1992 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
125 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
93,325 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 125 complaints (11.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 14.4% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 10.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front | 14 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 8 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 5 |
Suspension:Front: 14; Tires:Tread/Belt: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Electrical System:Ignition: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Tires: 6; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior: 6; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 5
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 103 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 | 17 |
| 1996 | 18 |
| 2000 | 31 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 17; 1996: 18; 2000: 31; 2001: 19; 2002: 13; 2003: 14; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10013960 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUCK DROPPED DOWN. ON HER WAY HOME, THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. BY THAT TIME SHE WAS HOME AND TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED. I CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS EMPTY. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW THE BRACKET HOLDING THE RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD RUSTED AWAY. THE BRACKET ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS OK. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE REPAIR SHOP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051017 · 2003-12-23 (December 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH, MY REAR TIRE CAME APART AND TOTALLED THE BED OF MY TRUCK AND BROKE THE BRAKE LINE AND NEARLY CAUSED A ROLLOVER. THIS WAS THE FOURTH OF THE SET OF TIRES TO COME APART OR DEVELOP A BUBBLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 106,291 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037100 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IDLING SMOKE COMES FROM BOTH THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE HOOD. NO FIRES AS OF YET BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BEFORE THE TRUCK BURNS DOWN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 53,645 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041575 · 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)
1992 FORD RANGER HAD FIRE IN IGNITION WIRING HARNESS, BELOW DASH AND MOUNTED TO STEERING COLUMN. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 39,781 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480880 · 1995-02-01 (February 1, 1995)
TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR TWICE (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479214). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719264 · 2000-02-25 (February 25, 2000)
TRANSMISSION MANUAL FAILED OUTPUT SHAFT AT 20 MPH REPLACED INTERNAL GEARS GAVE OUT AT 65 MPH.//ABS BRAKES BECAME SPONGY & LOCK IN REAR PULL TO RIGHT IN FRONT .//HEADLIGHTS BEGAN BLINKING OFF &ON AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING.//TRANSFER CASE SPLIT WHILE IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE AT 35 MPH.//FRONT SUSPENSION GIVING OUT CAN'T ALIGN FRONT END ,ERATIC STEERING & WORN TIRES.//REAR SPRINGS SLIPPED OUT ON LEFT SIDE AXLE SLID FORWARD TO BODY.//HEATER BEGAN RATTLIING ,MORE AS YOU TURN FAN UP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173978 · 2006-11-21 (November 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THROUGH AN ALLEYWAY, A FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER SIDE DASH PANEL AREA WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE FIRE DAMAGE; AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501345 · 1996-02-04 (February 4, 1996)
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735237 · 2000-10-27 (October 27, 2000)
ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING, OTHER TIMES WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY, OTHER TIMES NOT. I'VE HEARD RUMORS THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE WORKS. I CHECKED THE FORD WEB AND FOUND NO RECALLS OF ANY SORT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735237 at NHTSA ↗