IllustrationENGINE MALFUNCTIONED, OIL KEEPS FILLING UP WITH GAS AND BLOWS GRAY SMOKE.
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
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
What owners actually said
89 reportsGENERAL ENGINE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN OEM OIL PAN GASKET FAILS AND PLUGS OIL PUMP PICKUP AND PRODUCES A LOW OR NO OIL PRESSURE SITUATION INTERNALLY. SB BC307291-228, 94-1-11 AND 94-6-15 RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM.
CLUTCH ROD RETAINER FELL TO THE FLOOR ON TWO OCCASIONS.
HOOD LATCH FAILS TO LATCH PROPERLY.
WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO ACT UP. AFTER DRIVING APPROX 2 MILES SHE SMELLED SMOKE, AND SHE STOPPED AND OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE ENGINE ON FIRE. IT SPREAD TO THE DASH, AND BURNED THE SEATS INSIDE. *AK
METAL BAR WHICH CONNECTS THE STEERING GEAR TO TIE ROD WOR EOUT, CAUSING STEERING TO FAIL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
THE BRAKE PISTON HANGS UP AND DOES NOT RELEASE ON THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE. THE CALIPER DOES NOT RELEASE AND THE ROTORS GET EXTREMELY HOT, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR UNDER.
HOOD LATCH STICKING ON OCCASIONS.
WHILE DRIVING IN HOT CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Official recalls
187V141000 · 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
2PE92029 · 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