IllustrationTHE FITTING TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR BLEW OFF DUE TO THE HEAT AND PRESSURE FROM THE PLASTIC GAS LINE, WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. *SLC
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 campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView 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
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
What owners actually said
73 reportsWHILE 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
TRUCK QUITS IN HIQH HEAT,FORD NO HELP.*AK
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
TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND DAMAGED LEFT FRONT OF VEH 1. THIS LOSS INVOLVES FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES AND THEN NI IS INTERESTED IN PURSUING SUBROGATION. (CLAIM# 40-2069-856) *MW
TIRES HAD PROPER INFLATION WHEN TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R21570R14 )
LEFT HOME IN MORNING TO GO TO WORK. IN FIRST 200 YARDS FELT BUMP, BUMP, BUMP IN STEERING. STOPPED AND LOOKED AT LEFT FRONT TIRE. TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM CARCASS FOR ABOUT SIX INCHES ALONG EDGE OF TIRE AS PART OF A ONE FOOT LONG BULGE ABOUT HALF THE TREAD SURFACE IN WIDTH. STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING IN GAP AND SOME WIRES WERE BROKEN…
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LEFT HOME IN MORNING TO GO TO WORK. IN FIRST 200 YARDS FELT BUMP, BUMP, BUMP IN STEERING. STOPPED AND LOOKED AT LEFT FRONT TIRE. TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM CARCASS FOR ABOUT SIX INCHES ALONG EDGE OF TIRE AS PART OF A ONE FOOT LONG BULGE ABOUT HALF THE TREAD SURFACE IN WIDTH. STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING IN GAP AND SOME WIRES WERE BROKEN. HAD NOTICED PREVIOUS DAY THAT STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TIRES ARE NOT WORN OUT - ABOUT 1/8 IN TREAD LEFT. BOUGHT TRUCK USED WITH 30K MILES. DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE ORIGINAL TIRES OR NOT. HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS TELL ME WHERE TO SEND THEM.( DOT NUMBER: W2HVM0019H TIRE SIZE: P215/70R14 )
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R21570R14 )
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R21570R14 )
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
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.