Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
50
Latest Aug 1, 2011
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.
18
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 12, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 50 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Ford Ranger. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 50 · page 1 of 2
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2011
Fire reported
TRUCK WAS BOUGHT USED AND DEALER MAINTAINED, IT SAT PARKED FOR 3 DAYS WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED DUE TO SON BEING IN A PICA CAST FROM CHEST TO FEET, AT APPROXIMATELY 2 AM THE LOCKED TRUCK HONKED AND WOKE ME UP, WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE I COULD SEE FLAMES IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SO GOT KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE AS THERE WAS GAS LINE CLOSE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHICH WAS UNABLE TO SAVE THE VEHICLE, AS SOON AS THE DOOR OPENED IT EXPLODED INTO A BIG WHITE BALL NOT EVEN THE TIRES WERE ANY GOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER THAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT IT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE WITH THE COMPUTERS BUT THEY WOULD NOTATE IT. LOCATION OF OCCURANCE AND WAS RUPERT,IDAHO AND REPORTED TO FORD DEALER IN BURLEY,ID
NHTSA ID
10417308
Incident
Apr 15, 1998
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1987 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE TIRES, SIZE 30X9.5/R15LT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02T014000 (TIRES:MARKINGS) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. HE STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,117. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB
NHTSA ID
10239072
Incident
Aug 19, 2008
Mileage
109,117 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 4, 2006
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 BETWEEN NAPLES AND MIAMI FLORIDA, THE TREAD ON MY FIRESTONE FR 440 TIRE SEPARATED WHICH CAUSE MY FORD RANGER TRUCK TO FISH TAIL ON HIGHWAY. I CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE TO A STOP ON SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. CALLED POLICE AND THEY DISPATCHED ROAD SERVICE. THE FIRESTONE P205/70R14 93S M+S TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRED DID NOT GO FLAT. THE SEPARATED TREAD DESTROYED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL, TAIL PIPE AND PART OF THE VEHICLE BODY AROUND WHEEL WELL. *NM
NHTSA ID
10167293
Incident
Aug 27, 2006
Electrical
Filed Jul 4, 2005
Crash reportedFire reported5 injuries reported
I HAD JUST LEFT A RED LIGHT. I WAS THE 1ST VECHICLE INTHE NORTH LANE ON A TWO LANE STREET. THE SOUTH BOUND SIDE HAD ABOUT 8 CARS . THE LAST CAR HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, SHE HIT A JEEP IN FRONT OF HER, AND IMPACT CAUSED HER TO SWEARVE INTO THE NORTHBOUND SIDE WHERE I HIT HER IN IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD MY GRANDSON 9 IN THE FRONT WITH ME. MY GRANDDAUGHTER 16 AND HER FRIEND 15 WERE IN THE TRUCK BED. I JUST HAD A SMALL INDENTION IN THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK. THIS TRUCK WAS A 1987 LONG BED. RUNS GOOD. IT I THOUGHT WAS STEAMING MAYBE I BUSTED MY RADIATOR. MY CONCERN WAS THE CHILDREN. THEN IT STARTED SMOKING. A FIRE EXTINQUISHER WAS USED. A LITTLE WHILE LATER IT CAUGHT AND BURNED UP.
