RoadVitals

1984 Ford Ranger

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Apr 10, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
8
Latest Aug 27, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
8
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Ford Ranger, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and visibility categories. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 11 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical218.2%
  • Engine218.2%
  • Visibility218.2%
  • Brakes218.2%
  • Fuel system19.1%
  • Other / unspecified19.1%
  • Seat belts19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E064000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
98E010000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

Apr 8, 1998
23,500 units potentially affected
The defect: EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BRAKE ROTORS FOR USE ON CERTAIN FORD AND MAZDA TRUCKS. CRACKED CASTINGS CAUSED CRACKS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE ROTOR HAT OR AROUND THE STUD HOLE.
The risk: LOSS OF BRAKING CAN RESULT.
The remedy: AIMCO WILL REIMBURSE CONSUMERS/INSTALLERS FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT ROTORS AND INSTALLATION. CONSUMERS ARE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE ROTORS WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED/INSTALLED FOR REPLACEMENT.
AIMCO PRODUCTS INC.View on NHTSA.gov
84V111000

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Sep 25, 1984
460,918 units potentially affected
The defect: SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THE HOOD IS NOT CLOSED TIGHTLY, OR IS INADVERTENTLY RELEASED, THE SECONDARY LATCH MAY NOT WORK AND THE HOOD MAY FLY UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: THE HOOD ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE HOOD AND LATCH COMPONENTS WILL BE ADJUSTED, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP85008ClosedDefect Petition

STALLING

Opened Jan 4, 1985
Closed Apr 26, 1985

STALLING

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 12
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10015609
Incident
Feb 3, 1985
Mileage
135,000 mi
Filed Oct 7, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
733666
Incident
Jun 20, 1986
Brakes
Filed May 11, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
722565
Incident
Jun 15, 1990
Visibility
Filed Feb 23, 1999
Fire reported

NOTICED IN LOCAL PAPER CONCERN OVER FIRES IN HEATING/VENTILATING SYSTEM OF FORD VEHICLES. BURNING OF LEAVES CAUGHT IN HEATER DUCTING WHICH WAS IGNITED BY HEATER MOTOR SPEED CONTROL RESISTANCE COILS LOCATED IN HEATER DUCTWORK HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES ON MY 1984 FORD RANGER PICKUP. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN THE LATE 1980'S IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER AND THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS OCTOBER OF 1997. HORTOCULTURIST AT BOTANICAL GARDEN WHERE I VOLUNTEER HAD A SIMILAR FIRE IN JANUARY OF 1999 IN A 1980'S FULL SIZED FORD PICKUP (DON'T KNOW EXACT YEAR). ALTHOUGH THIS TYPE OF FIRE IS SHORT AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO DO A GREAT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE; IT IS VERY DISTURBING AT THE TIME. YOUR VISIBILITY IS CLOUDED, YOU IMMEDIATELY GET OFF OF ROAD TO GET OUT OF 'BURNING' VEHICLE AND FOR SOME TIME VEHICLE HAS ASHES BLOWING FROM VENT SYSTEM AND ODOR OF SMOLDERING LEAVES LEFT IN VEHICLE. THIS COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC SAFETY OCCURANCE IF TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE WAS LOST OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC HIT VEHICLE AS IT WAS BEING STOPPED TO CHECK SOURCE OF THE 'FIRE'. I NOTICE THAT THE 1992 FORD E-150 VAN WHICH WE OWN HAS A FINER MESH SCREEN BELOW THE VENT AIR INTAKE IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD; WHEREAS, THE 1984 (AND OTHER) FORD VEHICLE DOES NOT. WHEN I CAN REMEMBER EACH YEAR, I REMOVE THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH FROM THE DUCTING AND FISH OUT THE LEAVES WITH A PIECE OF WIRE THROUGH THE SMALL ACCESS HOLE. DON'T REMEMBER TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR--AND I EXPECT MOST OWNERS DON'T OR DON'T KNOW HOW AND FORD DEALERS PROBABLY ARE NOT AWARE THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID
703638
Visibility
Filed Jun 3, 1998
Fire reported1 injury reported

THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE OPEN WIRE WOUND MOTOR SPEED CONTROL RESISTOR BLOCK ALLOWS FOR DEBRIS TO COLLECT RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. (ATTORNRY FOR CONSUMER).

NHTSA ID
536262
Incident
May 4, 1998
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 16, 1997

TRAILER HITCH SNAPPED, DISCONNECTING TRAILER, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ID
518585
Incident
May 11, 1997
Fuel system
Filed May 5, 1997
Fire reported

STARTED SMOKING FIRST AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD BECAUSE OF A GAS LEAKAGE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
804836
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Dec 17, 1996
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TRAVELING ON WILLOW GROVE ROAD, SWERVED TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE, CROSSED CENTER LINE AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESPOND, ALLOWING DRIVER TO BE PARTIALLY EJECTED FROM VEHICLE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
804846
Incident
Nov 9, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

98246

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC

9888

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC

9852

TIRES

INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC

985A13

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC

985A36

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

A GRABBING AND/OR STICKING CONDITION DURING THE FIRST FEW BRAKE APPLICATIONS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE COLD OR IN THE MORNING AFTER AN OVERNIGHT RAIN MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES. *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Ranger by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026460—
20253313062.0
20246813058.8
2023184058.5
2022375056.7
20211116064.1
20201257163.7
201926311059.1
2018000—
2017100—
2016100—
2015000—
2014100—
2013000—
2012000—
20112356053.5
20101569053.2
20091688051.6
20083256158.3
20072706159.9
200627112052.1
200528911362.3
200440412365.5
20032435160.5
20023467056.0
20015159263.3
20006708056.3
199975510056.2
199857611161.4
19974117261.3
19964138055.9
19953217157.9
199443811161.3
199323210264.6
19921896163.9
19911326467.5
19901055366.3
1989733163.0
1988892266.4
1987505471.3
1986355775.0
1985273167.6
1984Viewing128169.0
1983117057.4
1979100—
1978100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.