2nd generation · Ford Ranger (carryover chassis) · 2,323 complaints, 417 with mileage
Owners filed 2,323 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993–1997 Ford Ranger, and 417 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
57% of failures occur beyond 100,000 miles — a wear pattern. The car generally reaches substantial mileage before trouble starts.
The most-reported areas are the hydraulic brake circuit (13.2% of complaints, typically around 104,000 miles), the tyres (10.0% of complaints, typically around 110,480 miles), the fuel system (8.5% of complaints, typically around 104,000 miles).
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 307 | 13.2% | 104,000 | 48,000–170,669 |
| Tires | 233 | 10.0% | 110,480 | 55,000–162,626 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 198 | 8.5% | 104,000 | 75,242–130,000 |
| Visibility | 176 | 7.6% | — | — |
| Power Train | 171 | 7.4% | 96,500 | 59,099–147,869 |
| Electrical System | 143 | 6.2% | 100,000 | 60,000–147,869 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 129 | 5.6% | 127,000 | 77,772–146,000 |
| Suspension | 122 | 5.3% | 134,216 | 100,000–193,278 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 105 | 4.5% | 78,700 | 59,099–84,000 |
| Structure | 88 | 3.8% | 131,000 | 84,000–160,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 272 | 45 |
| 1994 | 531 | 80 |
| 1995 | 451 | 59 |
| 1996 | 533 | 93 |
| 1997 | 536 | 140 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 106,243 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 13.2% of complaints (307 reports, 10 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 104,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 170,669 miles.
The tyres account for 10.0% of complaints (233 reports, 20 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 110,480 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 162,626 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 8.5% of complaints (198 reports, 107 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 104,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 75,242 and 130,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.4% of complaints (171 reports, 14 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 96,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,099 and 147,869 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.2% of complaints (143 reports, 25 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 147,869 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 5.6% of complaints (129 reports, 27 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 127,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 77,772 and 146,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 1997 model year drew the most — 536 complaints — while 1993 drew the fewest at 272. The median year sits at 531.
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Of the 2,323 complaints filed against this generation, 227 reported a crash; 79 reported a fire; 164 reported an injury; 16 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 9.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, a late-failure pattern shifts the question from whether to when. 57% of reported failures occur beyond 100,000 miles, so an example approaching that figure is approaching the range where other owners started reporting problems. The middle half of all failures falls between 75,000 and 146,000 miles.
On inspection, the hydraulic brake circuit and the tyres are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The hydraulic brake circuit in particular shows a median failure mileage of 104,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
A4LD 4-speed automatic durability — overdrive and forward clutch failure, and torque converter lockup faults, are the characteristic transmission failure of the pre-5R55E trucks.
Salt-belt corrosion of the frame, cab corners and bed, typical of the era; late-life structural rust is a common ODI theme for these trucks.