Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 438 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Ford Ranger. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 438 · page 1 of 18
THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION IS ROTTING HERE IS A RUST HOLE IN MY FRAME WHERE THE COIL SPRING GOES. THE TRUCK BODY HAS NO OTHER SIGNS OF RUST AND HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED.
DROVE MY TRUCK ONE DAY ALL WAS FINE. DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY AND FELT A STRANGE VIBRATION. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE TRUCK WANTED TO KEEP PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT. INSPECTION OF TIRES REVEALED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS WAS NOT TOUCHING THE COMPLETELY IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. TREAD IS GOOD. LOOKS LIKE BELT FAILURE. SCARRY. HAVE PICTURES. IT IS A CORNELL 1000. P215-70R14.
1994 FORD RANGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTED FRAME ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE RELEASING THE GAS TANK FROM THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED OR REPLACE THE FRAME. UPDATED 10/25/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER MIRROR SIDE A TRAIL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 94V111001 (FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
FRAME IS RUSTED COMPLETELY PARTS FALLING OFF AND MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED APART. REAR BUMBER ALMOST RUSTED AWAY AND FALLING OFF.
PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RUSTED JUST BEHIND THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL CAUSE THE TRUCK TO FAIL THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION RENDERING THE TRUCK USELESS. UNLESS IT BRAKES BEFORE THAT TIME. DRIVERS SIDE IN BETTER CONDITION.
NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE IF THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DURING TURNING, STOPPING AND GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. FIGURED IT WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMPLE AND TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS A RUSTED FRAME MOUNT AND TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP. SO I DID AND THE SECOND OPINION WAS THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY IN TWO JUST IF FRONT OF THE RIGHT SHOCK MOUNT. I CLIMBED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IT TRULY IS RUSTED COMPLETELY INTO TWO PIECES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS KEEP THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WHERE IT BELONGS. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PARKED FOR NOW. WHERE DO I TURN NOW? NO PUN INTENDED.
REAR LEFT SPRING SHACKLE AND MOUNT RUSTED OFF. BIG RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME BESIDE FUEL TANK ON LEFT SIDE. *TR
SINCE APPROXIMATELY 2000 I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FILL THE TRUCK WITH GAS. I CAN NOT FILL THE TANK, IF I DO THE FUEL WILL JUST SPILL ON THE GROUND. HOSE FROM FUEL FILL TO TANK MUST BE CRACKED. *TR
FUZION TOURING TIRES P195/70R14 91T TREAD SEPARATING AT <14KMILES. I BOUGHT THIS SET OF TIRES AND RIMS USED FROM A FRIEND WHO HAD BOUGHT THE SET OF TIRES FROM ON ONLINE TIRE RETAILER, IN EARLY 2013 (TIRE DOT CODE JEFJ CAN 4412 MADE IN CHINA). THE RIMS AND TIRES WERE INSTALLED ON A 1996 FORD RANGER 2WD INITIALLY AND THEN ON MY 1994 FORD RANGER XLT 2WD. FRONT TWO TIRES BEGAN TO FEEL WOBBLY AND VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. UPON INSPECTION, THE TIRES WERE DISFIGURED AND OUT OF ROUND. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION BOTH FRONT TIRES APPEARED AS IF THE INNER BELTS HAD PEAKED IN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE ON THE TREAD SURFACE (LIKE THE TREAD SURFACE HAD BEEN FOLDED AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE TIRE), BUT NOT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRES. THIS WAS THE OBVIOUS CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION. TIRES REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PUT ON THE REAR AND THE TWO REMAINING FUZION TIRES WERE MOVED TO THE FRONT. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, ONE OF THE FUZION TIRES NOW ON THE FRONT REPEATED THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE OTHER TWO. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TIRES FOR 3 OF 4 TO GO BAD IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY WITH IN SUCH A CLOSE TIME RANGE. THE 4TH TIRE APPEARS TO BE OK, HOWEVER DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER THREE, I AM REPLACING IT TOO. IF YOU HAVE THESE TIRES AND EXPERIENCE VIBRATION, IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATE THE SHAPE OF THE TIRE TREAD SURFACE FOR DISFIGUREMENT - IF YOU FIND ANY, IMMEDIATELY REPLACE THE TIRE. I CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS AS NEEDED. *TR
