1989 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 51 complaints (9.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 9.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 7.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Tires: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3; Electrical System: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 44 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 | 12 |
| 1996 | 17 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 17; 2000: 12; 2001: 2; 2004: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10073088 · 2004-05-25 (May 25, 2004)
ON A RELATIVELY COLD AND RAINY EVENING, I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT AND ATTENDED AN EVENT LASTING A COUPLE OF HOURS. AFTER THE EVENT I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE. I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT 15 MPH THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AND CAME TO A CORNER, AND APPROACHING THE CORNER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I FIRST TOUCHED THE BRAKES THEY GRABBED HARD, SENDING ME INTO A SLIDE WHICH SENT MY VEHICLE THROUGH A FENCE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOTHING TO HELP. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE RELATED TO NHTSA ITEM NUMBER …
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483707 · 1995-09-05 (September 5, 1995)
SEMI-METALLIC BRAKE DEVELOP HEAT, WARPING ROTORS. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 468584) *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225977 · 2008-04-28 (April 28, 2008)
ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER HOOD RIGHT SIDE RANDOMLY BURST INTO FLAMES IN MY GARAGE.....= = ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOAST...FAN BLADE IN A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR ALONG WITH MOST OF THE GRILLE AND HEAD LAMP.=.GARAGE----SMOKE DAMAGED,,,,,PUSHED IT OUT WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FIRE DEPT PUT IT OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10225977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 980105 · 1996-03-04 (March 4, 1996)
UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10986335 · 2017-05-18 (May 18, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING SECONDARY IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10986335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507559 · 1996-08-15 (August 15, 1996)
ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11245886 · 2019-08-22 (August 22, 2019)
VEHICLE BODY AND STRUCTURAL FRAME HAVE ABNORMAL CORROSION AND RUST AND CRITICAL COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED. CAB IS ATTACHED TO FRAME WITH FOUR BOLTS. THE METAL AROUND THE FRONT LEFT BOLT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. CAB IS THEREFORE ONLY HELD DOWN NOW BY THREE BOLTS. RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING TOWER ROTTED AND WAS SUBJECT TO COMPLETE FAILURE WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO FALL DOWN ONTO THE SHOCK ABSORBER. TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN THRUST INTO FENDER WELL AND STEERING WOULD BEEN COMPRIMISED. REPAIRED IN 2006. GAS TANK MOUNTING STRAPS RU…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11245886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730183 · 2000-09-04 (September 4, 2000)
LEFT HOME IN MORNING TO GO TO WORK. IN FIRST 200 YARDS FELT BUMP, BUMP, BUMP IN STEERING. STOPPED AND LOOKED AT LEFT FRONT TIRE. TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM CARCASS FOR ABOUT SIX INCHES ALONG EDGE OF TIRE AS PART OF A ONE FOOT LONG BULGE ABOUT HALF THE TREAD SURFACE IN WIDTH. STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING IN GAP AND SOME WIRES WERE BROKEN. HAD NOTICED PREVIOUS DAY THAT STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TIRES ARE NOT WORN OUT - ABOUT 1/8 IN TREAD LEFT. BOUGHT TRUCK USED WITH 30K MILES. DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE ORIGINAL TIRES OR NOT. HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS TELL ME…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748465 · 2001-07-14 (July 14, 2001)
THE MAIN STRAP THE HOLD THE GAS TANK TO THE TRUCK HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. LEAVING ONLY THE FRONT STRAP TO HOLD THE TANK FROM FALLING ONTO THE ROAD (POSSIBLY BEING HIT BY THE AUTOMOBILE BEHIND ME). I HAD BOTH STRAPS REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY OCCURRED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502991 · 1996-04-05 (April 5, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED FLYWHEEL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502991 at NHTSA ↗