Illustration1989 FORD RANGER. FAILED SMOG TEST FOR THE FIRST TIME. TOLD NEW TEST FOR SEAL IN GAS FILLER DOWN TUBE RESULTS IN PRETTY MUCH ALL VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE FAILING CALIFORNIA SMOG TEST. SUGGESTED FILE COMPLAINT AS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER (FORD) TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. *TR
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
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
8 reportsTHE MAIN STRAP THE HOLD THE GAS TANK TO THE TRUCK HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. LEAVING ONLY THE FRONT STRAP TO HOLD THE TANK FROM FALLING ONTO THE ROAD (POSSIBLY BEING HIT BY THE AUTOMOBILE BEHIND ME). I HAD BOTH STRAPS REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY OCCURRED.*AK
DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE IS THERE WAS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A NEWER DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH CONTAINED FUEL STRAP AND A HEAT SHIELD. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ONE OF THE STRAPS THAT HOLDS UP THE FUEL TANK RUSTED AWAY. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
FUEL TANK LEAKS. *AK
THE SENDING UNIT IN THE GAS TANK THAT GOES TO THE ENGINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH, PUMPING GAS OUTSIDE THE ELECTRICAL PLATE OF THE SENDING UNIT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE OWNER HAS A PRIVATE MECHANIC. *AK
TRUCK WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT WENT TO START TRUCK THERE POPPING NOISE AND TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE NO ONE WAS HURT . TT
THE TRUCK BURNT UP FOR NO REASON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Official recalls
189V109000 · 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
1PE92029 · 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