IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE MANUAL DOOR LOCK STICKS/JAMS, LOCKING OCCUPANTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.
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 reportsENGINE HEADS CRACKED. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BEING RELEASED. *AK
DIFFICULTY IN STARTING VEHICLE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUING TO TURN OVER WHILE IN POSTION.*AK
ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.
THROTTLE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, ENGINE ACCELERATED, DRIVER FORCED TO DRIVE INTO NEIGHBOR'S TRUCK, NO PRIOR WARNING.*AK
DUE TO THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SEPARTING FROM THE AXEL THE CONSUME HAD A ACCIDENT.*AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, WIRING AROUND THE BATTERY, VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED. *AK
DRIVING VEHICLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES, ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT SECTION OF VEHICLE. *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