RoadVitals

1989 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 Aug 22, 2019
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.
18%
of 73 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.
0
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 1989 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

EngineFuel systemSuspension
Filed Aug 22, 2019

VEHICLE BODY AND STRUCTURAL FRAME HAVE ABNORMAL CORROSION AND RUST AND CRITICAL COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED. CAB IS ATTACHED TO FRAME WITH FOUR BOLTS. THE METAL AROUND THE FRONT LEFT BOLT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. CAB IS THEREFORE ONLY HELD DOWN NOW BY THREE BOLTS. RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING TOWER ROTTED AND WAS SUBJECT TO COMPLETE FAILURE WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO FALL DOWN ONTO THE SHOCK ABSORBER. TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN THRUST INTO FENDER WELL AND STEERING WOULD BEEN COMPRIMISED. REPAIRED IN 2006. GAS TANK MOUNTING STRAPS RUSTED AWAY SUBJECTING THE TANK TO FALL FROM VEHICLE. REPAIRED IN 2005. LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING ATTACH BRACKET (SHACKLE) RUSTED AND BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FALL ONTO END OF LEAF SPRING, WHICH IS NO LONGER ATTACHED. ENGINE OIL PICK UP SCREEN BECAME CLOGGED WITH DETERIORATED OIL PAN GASKET MATERIAL. ENGINE BECAME STARVED OF OIL AND SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAUSING A MAJOR HAZARD. ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN 2016.

NHTSA ID
11245886
Incident
Jun 2, 2005
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 18, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING SECONDARY IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID
10986335
Incident
Apr 20, 2016
Mileage
64,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 2000

TRUCK QUITS IN HIQH HEAT,FORD NO HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID
731591
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 1998

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD FOUR ENGINE REPLACEMENTS WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD.

NHTSA ID
537494
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 1996

ENGINE HEADS CRACKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
511743
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Aug 15, 1996

ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID
507559
Incident
Aug 8, 1996
Engine
Filed May 26, 1996

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS. *DH

NHTSA ID
504904
Incident
Jan 7, 1996
Engine
Filed May 14, 1996

METAL AROUND THE CENTER HUB OF FLYWHEEL BROKE, CAUSING DRIVE TRAIN TO FAIL. *SD

NHTSA ID
504465
Incident
Mar 30, 1996
EngineTransmission
Filed Apr 5, 1996

FLYWHEEL CRACKED. RESULTIN GIN TRANSMISSION FAILUR/VEHICLE ASCTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. *AK

NHTSA ID
502991
Incident
Apr 3, 1996
Engine
Filed Oct 23, 1995

OIL PAN SEALANT PIECES FOUND IN OIL PUMP, CLOGGING IT, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. *DSH

NHTSA ID
500823
Incident
Oct 23, 1995
Engine
Filed Jun 7, 1995

ENGINE HEADS CRACKED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO MIX WITH OIL. *SKD

NHTSA ID
485189
Incident
Dec 9, 1994
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 1995

BOTH CYLINDER HEADS CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX W/OIL. *AW

NHTSA ID
482303
Incident
Feb 16, 1995
Engine
Filed Feb 8, 1995

RADIATOR COOLING FAN DEVELOPED CRACKED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. TT

NHTSA ID
959766
Incident
Feb 6, 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

Electrical13Fuel system10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .