1994 Ford RANGER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
331 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
115,915 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 72 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 331 complaints (7.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 74 | 22.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 32 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 2.4% |
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 | 26 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 23 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 20 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 19 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 15 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
Tires: 26; Tires:Tread/Belt: 23; Parking Brake:Conventional: 20; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap: 19; Fuel System, Gasoline: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 15; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 8
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 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 18
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 259 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 | 79 |
| 1996 | 36 |
| 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 |
1995: 79; 1996: 36; 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
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 74 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005381 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
I WAS CHECKING FOR RECALLS ON MY 1994 FORD RANGER AND WAS SURPRISED AT HOW MANY RECALLS. THE REASON BEING THAT, MY FAMILY HAS OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY 1994, WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED THE FIRESTONE RECALL NOTICE. IRONICALLY, I HAVE HAD AND STILL HAVE SOME OF THE LISTED COMPONENTS THAT WERE RECALLED AS WELL AS AS SOME UNLISTED COMPONENTS SINCE 1996, THESE PROBLEMS HAVE COST MY FAMILY ANY WHERE BETWEEN $1000.00 - $2000.00, EVERY YEAR JUST IN REPAIRS ALONE. THE VEHICLE BARELY HAS 147,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY USED TO COMMUTE TO ANF FROM WORK, …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008752 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
THE FUEL INLET HOSE WAS CRACKED WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008752 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011589 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
NAR 06/03/03 FAILURE TO HONOR FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011589 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014559 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE DRIVER SEAT WAS LOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FOURTH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015067 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
THE FUEL TANK VENT HOSE ALLOWED AIR TO VENT FROM THE FUEL TANK DURING REFUELING. CRACKS DEVELOPED IN THE VENT HOSE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023931 · 2003-06-28 (June 28, 2003)
I HAVE A 1994 FORD RANGER. THE TRUCK AFTER BEING PARKED FOR LONG AND OR SHORT PERIODS WILL NOT START, ONLY CRANK. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL RELAY, FUEL PUMP, CRANK SENSOR. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED BY THREE DIFFERENT TECHS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEIR OPINION WAS EITHER THE IGNITION MODULE OR COMPUTER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029736 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)
FAN BLADE HAS CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN HOT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032782 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL REMAINS IN THE HIGHWAY CRUISING POSITION AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED. ORIGINALLY, WAS A COLD WEATHER PROBLEM, BUT NOW IS OCCURRING IN WARMER WEATHER. A NOVEMBER 30, 1995 RECALL EXISTS ON THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, BUT GAMBINO FORD IN LOCKPORT, N.Y. DENIES IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032782 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
94V111001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1994-06-13 (June 13, 1994)
THE FRONT FUEL LINES HAVE A SECTION OF FLEXIBLE HOSE THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING WHICH CAN ALLOW FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V169001 · Parking Brake:Conventional
Reported: 1994-09-07 (September 7, 1994)
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.
Consequence: 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 campaign record ↗95V231001 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1995-12-05 (December 5, 1995)
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.
Consequence: 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 campaign record ↗96V024001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic
Reported: 1996-02-05 (February 5, 1996)
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.
Consequence: 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 campaign record ↗