NHTSA ID
10127377
Incident
Apr 3, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Sep 13, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHEN ACCELERATING ON A FLAT STRAIGHT HIGHWAY FROM 30 MPH, THE TRUCK JERKED TO THE RIGHT WENT INTO THE DITCH AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES, TOTALLING THE VEHICLE. INVESTIGATING OFFICER COMMENTED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE CAB ONTO THE FRAME ONE WAS MISSING AND ANOTHER WAS SHEARED OFF. TRUCK RECENTLY HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE INSTALLED AND HAD HAD REGULAR "SAFETY CHECKS" AT A LOCAL SHOP. NO NOTICABLE LEANING OR OTHER INDICATORS THAT THE PART WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. THIS KIND OF BOLT SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE! NLM
NHTSA ID
767107
Incident
Sep 9, 2002
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 30, 2002
LUGS ON RIGHT REAR BROKE OFF WHEN TIGHTENING. *AK
NHTSA ID
8017725
Incident
Aug 27, 2002
Electrical
Filed Dec 9, 2001
I'V HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE 3 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST DATE OF THE FIRST TIME OF BREAKING DOWN.*AK
NHTSA ID
755449
Incident
Aug 21, 1992
Electrical
Filed Aug 30, 2001
Fire reported
VEHICLE WAS PARKED/ IDLING WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
895519
Incident
Aug 23, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Feb 27, 2001
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH FRONT FUEL TANK ON DUAL TANK ASSEMBLY, FELL OFF, AND WAS BEING DRAGGED BY VEHICLE. PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
881596
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Jan 22, 2001
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON HIGHWAY ENGINE SHUT OFF, AND CONSUMER WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK
NHTSA ID
878670
Incident
Jan 21, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2000
PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED REGARDLESS OF REPLACEMENTS, VERY DANGEROUS. OVERALL, HEAT UP OF ENGINE, ETC SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR FACTOR.*AK
NHTSA ID
735765
Incident
Aug 15, 1992
Filed Oct 24, 2000
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
735023
Incident
Mar 3, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2000
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ID
734611
Seat belts
Filed Sep 11, 2000
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WILL NOT STAY LATCHED... EITHER IT WILL NOT LATCH AT ALL, OR WILL LATCH AND THEN COME UN-LATCHED AS I AM DRIVING.. THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED, AND ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. *AK
NHTSA ID
731072
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Aug 31, 2000
WHEN THE FTI MODUAL WENT OUT I WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK TRYING TO PULL THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS NO PWR STEERING OR BRAKES, THE EMERGENSY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE TRUCK.
NHTSA ID
729708
Incident
Jun 16, 1999
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2000
Fire reported
ELECTRICAL COMPUTER SHORT OUT WAS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF VEHICLE FIRE. *MJS
NHTSA ID
9000040
Incident
Dec 14, 1999
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 20, 2000
GAS MILEAGE HAS DECREASED TO 6 MILES PER GALLON. NO FUEL LEAKS HAVE BEEN FOUND. BASIC PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED SUCH AS FUEL FILTER, PLUGS AND WIRES, AIR FILTER. TIMING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND SET CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, NONE OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE IMPROVED THE GAS MILEAGE.
NHTSA ID
717621
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 24, 1999
BALL JOINT DID NOT CONTAIN GREASE FITTINGS RESULTING IN RUSTING.
NHTSA ID
544557
Filed Feb 28, 1999
THE PAINT ON MY TRUCK STARTED PEALING ABOUT 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE / WENT TO DEALER SAID (S.O.L.) WARRANTY OVER. I HEARD THERE IS ACLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM IWOULD LIKE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS THANKS
NHTSA ID
703864
Incident
Nov 30, 1989
Steering
Filed Feb 24, 1999
STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
834305
Incident
Jun 10, 1995
Electrical
Filed Oct 31, 1997
Fire reported
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY SMOKE APPEARED FROM DASH COLUMN. VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE DO TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
NHTSA ID
817048
Suspension
Filed Sep 9, 1997
:DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY TO THE LEFT AND THERE WAS LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER IT STARTED TO SWAINGY FOR A SECOND TIME. *AK
NHTSA ID
816147
Incident
Sep 5, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Jul 29, 1997
WHEN INSERTING THE BELT INTO THE BUCKLE THE BELT WILL NOT LOCK INTO THE BUCKLE. WHILE DRIVING THE BELT WILL COME APART, AND THE OCCUPANTS WILL NOT BE LOCKED INTO THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE OF THE BELT NOT LOCKING WHEN INSERTING INTO THE BUCKLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
814469
Incident
Jun 7, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Mar 12, 1997
SEAT BELT LATCHES FAIL TO RELEASE WHEN RELEASE BUTTON IS PRESSED. *AK
NHTSA ID
515412
Fuel system
Filed Oct 17, 1996
Fire reported
ENGINE FIRE DUE TO GAS LEAK IN THE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA ID
510153
Incident
Jan 17, 1994
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.
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