MYRModel Year Report

1994 Ford Ranger

◆ Worse than typical
1994 Ford Ranger
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
455
Recalls
11

Campaigns on file for 1994

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

18% of complaints

Complaints per year

1983: 11 complaints 1983 1984: 12 complaints 1985: 27 complaints 1986: 36 complaints 1987: 51 complaints 1988: 90 complaints 1988 1989: 73 complaints 1990: 106 complaints 1991: 133 complaints 1992: 191 complaints 1993: 235 complaints 1994: 455 complaints 1994 455 1995: 321 complaints 1996: 413 complaints 1997: 411 complaints 1998: 576 complaints 1999: 755 complaints 2000: 670 complaints 2001: 515 complaints 2002: 346 complaints 2003: 243 complaints 2003 2004: 404 complaints 2005: 289 complaints 2006: 271 complaints 2007: 270 complaints 2008: 326 complaints 2008 2009: 168 complaints 2010: 156 complaints 2011: 235 complaints 2014: 1 complaint 2016: 1 complaint 2016 2017: 1 complaint 2019: 269 complaints 2020: 129 complaints 2021: 117 complaints 2022: 37 complaints 2022 2023: 18 complaints 2024: 87 complaints 2025: 43 complaints 2026: 7 complaints
1983: 11 complaints 1983 1984: 12 complaints 1985: 27 complaints 1986: 36 complaints 1986 1987: 51 complaints 1988: 90 complaints 1989: 73 complaints 1989 1990: 106 complaints 1991: 133 complaints 1992: 191 complaints 1993: 235 complaints 1994: 455 complaints 1994 455 1995: 321 complaints 1996: 413 complaints 1997: 411 complaints 1998: 576 complaints 1998 1999: 755 complaints 2000: 670 complaints 2001: 515 complaints 2001 2002: 346 complaints 2003: 243 complaints 2004: 404 complaints 2004 2005: 289 complaints 2006: 271 complaints 2007: 270 complaints 2007 2008: 326 complaints 2009: 168 complaints 2010: 156 complaints 2010 2011: 235 complaints 2014: 1 complaint 2016: 1 complaint 2016 2017: 1 complaint 2019: 269 complaints 2020: 129 complaints 2020 2021: 117 complaints 2022: 37 complaints 2023: 18 complaints 2023 2024: 87 complaints 2025: 43 complaints 2026: 7 complaints 2026
1983: 11 complaints 1983 1984: 12 complaints 1985: 27 complaints 1985 1986: 36 complaints 1987: 51 complaints 1987 1988: 90 complaints 1989: 73 complaints 1989 1990: 106 complaints 1991: 133 complaints 1991 1992: 191 complaints 1993: 235 complaints 1994: 455 complaints 1994 455 1995: 321 complaints 1996: 413 complaints 1997: 411 complaints 1997 1998: 576 complaints 1999: 755 complaints 1999 2000: 670 complaints 2001: 515 complaints 2001 2002: 346 complaints 2003: 243 complaints 2003 2004: 404 complaints 2005: 289 complaints 2005 2006: 271 complaints 2007: 270 complaints 2007 2008: 326 complaints 2009: 168 complaints 2009 2010: 156 complaints 2011: 235 complaints 2011 2014: 1 complaint 2016: 1 complaint 2016 2017: 1 complaint 2019: 269 complaints 2019 2020: 129 complaints 2021: 117 complaints 2021 2022: 37 complaints 2023: 18 complaints 2023 2024: 87 complaints 2025: 43 complaints 2025 2026: 7 complaints

1994: 455 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
198311
198412
198527
198636
198751
198890
198973
1990106
1991133
1992191
1993235
1994455
1995321
1996413
1997411
1998576
1999755
2000670
2001515
2002346
2003243
2004404
2005289
2006271
2007270
2008326
2009168
2010156
2011235
20141
20161
20171
2019269
2020129
2021117
202237
202318
202487
202543
20267

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

18% · 83 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Fuel system, gasoline

13% · 61 reports

Most commonly citing filler pipe and cap and hoses, lines/piping, and fittings.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Split in fuel filler hose causing fuel to spill on top of fuel tank causing fire. Mr

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-22

Tires

13% · 58 reports

Most commonly citing tread/belt and sidewall.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-05-15

Power train

11% · 51 reports

Most commonly citing manual transmission and automatic transmission.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

While parked, the vehicle came out of gear and rolled down a hill. As a result, the vehicle was damaged. Please provide additional information.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-10-19

Parking brake

11% · 49 reports

Most commonly citing conventional and linkage and cable.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Driver just got out and emergency parking brake disengage while passenger sitting in the vehicle, passenger saw this, resulting in accident. Tt

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-03-23

While parked on steep incline with emergency brake applied, brake disengaged allowing vehicle to roll down hill hitting a tree, received notice next day…

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-03-22

Vehicle was parked on hill w/emergency brake on, brake failed and truck crashed. Tt

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-03-10

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    1994Complaint volume 455 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    1994-07-01Fuel system, gasoline94V111001 The front fuel lines have a section of flexible hose that is susceptible to cracking which can allow fuel leakage.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front fuel line assembly.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    1994-12-16Parking brake94V169001 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.

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    1995-06-19Engineering analysisClosed 1996-04-02 Separation of master cylinder
  5. R
    1996-01-31Vehicle speed control95V231001 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the air intake duct and valve assembly with revised units.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    1996-03-22Service brakes, hydraulic96V024001 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the power brake vacuum booster assembly.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    1998-04-15Service brakes, air98E010000 Equipment description: aftermarket brake rotors for use on certain Ford and Mazda trucks. Cracked castings caused cracks to appear on the outer diameter of the rotor hat or around the stud hole.

    Remedy: Aimco will reimburse consumers/installers for the cost of replacement rotors and installation. Consumers are requested to return to the location where the rotors were originally purchased/installed…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2000-08-26Tires00T005000 Tire description: firestone wilderness at, size P235/75R15, produced at the decatur, Illinois tire plant and all firestone radial atx and radial atx ii tires, size P235/75R15. Operation of these…

    Remedy: The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on August 29, 2001. However, customers should contact firestone customer service at 1-800-465-1904 for possible assistance.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2001-06-04Tires01X001000 This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Equipment description: Ford is replacing all firestone…

    Remedy: The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on March 31, 2002. However, customers can contact Ford at 1-877-917-3673 or go on-line to www.Ford.com for possible assistance.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform…

    Remedy: K2 motor will notify owners and offer a full refund. The recall began on decemeber 17, 2008. Owners may contact K2 motor at 1-909-839-2992.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1994 Ford Ranger — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 83 reports on file for this year.
  • Fuel system, gasoline: 61 reports on file for this year.
  • Tires: 58 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 94V111001 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 94V169001 · Parking brake
  • Recall 95V231001 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 96V024001 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 98E010000 · Service brakes, air
  • Recall 00T005000 · Tires
  • Recall 01X001000 · Tires
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1994 Ford Ranger reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1994 Ford Ranger is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Ford Ranger?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 18% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1994 Ford Ranger have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.