IllustrationTRUCK WAS WARMING UP WITH ME IN IT AROUND JANUARY. I WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, THEIR WAS NO RESPONSE AND WAS STUCK IN TRUCK. EVENTUALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE REAR SLIDING WINDOW. I WAS AND AM NEVER ABLE TO USE MY PASSENGER DOOR AGAIN, FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. *TR
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
Visibility complaints
22 reportsWHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, EXTERIOR MIRRORS WILL FOLD IN, CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO VIEW OR USE THE MIRRORS.*AK *SLC
WINDSHIELD LEAKS & FRAME RUSTING. SUSPENSION BOWED MAIN STRUCTOR ARMS. ENGINE PASSING OIL FROM DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP. INTERIOR DOOR PLASTIC FRAME CRACKING. DIMMER AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SHORTS.
MIRRORS FLOP OVER DUE TO WIND / SLIPSTREAM; BAD DESIGN; MANY CLOSE CALLS CHANGING LANES ON FREEWAY; CANNOT FIND A BETTER SUBSTITUTE THAT WILL FIT THIS MODEL. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, AND TRIED TO CHANGE LANES SHE HAS TO ROLL DOWN HER WINDOW TO HOLD THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR IN PLACE, BECAUSE THE MIRRORS WOULD BLOW AGAINST THE WINDOWS CAUSING HER TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE, ALL THE CONSUMER CAN SEE IS THE PAVEMENT OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER HAS TRIED TO FIN…
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CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, AND TRIED TO CHANGE LANES SHE HAS TO ROLL DOWN HER WINDOW TO HOLD THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR IN PLACE, BECAUSE THE MIRRORS WOULD BLOW AGAINST THE WINDOWS CAUSING HER TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE, ALL THE CONSUMER CAN SEE IS THE PAVEMENT OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER HAS TRIED TO FIND SOME TYPE OF SCREWS TO TIGHTEN THE MIRRORS BUT THERE ARE NO TYPE OF SCREWS ON THE BALL AND SOCKET MIRRORS, PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR ARE EXTREMLY LOOSE AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN FORCED TO ORDER ANOTHER SET OF MIRRORS FROM MANUFACTURER. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SIDE EXTERIOR MIRRORS FOLD IN. OWNER BOUGHT REPLACEMENT MIRRORS, BUT THESE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
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.
OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR WILL NOT HOLD ITS POSITION, KEEPS MOVING, AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK
THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE SIDE MIRRORS OF THE '92 RANGER. THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN POSITION AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS OF USE. I'VE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF MIRRORS (BOTH SIDES). MY SIDE MIRRORS "COLLAPSE" WHEN I DRIVE OVER 45 MPH RESULTING IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION-I HAVE NO REAR VISIBILITY TO THE SIDES. I HA…
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THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE SIDE MIRRORS OF THE '92 RANGER. THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN POSITION AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS OF USE. I'VE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF MIRRORS (BOTH SIDES). MY SIDE MIRRORS "COLLAPSE" WHEN I DRIVE OVER 45 MPH RESULTING IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION-I HAVE NO REAR VISIBILITY TO THE SIDES. I HAVE DIFFICULTY CHANGING LANES. I'VE SPOKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MY BEST OPTION WOULD BE TO BUY AFTERMARKET MIRRORS (NOT FORD/MOTORCRAFT), UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND COMPATIBLE AFTERMARKET MIRRORS. THIS HAS BEEN A NAGGING PROBLEM FOR ME AS IT APPEARS IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHERS. *AK
EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE FOLDING AGAINST THE VEHICLE ,AND THERE IS NO WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM BESIDES REPLACING THE MIRRORS. *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.
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.