1987 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
109,117 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 41 complaints (14.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.4% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 40 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 | 10 |
| 1996 | 14 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 10; 1996: 14; 2000: 7; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 9000040 · 2000-02-09 (February 9, 2000)
ELECTRICAL COMPUTER SHORT OUT WAS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF VEHICLE FIRE. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9000040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983154 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500229 · 1995-12-05 (December 5, 1995)
PLUG CONNECTING WIRES TO DIMMER SWITCH MELTED DUE TO BEING PINCHED BETWEEN STEERING COLUMN AND COVER. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 729708 · 2000-08-31 (August 31, 2000)
WHEN THE FTI MODUAL WENT OUT I WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK TRYING TO PULL THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS NO PWR STEERING OR BRAKES, THE EMERGENSY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 479622 · 1995-05-08 (May 8, 1995)
FUEL TANK REPLACED. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 489981) *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 479622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 881596 · 2001-02-27 (February 27, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH FRONT FUEL TANK ON DUAL TANK ASSEMBLY, FELL OFF, AND WAS BEING DRAGGED BY VEHICLE. PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 881596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 767107 · 2002-09-13 (September 13, 2002)
WHEN ACCELERATING ON A FLAT STRAIGHT HIGHWAY FROM 30 MPH, THE TRUCK JERKED TO THE RIGHT WENT INTO THE DITCH AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES, TOTALLING THE VEHICLE. INVESTIGATING OFFICER COMMENTED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE CAB ONTO THE FRAME ONE WAS MISSING AND ANOTHER WAS SHEARED OFF. TRUCK RECENTLY HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE INSTALLED AND HAD HAD REGULAR "SAFETY CHECKS" AT A LOCAL SHOP. NO NOTICABLE LEANING OR OTHER INDICATORS THAT THE PART WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. THIS KIND OF BOLT SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE! NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 767107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 986274 · 1996-06-28 (June 28, 1996)
VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK CONSUMER STATES NO VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, THEN STALLED IN A MATTER OF 30 SECONDS, THE CAB OF TRUCJ WAS ON FIRE AND CONSUMER BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, GET HER PURSE AND GET OUT OF TRUCK AND GET 10 FEET AWAY CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL CLIP WAS NEVER REPLACED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986274 at NHTSA ↗