IllustrationTHE PAINT IS COMING OFF IN 2-6 INCH SPOTS.
1990 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 8 of 105 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports15 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
105 reportsTHE PAINT IS COMING OFF IN 2-6 INCH SPOTS.
WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH TO 45 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT OR RED LIGHT VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. ALSO,CALIPERS LOCKED UP AND THE ROTORS WERE WORN. MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKES CALIPERS AND ROTORS. *AK
METALLIC FUEL LINES WOULD LEAK FUEL. ANOTHER HOSE RUBS AGAINST GAS LINES. THE FUEL GETS INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEN IT SPRAYS AGAINST THE LINE THAT IT HAD CHAFED. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. OWNER HAS THE PARTS INVOLVED. VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. THE ENGINE HAS ALREADY BLOWN. THE NEW HOSE HAS A BENT THAT WAS MODIFIED.…
Read full complaint
METALLIC FUEL LINES WOULD LEAK FUEL. ANOTHER HOSE RUBS AGAINST GAS LINES. THE FUEL GETS INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEN IT SPRAYS AGAINST THE LINE THAT IT HAD CHAFED. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. OWNER HAS THE PARTS INVOLVED. VEHICLE WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. THE ENGINE HAS ALREADY BLOWN. THE NEW HOSE HAS A BENT THAT WAS MODIFIED. *AK
HAD PROBLEM WITH REAR BRAKE SHOES & WENT TO CHECK THEM OUT. NOTICED NO REAR BRAKES AT ALL. THE SOLENOID VALVE WAS CLOSED. WAS NOT ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH. HAD NO WARNING CONCERNING THE REAR BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE PARTS FOR THE BRAKES ARE ON BACK ORDER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45MPH STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF & FELL INTO DRIVER'S LAP. NO VEHICLE CONTROL. WENT UP SMALL EMBANKMENT. HIT BARBED WIRE FENCE AND LANDED IN A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER'S BACK & SHOULDER WERE INJURED. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT & RELEASE. *AK
METALLIC GAS LINES LEAKS FUEL. THIS CAUSED BY ANOTHER HOSE RUBBING AGAINST THE GAS LINE CAUSING A HOLE & THE FUEL WOULD LEAK. GAS LEAKAGE GOES INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. SPRAYS FUEL AGAINST LINES IT CHAFES. THE ENGINE HAS NOW BLOWN. A REPLACEMENT PART WAS USED & HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO AVOID CHAFFING METALLIC LINES.
CONSUMER COMPLAINT OF DRIVER SEAT BACK IS COLLAPING FROM INSDE OF SEAT; RESAN UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. DEALER/MFR. NOT NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ANY ADDTIONAL INFORMATION OR HELP IN THIS MATTER.
WOULD NOT START. ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. NEED INFORMATION.
Official recalls
391V189000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Nov 4, 1991
WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.
90V044000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Mar 1, 1990
THROTTLE LEVER MAY CONTACT THROTTLE BODY AIR INLET TUBE, WITH POTENTIAL FOR THROTTLE REMAINING OPEN FOLLOWING RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION COULD CREATE LACK OF CONTROLAND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE AIR INLET TUBE WITH NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT.
89V234000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Dec 22, 1989
THROTTLE LEVER MAY CONTACT THROTTLE BODY AIR INLET TUBE, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THROTTLE REMAINING OPEN FOLLOWING RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM THE FULL-THROTTLE POSTION IN TRUCKS WITH 4.0 L ENGINES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION COULD CREATE LACK OF CONTROLAND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE AIR INLET TUBE WITH NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT WITH AN INCREASED THROTTLE LEVER-TO-INLET TUBE CLEARANCE.
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
3RQ97015 · Parking Pawl
Opened Oct 29, 1997 · Closed Apr 1, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARKING PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR UNINTENTIONALLY AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING INADVERTENTLY
PE92084 · Front Seat Track Failure
Opened Oct 23, 1992 · Closed Feb 26, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
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