ABOUT 1995 I CALLED FORD AND ASK ABOUT A NEW CABLE. I WAS TOLD NO DEAL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063648 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
ON 1-20-04, I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO WARM UP. I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. HOWEVER, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, INTO MY NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, AND HIT THEIR TRAILER AND GARAGE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTY AND MY VEHICLE. AFTER INVESTIGATING, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKES, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THAT CAUSED MY VEHICLE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. HOWEVER I HAD NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL. IN FACT, AS OF THE DATE I AM FILING…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130037 · 2005-07-26 (July 26, 2005)
DT: A RECALL WA SISSUED BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. WHEN APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKE IT DIDN'T WORK AND IT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY. THIS WAS FOR A MANUEL TRANSMISSION WHEN PARKING ON A HILL. HAD TO LEAVE THE GEAR AND TURN THE WHEELS DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY PARKED. AND HOPE OF COURSE IT WOULDN'T ROLL INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED ON JULY 25, 2005. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10448299 · 2012-02-17 (February 17, 2012)
THE FRAME HAS RUSTED UNTIL THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. IT IS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES WHEN THEY RUSTED OUT IN 2006. I BOLTED A PIECE OF ANGLE TO THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT TO REPAIR IT AFTER IT RUSTED INTO AND DROPPED THE TRANSMISSIOM AND TWISTED THE DRIVE SHAFT INTO WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I TOOK IT UP ON 2/9/2012 TO GET A NEW EXHAUST PUT ON IT AND AND GOT A CALL FROM THE SERVICE GARAGE TO COME LOOK AT THE UNDER CARRAIGE OF THE TRUCK. THE BED HAS A RUSTED OUT SUPPORT, THE TRANSMISSION SUPPOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020787 · 2003-05-31 (May 31, 2003)
MY 1993 FORD RANGER 4WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP SUDDENLY STARTED LEAKING GAS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE GAS TANK SEPARATED AND THATS WHAT CAUSED THE LEAK. THIS VEHICLE IS 4WHEEL DRIVE, BUT I NEVER TAKE IT OFF ROADS AND I LIVE IN A VERY TEMPERATE CLIMATE (THE BAY AREA). WE HAVE NO EXTREME COLD OR HEAT AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT SOME DEFECT.
Owner-reported narrative. 158,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038316 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)
THE FUEL TANK CRACKED ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TANK IN THE AREA WHERE THE MIDDLE STRAP CROSSED THE TANK WHICH WAS LEAKING FUEL. *AK GALLONS OF FUEL LEAKED AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONSUMER OBTAINED THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK AND FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 67,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147847 · 2006-01-16 (January 16, 2006)
UNEXPECTED FIRE UNDER HOOD AFTER TURNING THE DEFROSTER SWITCH ON. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING GARAGE MY NEPHEW WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME TURNED THE DEFROSTER SWITCH ON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS SMOKE BELLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS INTO THE FORD RANGER PK/U CAB. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE LOT AND SOMEONE RAN UP TO HIM AND TOLD HIM TO GET OUT OF THE PK/U BECAUSE HE SAW FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE GUY WAS CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHED. HE TOLD MY NEPHEW TO SLOWLY LIFT THE HOOD WHILE HE BEGAN TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE UNDER THE HO…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504723 · 1996-05-13 (May 13, 1996)
SMOKE ODOR FROM WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FILL WITH SMOKE/POOR VISIBILITY. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583194 · 2014-04-16 (April 16, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER WAS FRACTURED IN MULTIPLE PLACES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 176,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484901 · 1995-08-05 (August 5, 1995)
POWER STEERING BELT SLIPS WHEN WET, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING DUE TO LACK OF SPLASH GUARDS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484901 at NHTSA ↗