IllustrationTRAVELING N ON I-95 ON 12/20/2002 AT APPROX 4 P.M. RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, BEAT AND DAMAGED FENDER; HOWEVER, TIRE MAINTAINED SAME PRESSURE. 1 WAS ASSISTED BY OFFICER K.R. MEARES OF TOBESON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT,TEL 910-671-3100. DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS------770783. *AK *NLM
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 →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 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
Tires complaints
13 reportsWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 70MPH, FELT THE FRONT STARTING TO VIBRATE. HAD PULLED OVER AND CHECKED TIRES. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A LARGE BUBBLE. THE TREAD WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE. WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER AND THE SPARE TIRE REPLACED THE BLOWN TIRE. NOT ORIGINAL TIRES. FIRESTONE FR 480 P215/70R14 TS
TIRES WERE PURCHASE AT COSTCO WHOLESALE. THESE TIRES SEEM TO HAVE A WEAKER SIDEWALL THAN THE OTHERS TIRES THEY SALE. POSSIBLY A SAFETY HAZARD. THESE TIRES WERE WARRANTED TO 80,000 MILES. S.*AK
WE BOUGHT THIS TIRES IN NOVEMBER AT ROBERTSON TIRES IN TULSA, OK. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TIRE JUST SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE TIRE AND WENT TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX IT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME $40 TO REPLACE THAT TIRE. THEY COULDN'T CHANGE ALL THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY DI…
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WE BOUGHT THIS TIRES IN NOVEMBER AT ROBERTSON TIRES IN TULSA, OK. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TIRE JUST SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE TIRE AND WENT TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX IT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME $40 TO REPLACE THAT TIRE. THEY COULDN'T CHANGE ALL THE TIRES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T COME WITH THE TRUCK. MY MOM HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH WILD COUNTRY TIRES AND FIRESTONE ENDED UP REPLACING ALL 4. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I HAVE SEEN A TIRE SEPARATE LIKE THAT AND WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET ALL 4 REPLACED OR DO I HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY TO GET THAT ONE FIXED AND PRAY THAT THE OTHERS DON'T SEPERATE LIKE THAT ONE? THE TIRE IS A FIREHAWK SS20 RWL P215/70R14. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE ON THESE TIRES. I HAVE 2 KIDS THAT RIDE AROUND IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND WHAT HAPPENS IF ANYMORE BLOW AND IS FATAL? I HAVE THE RECEIPT FOR THE TIRES AND PICTURES OF IT AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WILL WAIT TO DO ANYTHING MORE UNTIL I HEAR FROM YOU. I WILL BE CALLING THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF ROBERTSON TIRE AND FIRESTONE. ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME OR HELP ME WITH WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, TAMMY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HYHYF21529 TIRESIZE: P215/70R14)
A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. I TYPED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT YOUR PAGE APPARENTLY WON'T LET ME PASTE IN THIS SPACE AND I'M TOO LAZY TO TYPE IT ALL AGAIN. CALL ME IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HYINK330 TIRESIZE: P215/70R14)
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 75-80 MH DRIVER NOTICED A TIRE DEFECT. TIRE TREAD BROKE, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE. DRIVER WAS CARRYING A CHILD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.*AK
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING TIRES AND NOTICED THAT FRONT TWO TIRES' TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO PEEL. FIRESTONE,#FR480, P2215/R14 HE HAS REPLACED THE TIRES, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
NO PSNGRS, NO INJURIES. NI ADVISED TIRE WHICH SHREDDED WAS A FIRESTONE TIRE BUT NOT THE KIND WHICH THE COMPANY HAS RECENTLY RECALLED. (CLAIM# 14-1301-939) *MW
TIRE SEPERATING FROM STEEL BELT. STILL HAVE ONE TIRE AND I WILL SHIP IT ON REQUEST. FIRESTONE NEEDS TO BRODEN TIS RECALL. THEY HAVE MADE BAD TIRES THAT I KNOW OF FOR 20 YEARS!( DOT NUMBER: W2HYFR5 TIRE SIZE: 215/70/R15 )
THE TIRE FAILED AS MY WIFE APPROACHED THE OFF RAMP TO OUR HOUSE OFF THE FREEWAY. THE TIRE WAS QUITE DESTROYED AND THE ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE WAS ALSO UNSAFE(ALTHOUGH THE TREAD LOOKED GOOD), BOTH WERE REPLACED AND I NO LONGER HAVE THE GOOD TIRE I DO HAVE THE DESTROYED TIRE. I ENTERED THE TIRE SIZE BY THE SIZE OF THE REPLACMENTS MY…
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THE TIRE FAILED AS MY WIFE APPROACHED THE OFF RAMP TO OUR HOUSE OFF THE FREEWAY. THE TIRE WAS QUITE DESTROYED AND THE ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE WAS ALSO UNSAFE(ALTHOUGH THE TREAD LOOKED GOOD), BOTH WERE REPLACED AND I NO LONGER HAVE THE GOOD TIRE I DO HAVE THE DESTROYED TIRE. I ENTERED THE TIRE SIZE BY THE SIZE OF THE REPLACMENTS MY GARAGE INSTALLED, ASSUMING THEY WERE THE SAME SIZE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: DESTROYED TIRE SIZE: P215 75R15 )
Official recalls
296V024001 · 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
4RQ97015 · 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