RoadVitals

1988 Ford Ranger Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
13
Latest Jul 18, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 89 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2010
Fire reported

DRIVING 60 MPH, A LOSS OF POWER WAS NOTICED. THIS BECAME A LOUD EXHAUST NOISE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, PUTTING UP THE HOOD TO SEARCH FOR PROBLEMS, AND FINDING NO EVIDENCE OF ANY, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. A FIRE STARTED WHICH COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10343825
Incident
Jul 17, 2010
Mileage
89,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2005
Fire reported

DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE ENGINE BY THE FUEL RAIL. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 26, 2005. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TRIED TO START IT THEN IT BACK FIRED AND CAUGHT FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10131091
Incident
Jul 26, 2005
Engine
Filed Jun 11, 1999

ENGINE VALVE LIFTER IS MAKING A LOUD TAPPING NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
839498
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 1998

SILICONE GASKET MATERIAL DETERIORATES AND CLOGS OIL PUMP PICKUP.

NHTSA ID
781212
Incident
Oct 12, 1998
Engine
Filed Oct 4, 1998

ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED, OIL KEEPS FILLING UP WITH GAS AND BLOWS GRAY SMOKE.

NHTSA ID
780674
Incident
Sep 20, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 1998

GENERAL ENGINE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN OEM OIL PAN GASKET FAILS AND PLUGS OIL PUMP PICKUP AND PRODUCES A LOW OR NO OIL PRESSURE SITUATION INTERNALLY. SB BC307291-228, 94-1-11 AND 94-6-15 RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
540527
Incident
Jul 25, 1998
Engine
Filed Oct 3, 1997

VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR UNDER.

NHTSA ID
523515
Incident
Sep 5, 1995
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 1997

WHILE DRIVING IN HOT CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
816547
Engine
Filed May 30, 1996
Fire reported

AFTER 4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
985042
Engine
Filed May 13, 1996
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984303
Incident
Feb 27, 1996
BrakesElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Apr 30, 1996

TIRES REPLACED. *SD

NHTSA ID
504368
Incident
Feb 14, 1995
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 1996
Fire reported

OWNER QUOTES: TRUCK STARTED ON ITS OWN, BACKED UP INTO ANOTHER CAR AND BURST INTO FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983606
Incident
Apr 25, 1996
Engine
Filed Feb 10, 1995

ENGINE FAILURE, CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING ON HILLS/ STRAIGHT ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
481182
Incident
Feb 10, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Electrical31Brakes9Seat belts9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .