RoadVitals

1989 Ford Ranger Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
10
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.
14%
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.
3
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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 10 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 fuel system

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
Fuel system
Filed Jan 24, 2009

1989 FORD RANGER. FAILED SMOG TEST FOR THE FIRST TIME. TOLD NEW TEST FOR SEAL IN GAS FILLER DOWN TUBE RESULTS IN PRETTY MUCH ALL VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE FAILING CALIFORNIA SMOG TEST. SUGGESTED FILE COMPLAINT AS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER (FORD) TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256182
Incident
Jan 22, 2009
Mileage
3,629 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 14, 2001

THE MAIN STRAP THE HOLD THE GAS TANK TO THE TRUCK HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. LEAVING ONLY THE FRONT STRAP TO HOLD THE TANK FROM FALLING ONTO THE ROAD (POSSIBLY BEING HIT BY THE AUTOMOBILE BEHIND ME). I HAD BOTH STRAPS REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID
748465
Incident
Jun 30, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Nov 22, 2000
Fire reported

THE FITTING TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR BLEW OFF DUE TO THE HEAT AND PRESSURE FROM THE PLASTIC GAS LINE, WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
557544
Fuel system
Filed Jun 22, 2000

DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE IS THERE WAS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A NEWER DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH CONTAINED FUEL STRAP AND A HEAT SHIELD. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
864039
Incident
Jun 22, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Sep 14, 1999

ONE OF THE STRAPS THAT HOLDS UP THE FUEL TANK RUSTED AWAY. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
847656
Incident
Sep 4, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Mar 20, 1998

FUEL TANK LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
533133
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Nov 18, 1997

THE SENDING UNIT IN THE GAS TANK THAT GOES TO THE ENGINE HAS RUSTED THROUGH, PUMPING GAS OUTSIDE THE ELECTRICAL PLATE OF THE SENDING UNIT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE OWNER HAS A PRIVATE MECHANIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
819151
Fuel system
Filed Feb 15, 1996
Fire reported

TRUCK WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT WENT TO START TRUCK THERE POPPING NOISE AND TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE NO ONE WAS HURT . TT

NHTSA ID
979254
Incident
Feb 13, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Feb 15, 1995
Fire reported

THE TRUCK BURNT UP FOR NO REASON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
960062
Incident
Jan 17, 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

Electrical13Engine13

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .