IllustrationOUTSIDE 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
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
What owners actually said
132 reportsTIRE 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 )
NOTICED RUST FELL OFF NEAR FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HAD MECHANIC AT WORK CHECK HE SAID THAT IT IS READY TO BREAK AND THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED FORD I LOOKED AT YOUR SITE AND FOUND MANY TRUCKS WITH SAME PROBLEM.NOT SURE WHAT TO DO SINCE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT NOT ONLY MY TRUCK HAD. I FEEL FORD SHOULD …
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NOTICED RUST FELL OFF NEAR FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HAD MECHANIC AT WORK CHECK HE SAID THAT IT IS READY TO BREAK AND THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED FORD I LOOKED AT YOUR SITE AND FOUND MANY TRUCKS WITH SAME PROBLEM.NOT SURE WHAT TO DO SINCE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT NOT ONLY MY TRUCK HAD. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING THEM. MY TRUCK ALSO HAS LOW MILAGE.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1991 RANGER PICKUP USED. SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT 1500 MILES. I NOTICED WHILE INSTALLING NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS THAT THE SPRING MOUNT (TOP BRACKET) WAS RUSTED. WITHIN 500 MILES OF THE INSTALLATION THE BRACKET HAS STARTED TO SEPERATE FROM THE FRAME AND THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE…
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1991 RANGER PICKUP USED. SINCE THE PURCHASE I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT 1500 MILES. I NOTICED WHILE INSTALLING NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS THAT THE SPRING MOUNT (TOP BRACKET) WAS RUSTED. WITHIN 500 MILES OF THE INSTALLATION THE BRACKET HAS STARTED TO SEPERATE FROM THE FRAME AND THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE TRUCK WAS NOTICABLLY LOWER. I WENT TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRUCK WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THAT THE SPRING COULD BE EJECTED FROM ITS POSITION CAUSING A ACCIDENT. I WAS ALSO TOLD OF ANOTHER RANGER 1993 WITH THE SAME CONDITION. I WANTED TO INFORM THE NTSA, ONLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS CONDITION IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT MOST LIKELY WON'T SHOW UP UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS SOME AGE AND MILES ON IT. IT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF MANY ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IF IT IS COMMON TO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU
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 )
TREAD SEPARATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21570R14 )
TREAD SEPARATED. REPLACED WITH LIKE TIRE. CONSIDERED IT AN UNUSUAL FAILURE, BUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ON OCCASSION, UNTIL LEARNED OF LIKE FAILURES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75 15 )
REAR TIRE HAD MAJOR TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVE AT ABOUT THIRTY MILES PER HOUR. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE WHOLE FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS ON THE GROUND. RIGHT FRONT UPPER COIL SPRING FAILED, AND THE PAINT THAT WAS ON THE PART HAD CORRODED. *AK
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK TOWER CORRODED AND RUSTED OUT , EVENTUALLY CAUSING IT TO BREAK, AND CAUSING FRONT END TO FALL DOWN. *AK
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