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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 →
73Owner complaints

Model-year median: 144

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
35
198650
198789
198873
1989105
1990132
1991189
1992
Compare all Ranger years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
15Engine And Engine Cooling
11Fuel System, Gasoline
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7Tires
7
All reported categories
Power Train
5Seat Belts
3Seats
3Structure
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Other
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Wheels
1

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
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1996
Electrical System

DIFFICULTY IN STARTING VEHICLE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUING TO TURN OVER WHILE IN POSTION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801103

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, WIRING AROUND THE BATTERY, VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985992

Mileage unknown · May 29, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

DRIVING VEHICLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES, ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT SECTION OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #984933

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE*AK

NHTSA ODI #980268

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE *AK

NHTSA ODI #980105

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