← New search

1989 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 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: 7 of 73 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 8 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 reports14 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
64,000 miles · May 18, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING SECONDARY IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING SECONDARY IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ODI #10986335

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2008
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER HOOD RIGHT SIDE RANDOMLY BURST INTO FLAMES IN MY GARAGE.....= = ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOAST...FAN BLADE IN A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR ALONG WITH MOST OF THE GRILLE AND HEAD LAMP.=.GARAGE----SMOKE DAMAGED,,,,,PUSHED IT OUT WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FIRE DEPT PUT IT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225977

82,000 miles · Aug 31, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TRANSPORTED TO A DEALER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NO CUR…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TRANSPORTED TO A DEALER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NO CURRENT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10201603

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2000
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL DIE. WHEN IT DIES IT'S HARD TO STEER. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT COULD BE THE IGNITION MODULE.*AK THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN TURNING SHARP CURVE AND WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT. *YH

NHTSA ODI #874365

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Electrical System

THE IGNITION FAILED ON A COUNTRY ROAD GOING UPHILL AND AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD. SEVERAL VEHICLES STOPPED BEHIND ME, INCLUDING A SCHOOL BUS, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AND WOULD NOT PASS ME BECAUSE OF LIMITED VISABILITY. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO SART MY PICKUP THREE MEN CAME BY IN A OFFERRED TO PUSH ME OFF OF THE …

Read full complaint

THE IGNITION FAILED ON A COUNTRY ROAD GOING UPHILL AND AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD. SEVERAL VEHICLES STOPPED BEHIND ME, INCLUDING A SCHOOL BUS, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AND WOULD NOT PASS ME BECAUSE OF LIMITED VISABILITY. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO SART MY PICKUP THREE MEN CAME BY IN A OFFERRED TO PUSH ME OFF OF THE ROADWAY SO THAT I NO LONGER IMPEDED TRAFFIC. I REPLACE THE INGNITION MODULE MYSELF WITH AN AFTER MARKET UNIT AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS TO DATE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #731178

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION, TURNED OFF FOR AROUND OR ABOUT TWO HOURS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN WIRE WHICH SHORTED OUT. CONSUMER ALSO VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. 8AK

NHTSA ODI #855289

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DRIVER SMELLED GAS, PULLED OVER AND WITHIN 1 MINUTE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES WHICH STARTED UNDERNEATH HOOD. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI #853498

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ,STARTED SMELLING GAS AND PULLED OVER, WITHIN 1 MINUTE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHICH STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852216

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Electrical System

ENGINE DIED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, BROKEN CRIMP HOOKS THAT HOLD THE PLASTIC HALF OF THE SWITCH TO THE METAL HALF. MJS

NHTSA ODI #549033

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 1998
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN DEC. OF 96. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821762

Official recalls

1

89V109000 · Suspension:front:wheel Bearing

Jul 5, 1989

FRONT WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTING NUT RETAINING KEYS MAY BE MISSING FROM FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES, ALLOWING THE NUT TO LOOSEN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN DETACHMENT OF THE WHEEL AND HUBASSEMBLY FROM THE AXLE, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINING KEYS IN FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WHERE MISSING.

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

1

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