IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1992 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 22 of 189 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 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports32 fire reports10 injury reports
Suspension complaints
32 reportsRIGHT FRONT SAGGED.PULLED OVER SAW FLUID LEAKING LOOK IN FENDER WELL SAW SPRING HANGER RUSTED OUT AND SPRING PUSH UP INTO INNER FENDER AND BRAKE LINE BROKE
WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE WENT DOWN. THEN, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. PULLED UP TO A LIGHT TO CHECK, AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT,. TRUCK WAS SITTING LOW BECAUSE THE SHOCKS HAD DROPPED DOWN ON THE BRAKE LINE. *AK
TRANSMISSION MANUAL FAILED OUTPUT SHAFT AT 20 MPH REPLACED INTERNAL GEARS GAVE OUT AT 65 MPH.//ABS BRAKES BECAME SPONGY & LOCK IN REAR PULL TO RIGHT IN FRONT .//HEADLIGHTS BEGAN BLINKING OFF &ON AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING.//TRANSFER CASE SPLIT WHILE IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE AT 35 MPH.//FRONT SUSPENSION GIVING OUT CAN'T ALIGN FRONT END …
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TRANSMISSION MANUAL FAILED OUTPUT SHAFT AT 20 MPH REPLACED INTERNAL GEARS GAVE OUT AT 65 MPH.//ABS BRAKES BECAME SPONGY & LOCK IN REAR PULL TO RIGHT IN FRONT .//HEADLIGHTS BEGAN BLINKING OFF &ON AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING.//TRANSFER CASE SPLIT WHILE IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE AT 35 MPH.//FRONT SUSPENSION GIVING OUT CAN'T ALIGN FRONT END ,ERATIC STEERING & WORN TIRES.//REAR SPRINGS SLIPPED OUT ON LEFT SIDE AXLE SLID FORWARD TO BODY.//HEATER BEGAN RATTLIING ,MORE AS YOU TURN FAN UP.
HAD WE BEEN GOING 60 MPH AND THE TIRE RUBBED WE SURLY WOULD BE DEAD. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE PART BEING COATED WITH PLASTIC HOLDING IN MOISTURE.
WHEEL BEARING WAS NOT GREASED ENOUGH, WHICH WAS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE WHEEL FALLING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
RIGHT FRONT SPRING BRACKET RUSTED OUT AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING FENDER TO DRAG TIRE WHILE PULLING OUT GARAGE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER . *AK
THE FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS CORRODED BECAUSE OF DRAINAGE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. THIS PROBLEM WAS FOUND WHEN TRUCK WENT THROUGH INSPECTION. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
I WAS PREPARING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY TRUCK PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE FRONT RINGHT SIDE DROPPED DOWN. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND LOOKED UNDER IT ONLY TO FIND THAT THE SPRING SADDLE HAD DETERIORATED AWAY TO NOTHING! IT ACTUALLY FELL APART INTO FLAKES OF METAL IN MY HAND! I CHECKED THE…
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I WAS PREPARING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY TRUCK PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE FRONT RINGHT SIDE DROPPED DOWN. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND LOOKED UNDER IT ONLY TO FIND THAT THE SPRING SADDLE HAD DETERIORATED AWAY TO NOTHING! IT ACTUALLY FELL APART INTO FLAKES OF METAL IN MY HAND! I CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND IT WAS FINE. I EASED IT DOWN THE RAMP AND ONTO THE LOT I WORK AT (I WORK FOR MODOT, RIGHT NEXT TO THE RAMP)I CALLED TO ASK THE DEALER ABOUT IT AND I ALSO CALLED FORD. NEITHER SEEMED VERY INTERESTED. I HAVE TALKED TO SIX DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NONE OF THEMHAVE EVER SEEN THIS PART FAIL UNLESS THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WRECKED OR DRIVEN VERY ROUGHLY! MY TRUCK LOOKS LIKE NEW AND IT HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED LIKE THAT. I WASH IT REGULARLY, SO RUST IS NOT A PROBLEM. ONLY THE ONE PART FAILED, NOT BOTH OR SEVERAL OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION! I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT I HAD TOLD THEM IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN I HAD HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE BEFORE BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE ALL ALONG AND WHEN IT DISINTEGRATED, I WAS LUCKY THAT NOONE WAS HURT OR KILLED WHEN THE TRUCK JERKED TO THE RIGHT! THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR A PART LIKE THIS FAILING UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE THE PART AND PICTURES OF IT. I INTEND TO HAVE IT TESTED IN A LAB AT ONE OF THE LOCAL COLLEGES. THANK YOU.
RIGHT FRONT UPPER SPRING RUSTED OUT AND COLLAPSED. BODY OF VEHICLE RUBBING THE TIRE. HAD A TOTAL COLLAPSE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, LOSS OF CONTROL AND BRAKES WOULD OCCUR ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR FACILITY (MIDAS). LEFT SIDE UPPER SPRING SEAT APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS $225+.
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.
92V006000 · Structure:body:door
Jan 14, 1992
WATER CAN ENTER THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CABLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THE WATER IN THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CABLE CAN FREEZE AND CAUSE THE LATCH MECHANISM TO MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE MALFUNCTION OF THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CAN RESULT INTHREE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS: 1) THE DOOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE RELATCHED, 2) THEINSIDE DOOR HANDLE CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND 3) THE DOOR COULD APPEAR TO BELATCHED WHEN IT IS NOT, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY IF IT IS JARRED,AND INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE ADJACENT SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REVISED DOOR RELEASE CABLES AND WATER SHIELDS WILL BE INSTALLED.
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
1EA95018 · 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.