← New search

1988 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1988 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: 8 of 89 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports23 fire reports5 injury reports

Suspension complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Suspension

ALL FOUR OVERLOAD SPRINGS USED ON TWO DIFFERENT PICKUP TRUCKS USED AS PAINTER'S WORK VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS. EACH TIME AN EIGHT INCH CHUNK OF HARDENED STEEL SPRING WEIGHING AT LEAST A COUPLE OF POUNDS HAS BLASTED LOOSE RICOCHETING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SO FAR NONE OF THESE FAILURES HAVE CAUSED ME AN ACC…

Read full complaint

ALL FOUR OVERLOAD SPRINGS USED ON TWO DIFFERENT PICKUP TRUCKS USED AS PAINTER'S WORK VEHICLES HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS. EACH TIME AN EIGHT INCH CHUNK OF HARDENED STEEL SPRING WEIGHING AT LEAST A COUPLE OF POUNDS HAS BLASTED LOOSE RICOCHETING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SO FAR NONE OF THESE FAILURES HAVE CAUSED ME AN ACCIEDNET, BUT WITH A 100% CATOSTROPHIC PRODUCT FAILURE RATE I WOULD IMAGINE OTHERS HAVE NOT BEEN AS FORTUNATE. CAMPWAYS SHRUGGED IT OFF WITHOUT INTEREST. BOTH TRUCKS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN USED WELL WITHIN NORMAL URBAN WORK TRUCK PARAMETERS. IN MY OPINION THESE OVERLOAD SSPRINGS PRESENT A CLEAR, POTENTIALLY FATAL VEHICLE SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #759607

Official recalls

1

87V141000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Sep 4, 1987

TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A TENDENCY FOR REAR BRAKE LOCKUP WOULD EXIST PARTICULARLY DURING HEAVY BRAKE APPLICAION WITH A LIGHTLY LOADED TRUCK. ALSO, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD BE REQUIRED IF THE BRAKE MODULATION (PUMPING THE BRAKES) IS USED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING A HARD BRAKE STOP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES.

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

2

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