IllustrationREQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT WEATHER OR IF IT IS SAFE TO RIDE A CHILD IN AN EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. *AK
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
What owners actually said
73 reportsTHE 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…
Read full complaint
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
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT WON'T RETRACT.CONSUMER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, AND EVENTUALLY IT STOPS PULLING. CONSUMER HAD TO REBUILT TRANSMISSION TWICE. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS HAVE BROKEN . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD FOUR ENGINE REPLACEMENTS WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN DEC. OF 96. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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
SHOULDER AND SEATBELTS ARE LOOSE AND DONT RETRACT ALL THE TIME. HAS NOT GONE TO DEALER. *AK
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