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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

AT HIGHWAY SPEED THROTLE STUCK AT FULL.SCARED THE SH__! OUT OF ME . WAS GOING OVER 90 MPH BEFORE GETTING IT PULLED OVER. HELP !*AK

NHTSA ODI #740540

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

I NOTICED I DID NOT HAVE PASSING GEAR SO I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSIDERING THAT YOU HAVE HAD REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1990 (RE:ODI ID:402614) AND CONSIDERING THAT I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND KILLED SOMEONE AND MYSELF, I THINK FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND COMPENSTE ME F…

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I NOTICED I DID NOT HAVE PASSING GEAR SO I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSIDERING THAT YOU HAVE HAD REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1990 (RE:ODI ID:402614) AND CONSIDERING THAT I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND KILLED SOMEONE AND MYSELF, I THINK FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND COMPENSTE ME FOR THE NEW THROTTLE BOX I HAD INSTALLED (295.56). BY THE WAY, THE MECHANIC WHO TESTED MY TRUCK SAID HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE HE HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING THE TRUCK EVEN AFTER BEING BRIEFED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #730985

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN CLIMBING UPHILL USING CRUISE CONTROL, TRUCK ACCELERATES AND STICKS. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OR USING THE OFF BUTTON, THE SYSTEM DOES NOT DISENGAGE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841658

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

RQ97015, WHILE IN PARK POSITION AND IN A SLIGHT INCLINE THE VEHICLE HAD A NOISE AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ODI #836822

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1995
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, DIFFICULTY DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. TT

NHTSA ODI #969602

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