1986 Ford Ranger Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Ford Ranger, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1227.3%
- Seat belts715.9%
- Engine715.9%
- Fuel system49.1%
- Brakes36.8%
- Transmission36.8%
- Steering24.5%
- Other / unspecified24.5%
- Interior & seats12.3%
- Suspension12.3%
- Tires & wheels12.3%
- Visibility12.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION SWITCH WOULD STICK. WOULD SHORT OUT EVERTHING CONNECTED TO IT. HAD EVERYTHING RELATED TO IGNITION SWITCH & WIRING REPLACED DUE TO BEING BURNED.*AK
IGNITION HAS SHORTED OUT 3 TIMES. DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING.* AK CONSUMER STATES HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES, IGNITION FAILED TO DISENGAGE STARTER SOLENOID AFTER RELEASING BATTERY, CAUSED OVER HEATING OF STARTER, SHORTED TEMP GUAGE, RADIO, AND PANEL, INDICATOR LIGHTS, BUT DID NOT BLOW FUSES AS IT DID JUNE 11,2000. IT CAUSED BOTH FUEL PUMPS TO SHORT OUT, THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP APPEARED TO HAVE WELDED MARKS ON OUTSIDE CASING OF PUMP, WHEN PURCHASED DEALER STATED NO DEFECTS BUT HAD JUST COME OUT OF FORD'S SHOP, HOOD HAS MARK OF COMPULSION AND MELTED PAINT ON TOP HOOD, CROSS MEMBER IS ISDE HOOD HAS OUTSIDE SHEET METAL, ALSO SHORTED ALTERNATOR ALONG WITH STARTER, STARTER SOLENOID JUNE 1998 IT APPEARS THE SHORT STARTED IN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR THEN WENT TO THE INJECTOR HARNESS, CONSUMER HAS REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER CONSUMER ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AS WELLS AS TIE ROD END AND WHEEL BALANCED AND TIRES ROTATED.*JB
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. *JB
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CATASTROPHIC SHUTDOWN AT ANY SPEED, ENGINE STOPS RUNNING. DT
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS TANKS WILLNOT FILL PROPERLY AND LEAKS. *AK
FIRE--RESULTED FROM A LEAK IN EITHER THE RUBBER FUEL LINES OR HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSES ROUTED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE V6 MOTOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION HAS SHORTED OUT 3 TIMES. DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING.* AK CONSUMER STATES HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES, IGNITION FAILED TO DISENGAGE STARTER SOLENOID AFTER RELEASING BATTERY, CAUSED OVER HEATING OF STARTER, SHORTED TEMP GUAGE, RADIO, AND PANEL, INDICATOR LIGHTS, BUT DID NOT BLOW FUSES AS IT DID JUNE 11,2000. IT CAUSED BOTH FUEL PUMPS TO SHORT OUT, THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP APPEARED TO HAVE WELDED MARKS ON OUTSIDE CASING OF PUMP, WHEN PURCHASED DEALER STATED NO DEFECTS BUT HAD JUST COME OUT OF FORD'S SHOP, HOOD HAS MARK OF COMPULSION AND MELTED PAINT ON TOP HOOD, CROSS MEMBER IS ISDE HOOD HAS OUTSIDE SHEET METAL, ALSO SHORTED ALTERNATOR ALONG WITH STARTER, STARTER SOLENOID JUNE 1998 IT APPEARS THE SHORT STARTED IN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR THEN WENT TO THE INJECTOR HARNESS, CONSUMER HAS REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER CONSUMER ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AS WELLS AS TIE ROD END AND WHEEL BALANCED AND TIRES ROTATED.*JB
ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, SUN ROOF DOESN'T WORK, AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE IS SHIFTING HARD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, SUN ROOF DOESN'T WORK, AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE IS SHIFTING HARD. *AK
ENGINE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION HAS SHORTED OUT 3 TIMES. DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING.* AK CONSUMER STATES HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES, IGNITION FAILED TO DISENGAGE STARTER SOLENOID AFTER RELEASING BATTERY, CAUSED OVER HEATING OF STARTER, SHORTED TEMP GUAGE, RADIO, AND PANEL, INDICATOR LIGHTS, BUT DID NOT BLOW FUSES AS IT DID JUNE 11,2000. IT CAUSED BOTH FUEL PUMPS TO SHORT OUT, THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP APPEARED TO HAVE WELDED MARKS ON OUTSIDE CASING OF PUMP, WHEN PURCHASED DEALER STATED NO DEFECTS BUT HAD JUST COME OUT OF FORD'S SHOP, HOOD HAS MARK OF COMPULSION AND MELTED PAINT ON TOP HOOD, CROSS MEMBER IS ISDE HOOD HAS OUTSIDE SHEET METAL, ALSO SHORTED ALTERNATOR ALONG WITH STARTER, STARTER SOLENOID JUNE 1998 IT APPEARS THE SHORT STARTED IN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR THEN WENT TO THE INJECTOR HARNESS, CONSUMER HAS REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER CONSUMER ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AS WELLS AS TIE ROD END AND WHEEL BALANCED AND TIRES ROTATED.*JB
FIRE--RESULTED FROM A LEAK IN EITHER THE RUBBER FUEL LINES OR HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSES ROUTED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE V6 MOTOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
STUDS ON TIRES KEEP COMING LOOSE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM THE WHEELS. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES BY THE TIRE COMPANY. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AS OF YET. *AK
LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL/SPIN, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT (OHIO STATE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION HAS SHORTED OUT 3 TIMES. DEFECT KEEPS REOCCURRING.* AK CONSUMER STATES HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES, IGNITION FAILED TO DISENGAGE STARTER SOLENOID AFTER RELEASING BATTERY, CAUSED OVER HEATING OF STARTER, SHORTED TEMP GUAGE, RADIO, AND PANEL, INDICATOR LIGHTS, BUT DID NOT BLOW FUSES AS IT DID JUNE 11,2000. IT CAUSED BOTH FUEL PUMPS TO SHORT OUT, THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP APPEARED TO HAVE WELDED MARKS ON OUTSIDE CASING OF PUMP, WHEN PURCHASED DEALER STATED NO DEFECTS BUT HAD JUST COME OUT OF FORD'S SHOP, HOOD HAS MARK OF COMPULSION AND MELTED PAINT ON TOP HOOD, CROSS MEMBER IS ISDE HOOD HAS OUTSIDE SHEET METAL, ALSO SHORTED ALTERNATOR ALONG WITH STARTER, STARTER SOLENOID JUNE 1998 IT APPEARS THE SHORT STARTED IN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR THEN WENT TO THE INJECTOR HARNESS, CONSUMER HAS REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER CONSUMER ALSO HAD FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AS WELLS AS TIE ROD END AND WHEEL BALANCED AND TIRES ROTATED.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON 2/25/2000 I BOUGHT THESE TIRES AT SEARS AUTO CENTER IN FINDLAY OHIO. THEY HAVE NOT MAINTAINED THE CORRECT AIR PRESURE. I HAVE TO PUT AIR IN THEM EVERY OTHER DAY . THEY ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY LOOSING AIR PRESSURE. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO SEARS ON 4/21/2000,6/14/2000,7/10/2000 AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AND EACH TIME THE TIRES CONTINUED TO LOOSE AIR PRESURE. ON 9/22/2000 I WENT TO SEARS AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE TIRES. I SAID THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY LOOKED AT THEM 4 TIMES AND THEY CONTINUE TO LEAK AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. THEY ASKED ME WHAT KIND OF TIRES THEY WERE AND I TOLD THEM FIRESTONE RESPONSE. THEY SAID THAT FIRESTONE IS RECALLING ALL OF THEIR TIRES AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE MYSELF. I CHECKED ON THE FIRESTONE WEB SIGHT AND THESE TIRES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NONE THE LESS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. I NEED SOME HELP AT GETTING THESE TIRES REPLACED BEFORE THEY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SEARS WONT STAND BEHIND THEM AND THEY AREN'T IN THE RECALL. PLEASE HELP!!!!! SINCERELY NEAL MACKEDANZ [email protected]. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P19575S14 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, SUN ROOF DOESN'T WORK, AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE IS SHIFTING HARD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .