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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

Power Train complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Power Train

WHEN TRAVELING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT. VHEICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851678

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1999
Power Train

VEHICLES VIBRATES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH AND RUMBLING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #712679

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, AND EVENTUALLY IT STOPS PULLING. CONSUMER HAD TO REBUILT TRANSMISSION TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834345

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1996
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #511371

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

FLYWHEEL CRACKED. RESULTIN GIN TRANSMISSION FAILUR/VEHICLE ASCTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #502991

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