JM AUTO SALES AT 12248 N. 600 E. DEMOTTE, IN 46310, SOLD ME AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, HE ASSURED ME THAT HE SERVICES ALL HIS VEHICLES BEFORE HE SELLS THEM BECAUSE HE WANTS HIS CUSTOMERS HAPPY, WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC HE TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, CENTER LINKS, WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND EXHAUST FLANGE MANIFOLD, ITS UNFAIR FOR THIS BUSINESS TO SELL A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD, THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE UNSAFE AND DECEPTIVE ACTS AND PRACTICES ACT. IF HE SERVICES THE VEHICLE HE WOULD KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM AND NOT PUT THEM FOR SALE. *TR
I LEFT MY TRUCK FOR INSPECTION ON 12/9/13. IT WOULD NOT INSPECT BECAUSE OF A SMALL LEAK IN ONE OF THE FLEXIBLE FUEL LINE CABLES THAT LEAD FROM THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE. THIS PART WAS SUPPOSEDLY ON RECALL AT SOME PAST DATE. THE NHTSA RECALL IS #94V111001. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE ON THIS RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, FORD INFORMS ME THAT THE PART IS DISCONTINUED, AND MY MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT PART ANYWHERE. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIND A MACHINE SHOP THAT CAN MAKE THE PART. MY QUESTION IS "DO I HAVE ANY OPTIONS THAT I COULD PURSUE AGAINST FORD". *TR
PURCHASED A VERY NICE 1994 FORD RANGER XLT WITH APPROX. 63,709 ORIGINAL MILES THE FRAME PERCHES AND LEAF SPRING PURCHASES ARE LIKE SWISS CHEESE THE SCALE ON THE FRAME IS TERRIBLE THE MECHANIC COULD NOT SAFELY PUT THIS TRUCK ON A LIFT LOOKS LIKE TRUCK UNDERNEATH WAS DIPPED IN RUST ANY INFORMATION OR REPLY WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
PREMATURE SEVERE RUST ON UNDER BODY OF FRAME AND JUST ABOUT EVERY COMPONENT CONNECTED TO THE FRAME ITSELF, INCLUDING BODY MOUNTS, LEAF SPRING BRACKETS, STEERING COMPONENTS. WITHOUT PROPER KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ACTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE RUST CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING, CONTROL, AND SHIFTING LOADS AS REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKET HAS ALREADY FAILED AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE. BODY MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED LEAVING THE CAB WITH POTENTIAL TO FALL OFF, OR SHIFT DURING A SIMPLE DRIVING MANEUVER . FRAME HAS PANCAKES OF RUST FLAKING OFF AT THIS TIME IN IT'S AGE (NOW 18 YEARS). THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE TO INTERNET FORD TRUCK CLUB MEMBERS WITH SEVERE RUST THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME AND IT'S COMPONENTS ATTACHED TO IT. *TR
COMPLAINT: HIGH RISK OF ACCIDENT DUE TO ENGINE SHUT DOWN. SUBJECT: IGNITION MODULE SAFETY COMPLAINT. 6 OUT OF 7 BAD COMMENTS: PROBLEM: 1994 FORD RANGER PICKUP DIES FREQUENTLY AND SPORADICALLY AFTER IGNITION MODULE REPLACEMENT BY AUTO MECHANIC. FIRST 2 OEM MODULES FROM ADVANCE AUTO TEST BAD AT PARTS DEALER. THIRD MODULE IS FORD MOTOR CRAFT AND IS ASSUMED GOOD. SEVERAL NEW PARTS INSTALLED INCLUDING CRANK SENSOR, FUEL FILTER, FUEL RELAY, TIMING BELT, EEC (COMPUTER), WATER PUMP, EEC RELAY. SPORADIC DYING CONTINUES. FORD MODULE TESTED AT AUTO ZONE AND FAILS, BUT NEW AUTO ZONE DURALAST MODULE IS TESTED FOR COMPARISON AND PASSES. MECHANIC RETURNS MODULE AND ORDERS NEW ONE FROM ADVANCE AUTO. IT FAILS TEST IN STORE. MECHANIC ORDERS ANOTHER THAT PASSES AT ADVANCE BUT FAILS AT AUTO ZONE ON DURALAST TEST. I INSTALL MODULE AND IT FAILS A QUARTER MILE FROM HOUSE. MECHANIC GETS ANOTHER MOTOR CRAFT MODULE FROM FORD THAT PASSES AT ADVANCE AND FAILS AT AUTO ZONE. I DON'T INSTALL IT. THAT MAKES 4 OEM MODULES THAT FAILED AND 2 MOTOR CRAFT. FINALLY, I INSTALL AUTO ZONE MODULE THAT PASSED TEST AT AUTO ZONE. NO FAILURE FOR 4 DAYS AND COUNTING. LOCAL FORD DEALER TRIED TWICE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AFTER THE FIRST MOTOR CRAFT MODULE WAS INSTALLED AND DID NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT HAVE AN OUT OF VEHICLE ANALYZER. MY CONCLUSION: THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL ENCOUNTER THE SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE DIED ON THE ORDER OF SEVERAL DOZEN TIMES OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD (ALMOST DAILY). LUCKILY I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND AM QUICK AT HITTING THE EMERGENCY BLINKER. AFTER AWHILE,I BOUGHT A USED CAR AND ONLY DROVE THE TRUCK TO TEST IT. SAFETY HAZARD: UNEXPECTED DYING ON BUSY HIGHWAY OR AT INTERSECTION COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT YOUR DOING SOMETHING. FORD WON'T. *TR
