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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
73Owner complaints

Model-year median: 144

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1989 Ford Ranger

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 73 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 15 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 11 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 8 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7 reports
  • Tires: 7 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

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, mileage exposure 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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTING LOCATION ON THE FIREWALL. AFTER INSPECTING THE ASSEMBLY IT APPEARES AS IF THE WELD THAT SECURES THE MOUNTING BRACKET TO THE FIREWALL FAILED. THERE WERE NO REINFORCING ELEMENTS IN PLACE TO PREVENT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FROM DETACHING. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER; AT THE TIME…

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THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTING LOCATION ON THE FIREWALL. AFTER INSPECTING THE ASSEMBLY IT APPEARES AS IF THE WELD THAT SECURES THE MOUNTING BRACKET TO THE FIREWALL FAILED. THERE WERE NO REINFORCING ELEMENTS IN PLACE TO PREVENT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FROM DETACHING. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER; AT THE TIME I WAS SURROUNDED BY TRAFFIC GOING ABOUT 50-60MPH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707460

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1996
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BEING RELEASED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803199

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

THROTTLE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, ENGINE ACCELERATED, DRIVER FORCED TO DRIVE INTO NEIGHBOR'S TRUCK, NO PRIOR WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800407

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect 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

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.