1988 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
108,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 63 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 15.9% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 9.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 7.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 7 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 3 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Structure | 3 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 7; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 6; Electrical System:Wiring: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 3; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Structure: 3
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 3
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 55 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 | 16 |
| 1996 | 24 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 16; 1996: 24; 2000: 4; 2001: 6; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10132247 · 2005-08-10 (August 10, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED 1988 FORD RANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE ON JULY 28 ,05. IT BURNED UP ALL OF THE WIRING, ENGINE, AND ONE TIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ONE YEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE CAR. HE REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, PUT A NEW REAR END UNDER IT, AND PUT ON OXYGEN SENSORS. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART VEHICLE AND IT QUIT. HE WENT TO START IT AGAIN IT BACK FIRED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE FIRE. HE SEEMED TO THINK THE FIRE WAS FUEL RELATED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504066 · 1996-04-26 (April 26, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH SEPARATED INTO 2 PARTS, CAUSING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES FAILING. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168047 · 2006-09-12 (September 12, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED AROUND TRAFFIC AND COASTED TO A STOP ON A SIDE STREET. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BRAKE LINES AND THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 127,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10394372 · 2011-04-06 (April 6, 2011)
1988 FORD RANGER WAS TOWED BACK OUT HERE ON 4/1/2011 OK THIS 1988 FORD RANGER HAS NOT BEEN DROVE ANYWHERE OK IT ALSO WAS ON RECALL FOR BRAKE WORK AN THIS CAN'T BE DONE EITHER CAUSE OF OTHER ISSUE WITH POWER TRAIN AN YOU NEED BRAKE AN BE ABLE TO USE THE CLUTCH AS WILL OK AN THIS IS SITTING IN THE SIDE OD THE DRIVEWAY HERE THE 1988 FORD RANGER HAS X OUT RECALL RIGHT WITH THIS VIN NUMBER [XXX] , AN WHILE THEY WAS WORKING ON THIS 1988 FORD RANGER THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE , THEY NEVER PUT THE PART BACK AT ALL THERE BIG WHOLE THERE THIS 1988 FORD R…
Owner-reported narrative. 650,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036905 · 2003-08-30 (August 30, 2003)
FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM (THIRD TIME WITH THIS VEHICLE) 2-12-97 WAS THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE, THEN ON 10-01-01 THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THIS IS QUITE A CONCERN TO ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS OUT. I LOSE ALL POWER, INCLUDING STEERING. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE 55 FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. THIS FAILURE ALSO DAMAGED THE DISTRIBUTOR WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED*AK.
Owner-reported narrative. 257,662 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 979610 · 1996-02-23 (February 23, 1996)
THE FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING AND DASH FOR NO REASON THE CAR WAS PARKED. THE FIRE WAS ON 2/9/96. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11129805 · 2018-09-17 (September 17, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING UPHILL ON HIGHWAY 152 WHEN MY SLIP YOKE EXPLODED BLOWING OUT THE REAR OF THE BELLHOUSING TO MY TRANSMISSION THROWING THE TRUCK REAR END 6 FT IN THE AIR AND THE NOSE OF THE TRUCK 3 FEET IN THE AIR THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE DRIVE SHAFT TAKING INTO THE GROUND WHEN COMING DOWN THE DRIVESHAFT SLAPPED AROUND RIPPING OUT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE CADILLAC CONVERTER AND PUT A LARGE GASH APPROXIMATELY 12IN TO 18 IN INTO THE GAS TANK WHEN I DROP MY TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE IT I FOUND OUT THAT THE BLOCK WAS NO GOOD DUE TO THE FACT THAT 2 SQU…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343825 · 2010-07-18 (July 18, 2010)
DRIVING 60 MPH, A LOSS OF POWER WAS NOTICED. THIS BECAME A LOUD EXHAUST NOISE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, PUTTING UP THE HOOD TO SEARCH FOR PROBLEMS, AND FINDING NO EVIDENCE OF ANY, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. A FIRE STARTED WHICH COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 974804 · 1995-11-08 (November 8, 1995)
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL, WHEN GAS TANK IS AT LEAST ONE-HALF (1/2) FULL. TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974804 at NHTSA ↗