SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1991 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Ford Ranger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.

About this comparison →
132Owner complaints

Model-year median: 144

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
89
198873
1989105
1990132
1991189
1992232
1993438
1994
Compare all Ranger years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
20Suspension
17Engine And Engine Cooling
16Structure
13Tires
13
All reported categories
Visibility
13Power Train
12Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Vehicle Speed Control
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Seat Belts
3Seats
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Equipment
1Parking Brake
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: 8 of 132 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 →
  • Suspension. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 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 reports21 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
150,000 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 8/23/12 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10467104

100,000 miles · May 27, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE DEFROSTER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY WIRE UNDER THE HOOD THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CLU…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE DEFROSTER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY WIRE UNDER THE HOOD THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CLUTCH AND POWER STEERING WERE REPAIRED AND THE GAS LINE WAS CLEANED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/01/09

NHTSA ODI #10270103

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VAPOR SYSTEM FAILED INSPECTION. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880894

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE IS A METAL WALL BETWEEN BRAKE PEDA, GAS PEDAL WITH ENGINE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL ADD MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878530

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN MARCH 1997, AND DEALER REPLACED SENSORS. IN MAY 2000, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND WON'T STALL AFTER FIRST INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862664

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING ENGINE LEAKAGE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #549872

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE COATING ON THE BODY MOUNTS RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE BODY MOUNT TO COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846187

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

FRONT MOUNTS THAT SUPPORT BODY OF VEHICLE DROPPED UNTO THE WHEEL, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837695

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE GASKET BLEW, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK AND THE OIL PUMP TO STOP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837577

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE COOLING FAN FAILED WHILE DRIVING @62MPH ON THE FREEWAY AT AN EVEN SPEED IN O.D. THE BLADE CAME OFF THE FAN DAMAGING THE RADIATOR AND CUTTING COOLING SYSTEM HOSES AND CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONG UNIT HAD TO BE REPAIRED AS A HOSE WAS SEVERED AND COMPLETE SYSTEM DRIED (DRYER) AND RESERVI…

Read full complaint

THE COOLING FAN FAILED WHILE DRIVING @62MPH ON THE FREEWAY AT AN EVEN SPEED IN O.D. THE BLADE CAME OFF THE FAN DAMAGING THE RADIATOR AND CUTTING COOLING SYSTEM HOSES AND CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONG UNIT HAD TO BE REPAIRED AS A HOSE WAS SEVERED AND COMPLETE SYSTEM DRIED (DRYER) AND RESERVICED WITH FREON.

NHTSA ODI #701930

Official recalls

2

96V024001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic

Feb 5, 1996

THE STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A CRACK OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH STUDS FRACTURING. THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VACUUM BOOSTER, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PREVENTING THE SERVICE BRAKES FROM ACTIVATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.

91V189000 · 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.

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

4

RQ97015 · 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

EA95018 · Separation Of Master Cylinder

Opened Jun 19, 1995 · Closed Apr 2, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.

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