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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.

About this comparison →

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

Visibility complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2004
Visibility

BOTH MIRRORS FOLDED UP AGAINST THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TWICE. HOWEVER, DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. *AK TRUCK IS IN GARAGE FROM 11-1 TOMAY 1. AND I STIKK ONLY GET1 YEAR TO 18 MONTHS PER MIRROR. I REALIZE THE VEHICLE IS 13 YEARS OLD AND REDESI…

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BOTH MIRRORS FOLDED UP AGAINST THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TWICE. HOWEVER, DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. *AK TRUCK IS IN GARAGE FROM 11-1 TOMAY 1. AND I STIKK ONLY GET1 YEAR TO 18 MONTHS PER MIRROR. I REALIZE THE VEHICLE IS 13 YEARS OLD AND REDESIGNING THE MIRROR IS NOT ANOPTION. HOWEVER, FORD MOTOR CORP SURELY COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRICE! RETAIL IS CLOSRE TO $7500 PER PIECE. I KNOW REDESIGNING IS OUT OF QUESTION, BUT FOR THOSE OF US THAT INTEND ON KEEPING OUR VEHICLES, THE COMPANY COULD REDUCE THE PRICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10095230

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2002
Visibility

BOTH MIRRORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONE TIME BECAUSE THEY DO NOT STAY POSITIONED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE MIRRORS DO NOT STAY IN POSITIONED DRIVERS HAVE NO VIEW OF REAR LANES, THE MIRRORS FOLD BACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8018649

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2001
Visibility

BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS FAILED FOR 3RD TIME. THEY FOLD IN WHILE DRIVING, AND CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880566

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Visibility

OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS ON BOTH SIDE DO NOT HOLD ITS POSITION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING POOR TO NO VISIBILITY. FORD IS NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #869020

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2000
EquipmentVisibility

THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #784624

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2000
Visibility

BOTH SIDE-VIEW MIRRORS ARE USELESS, THEY FLOP AGAINST THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 55MPH AND SOMETIMES EVEN LESS, THEY WILL NOT STAY ADJUSTED AND THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #721630

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2000
Visibility

THE SIDE MIRRORS ON THE TRUCK WILL FOLD IN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER I HAD THE TRUCK A YEAR OR SO AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF RANGERS WITH THIS STYLE OF MIRROR, AND THEY ALL REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD FOR A REPLACEMENT MIRROR AND THEY COULD ONLY OFFER T…

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THE SIDE MIRRORS ON THE TRUCK WILL FOLD IN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER I HAD THE TRUCK A YEAR OR SO AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF RANGERS WITH THIS STYLE OF MIRROR, AND THEY ALL REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD FOR A REPLACEMENT MIRROR AND THEY COULD ONLY OFFER THE SAME TYPE MIRROR. I SEE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE MIRRORS WILL NOT STAY IN ADJUSTMENT. I THINK THE MIRROR STYLE CHANGED IN 1992, BUT WAS USED FOR SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #711120

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1998
Visibility

SINCE ABOUT OCTOBER OF 1993, THE OUTSIDE MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUE TO FALL DOWN. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821592

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 1998
Visibility

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE USELESS, CAN'T BE ADJUSTED.

NHTSA ODI #528682

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 1996
Visibility

WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH OR ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE OUTSIDE MIRROR FOLDS IN TOWARDS INSIDE, MAKING IT UNABLE TO VIEW TRAFFIC ON DRIVER'S SIDE OR APPROACHING FROM THE REAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #511752

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