1992 Ford RANGER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007698 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
SUSPENSION FAILURE. RIGHT FRONT SPRING SEAT ON MY 1992 FORD RANGER HAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. COIL SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER HAVE BROKEN THROUGH FAILED SPRING SEAT CAUSING VEHICLE TO SAG CONSIDERABLY ON THE RIGHT AND PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRAME ARM WHERE THE SPRING SEAT IS RIVETED HAS ALSO CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE FORD REFUSES TO ATTEMPT A REPAIR DUE TO FEAR OF LIABILITY. FORD DEALER CONFIRMS THAT THE LEFT SPRING SEAT IS NOT CORRODED AND APPEARS NORMAL IN APPEARANCE AND FUNCTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 101,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007698 at NHTSA ↗
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 10017392 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS RUSTED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018624 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING MY 1992 FORD RANGER XLT PICK-UP TRUCK THE DRIVERS SEAT MECHANISM WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY ACTION TO INITIATE THE FAILURE EMITTED A NOISE AND SUDDENLY FAILED. MY TORSO IMMEDIATELY FELL BACKWARDS AS THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AVOID ANY ACCIDENT, COLLISION OR INJURY SAVE FOR A BIT OF A STRAIN ON MY ABDOMINAL MUSCLES WHICH WAS NOT SERIOUS. THE SEAT WILL NOT RETURN AND STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION NOR WILL IT LATCH DOWN SECURELY (TO PREVENT FROM SLIDING FORWARDS AND BACKWARD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018966 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
I OWN 92 FORD RANGER. LAST THURSDAY,5/15/2003, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICED MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER THAN THE REST OF THE TRUCK. AFTER I PARKED AT WORK I INVESTIGATED AND NOTICED THAT THE SHOCK/SPRING TOWER WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT WAS ALMOST READY TO FALL OFF. THE SPRING WAS BENT BACKWARDS AND THE SHOCK WAS BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM. AT THE FORD DEALER, THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY ONLY MAKE THAT PART FOR THE RIGHT SIDE? THE LEFT SIDE LOOKS LIKE BRAND NEW. APPARENTLY ONLY THE RIGHT ( PAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020107 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT LEAF SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER FELL APART DUE TO RUSTED MOUNT ATTACHMENTS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020211 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023256 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
INSIDE DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER WORKS DUE TO A BROKEN CABLE LINKAGE DURING COLD WEATHER. FORD SAYS MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL GROUP. OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR AGAIN. IF MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL GROUP IT WOULD MEAN THAT IT HAS THE UPDATED CABLE, YET THIS "UPDATED" CABLE ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF BREAKING. WHY NOT A RECALL ON THE UPDATED CABLE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T? *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023256 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
92V006000 · Structure:Body:Door
Reported: 1992-01-14 (January 14, 1992)
WATER CAN ENTER THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CABLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THE WATER IN THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CABLE CAN FREEZE AND CAUSE THE LATCH MECHANISM TO MALFUNCTION.
Consequence: THE MALFUNCTION OF THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CAN RESULT INTHREE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS: 1) THE DOOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE RELATCHED, 2) THEINSIDE DOOR HANDLE CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND 3) THE DOOR COULD APPEAR TO BELATCHED WHEN IT IS NOT, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY IF IT IS JARRED,AND INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE ADJACENT SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REVISED DOOR RELEASE CABLES AND WATER SHIELDS WILL BE INSTALLED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V024001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Hydraulic
Reported: 1996-02-05 (February 5, 1996)
THE STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCATION.
Consequence: IF A CRACK OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH STUDS FRACTURING. THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VACUUM BOOSTER, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PREVENTING THE SERVICE BRAKES FROM ACTIVATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