FordRanger1993Overview/ford/ranger/1993/base/

1993 Ford Ranger

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Ranger.

Body TRUCK

Defined as a TRUCK within a production run spanning 1990 to 2020, the 1993 Ford Ranger holds 5.0 qt of 5W-20 API oil for its engine. Ownership data for this model year shows 254 total owner complaints and 10 recalls, with Tires identified as the top complaint area. Contextualized against the model's full history, the 1993 Ranger falls well below the highest complaint year of 1999 at 818 issues but remains above the 2014 low of 1, positioning it as a moderate entry in the vehicle's long-term reliability record.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020191993

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1106

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length181.1 in
Overall width69.3 in
Overall height64.2 in
Wheelbase108.3 in
Curb weight2923 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Ranger of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.4–8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.40 sec — 1993 XLT Regular Cab
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1993XLT Regular Cab 4.0L V68.40 sec16.60 sec160 hpRWD
1993XLT Regular Cab (7'02" Bed) 4.0L V68.90 sec16.70 sec160 hpRWD
1995Splash SuperCab 4.0L V68.70 sec16.70 sec160 hpRWD
1995Splash SuperCab 4.0L V69.50 sec17.60 sec160 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity7 Pints ( rear)
Engine OilSYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine OilSYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 14-
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15-22 ft-lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Locking Hub (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 100,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1993 Ford Ranger marks a notable inflection point in its generation, with complaints rising sharply to 254—up from 209 in 1992 and significantly higher than the 143 reported in 1991—while recalls doubled to 10, the highest in the first half of the model’s lifecycle. This year sits at the start of an upward trend in federal scrutiny, preceding the peak complaint volume of 1994 (508) and a sustained period of elevated recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs) through the mid-1990s. The data reveals a concentration of issues in tires, hydraulic brakes, and vehicle speed control, with 38 crash-related complaints and 15 fire incidents, suggesting emerging reliability concerns not as pronounced in earlier years. While 1993’s recall volume reflects proactive corrective action, the spike in complaints and TSBs (109, the highest to date) indicates underlying quality control challenges that would persist into subsequent model years. This pattern implies the 1993 Ranger may have been built during a transitional phase where manufacturing or design inconsistencies were becoming more apparent. **Takeaway: The 1993 model year is a riskier buy than earlier Rangers, as it signals the onset of systemic issues rather than isolated defects—proceed with caution and prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection.**

10
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
109
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
254
Owner complaints
38 involved a crash · 15 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 254 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Tires34
Service Brakes, Hydraulic34
Vehicle Speed Control21
Fuel System, Gasoline20
Parking Brake19
Electrical System18
Power Train17
Suspension14

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 10 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

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 CONFORM TO THE… 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…

08E050000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/08/2008

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 WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 109 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
031482003-07-21Power TrainNEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES…
167142003-03-01Engine And Engine CoolingFOR ALL OBDI VEHICLES THAT USE THE .5V DPFE SENSOR, A 1.0V SENSOR IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY…
021422002-07-22Engine And Engine CoolingSOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND A 4.0L OHV ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A…
012122001-10-29EquipmentSOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A LOUD A/C CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. *TT
011972001-10-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L OHV ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NOISE WHICH MAY BE…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Ranger. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Ranger take?

5.0 qt of SYNTHETIC 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Ranger have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.