← New search

1987 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 Ford Ranger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Ranger years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 50 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports14 fire reports3 injury reports

Tires complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
109,117 miles · Aug 20, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE TIRES, SIZE 30X9.5/R15LT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NH…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE TIRES, SIZE 30X9.5/R15LT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02T014000 (TIRES:MARKINGS) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. HE STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,117. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10239072

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2006
Tires

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 BETWEEN NAPLES AND MIAMI FLORIDA, THE TREAD ON MY FIRESTONE FR 440 TIRE SEPARATED WHICH CAUSE MY FORD RANGER TRUCK TO FISH TAIL ON HIGHWAY. I CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE TO A STOP ON SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. CALLED POLICE AND THEY DISPATCHED ROAD SERVICE. THE FIRESTONE P205/70R14 93S M+S TREAD SEPARA…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 BETWEEN NAPLES AND MIAMI FLORIDA, THE TREAD ON MY FIRESTONE FR 440 TIRE SEPARATED WHICH CAUSE MY FORD RANGER TRUCK TO FISH TAIL ON HIGHWAY. I CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE TO A STOP ON SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. CALLED POLICE AND THEY DISPATCHED ROAD SERVICE. THE FIRESTONE P205/70R14 93S M+S TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRED DID NOT GO FLAT. THE SEPARATED TREAD DESTROYED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL, TAIL PIPE AND PART OF THE VEHICLE BODY AROUND WHEEL WELL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167293

Official recalls

4

87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 4, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

87V140000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Sep 4, 1987

WHEEL LUG NUT CONE ANGLES DO NOT MATCH LUG NUT SEATING ANGLES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: NUTS COULD LOOSEN IN SERVICE CREATING POTENTIAL FORWHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM TRUCK.

Remedy: REPAIR TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS.

87V075000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

May 26, 1987

THE BUCKLE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ANCHORED TO THE FLOOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WOULDNOT WITHSTAND A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT LOAD AND WOULD BE A POTENTIAL FOR PERSONALINJURY.

Remedy: INSPECT AND MAKE PROPER INSTALLATION OF SEAT BELT AND BUCKLE ANCHOR BOLTS, IF NECESSARY.

87V070000 · Equipment:other:labels

May 18, 1987

STICKERS CONCERNING HANDLING AND MANEUVERABILITY WHICH ARE AFFIXED TO DRIVERS SUN VISOR SLEEVES DO NOT MEET CRITERIA FOR PERMANENT ADHESION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT MEET FORMATS SPECIFIED BY PARTS 573 AND579 OF 49CFR.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED NEW SUN VISOR SLEEVES WITH ALL APPLICABLE DECAL INFORMATION PERMANENTLY AFFIXED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

4

PE92029 · Whl Separation/torque Loss

Opened Mar 16, 1992 · Closed Aug 31, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

EA90042 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE89129 · Gearshift Lever Breaks

Opened Jun 7, 1989 · Closed Mar 23, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

SUMMARY: CONSUMERS ALLEGE THAT GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLESEQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE, RESULTING IN INABILITYTO SHIFT GEARS.ADDITIONALLY, FRACTURE MAY OCCUR AT A LOCATION WHICHALLOWS TRUNNION PIN TO FALL INTO GEARSHIFT MECHANISM, POSSIBLY LOCKING UPTHE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.===

EA88033 · Under Seat Fires

Opened May 11, 1988 · Closed Jan 23, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available