I APPLIED MY BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WAS FINE ONE SECOND AND THEN LOST PRESSURE AND WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH A POPPING FEELING ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND THEN I TURN MY WHEEL INTO THE OTHER LANE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND A CAR CAME FROM NO WHERE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND HIT MY 1994 RANGER ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND BEDSIDE . *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE HARD FUEL LINE TO THE RADIATOR FAN, WHICH WAS BLOWING THE FUEL BACK UNDER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 7/28/15*CN
1994 FORD RANGER WITH FRAME ROT HIDDEN BY FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING MOUNT , UNSAFE ! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED HAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL ROAD SURFACE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ROLLED FOR A FEW SECONDS. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V169001 (PARKING BRAKE: CONVENTIONAL); HOWEVER THE RECALL EXPIRED AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAULTY EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.
OUR 1994 FORD RANGER STARTED ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN ARE DRIVEWAY, FOR AND HOUR. IT BURNT ALL ELECTRICAL HARNESS. *TR
1994 FORD RANGER, HAS A CRACKED FUEL FILLER HOSE THAT CAUSES FUEL TO SPILL OUT WHEN FILLING THE TANK, DURING WARM WEATHER YOU CAN GET TO 3/4 OF A TANK BEFORE FUEL SPILLAGE STARTS, IN WINTER JUST A LITTLE OVER 1/2 TANK. WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALER ABOUT GETTING PARTS TO REPAIR I WAS TOLD THEY ARE ON BACKORDER. HIS COMMENT TO ME WAS THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF RANGERS OUT THERE, THOSE THAT LEAK AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED. IN OTHER WORDS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FORD HAS WITH THE RANGERS THAT THEY ARE CHOOSING TO IGNORE. IN CHECKING OTHER SOURCES IT SEEMS TO BE RANGERS FROM AT LEAST 1993 - 2009 HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
3 OUT OF 4 LEAF SPRING BRACKETS (THOSE THAT ATTACH THE LEAF SPRING TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK) RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE SEVERING THE CONNECTION OF THE LEAF SPRING TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THE 4TH BRACKET WAS ALSO REPLACED AT THE URGING OF MY MECHANIC SINCE IT APPEARED TO BE CLOSE TO BREAKING AS THE OTHER 3 DID. THESE BRACKET FAILURES WERE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AND PUT THE SAFETY OF ALL PASSENGERS AT RISK FOR PERSONAL INJURY. I PERSONALLY KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR FORD RANGERS. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPAIR THEIR TRUCKS COMPENSATION SHOULD BE MADE.
FUEL TANK FILLER HOSE LEAKS AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE WASTE. *TR
FAILURE OF FUEL TANK FILLER NECK TUBE RESULTING IN MAJOR LOSS OF FUEL. *TR
I KEPT HEARING A SQUEAK IN THE REAR END. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK I FOUND THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT REAL BAD. PIECES ARE FLAKING OFF. HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR HANGERS ON LEAF SPRINGS AND SHACKLES DUE TO THEM BEING RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND I WILL ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE FRONT SPRINGS. MY EXHAUST IS THE ORIGINAL AND THE TRUCK HAS 147,000 MILES ON IT. I WOULD EXPECT THE EXHAUST TO RUST OUT BEFORE THE FRAME BUT I GUESS I AM WRONG. I AM STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY KIDS. I STILL HAVE THE PIECES THAT WERE REPLACED. TRUCK WAS ALSO ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH AN UNDERCOATING ON THE FRAME. I GUESS THIS DID NOT HELP. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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