RoadVitals

1990 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.
11
Latest Jul 12, 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.
10%
of 105 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 1990 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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

ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Jul 12, 2019

WHEN VEHICLE IS EITHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION THE PASSENGER HEAD LAMP MELTS, SOMETHING IS CAUSING THAT ONE LIGHT TO OVER HEAT AND HAS MELTED THE ENTIRE HEAD UNIT. I HAVE VERY LITTLE VISIBILITY WITH HEAD LAMPS ON. BATTERY IS CONSTANTLY CORRODED, NO MATTET HOW MUCH I CLEAN IT. AC/DEFROST DOES NOT WORK. RIGHT BLINKER DOES NOT STAY ON, SHUTS OFF WITH THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL. GAUGES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY NOR DO THE LIGHT INDICATORS. CHECK ENGINE LINE COMES ON AFTER EXCEEDING 30MPH AND WHEN I HAVE IT CHECKED IT'S ONLY THE O2 SENSOR. TRUCK GETS HOT BUT DOES NOT OVER HEAT AND ALL FLUIDS ARE TOPPED OFF. WHEN IN MOTION I CAN SMELL THE EXHAUST AND CAN FEEL THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE COMING THROUGH THE GEAR SHIFT MANIFOLD. AT TIMES DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT IN REVERSE. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT SHUT PROPERLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS WRECKED AND THE DOOR WAS POINT OF IMPACT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM PREVIOUS OWNER FOR $1,100 AND HE WAS UNABLE TO TELL ME ANYTHING REGARDING THE VEHICLE EXCEPT THAT IT DIDNT HAVE A SPARE OR OWNER MANUAL. MY FUEL IS LEAKING AND I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE POINT OF ESCAPE. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE STARTER AND SOLENOID TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER REPLACING THOSE ITEMS IT STILL WOULDN'T START UNTIL I HAD PULLED BY A U-HAUL AND I HAD TO POP THE CLUTCH TO GET IT TO START. I HAVE BOUGHT OVER 6 HEAD LAMPS IN TWO WEEKS ALONE. I WORK AT NIGHT AND IM CONSTANTLY GETTING PULLED OVER; SO I EXPLAIN TO THE OFFICERS WHAT'S HAPPENING. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK SINCE FEBRUARY AND DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO DO UNTIL I TALKED TO A MECHANIC. THE TAILGATE DOES NOT OPEN AND I HAD TO TIE MY MUFFLER UP BECAUSE IT CAME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME AND DRAGS THE GROUND. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA ID
11231208
Incident
Feb 14, 2019
Mileage
275,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 4, 2008

SERPINTINE BELT BROKE OFF REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, FIRESTONE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, PAINT FADED HAD TO BE REPAINTED AT MY EXPENSE THEN THE PAINT FADED AGAIN, BRAKES STOPED WORKING HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE PARTS AT MY EXPENSE, WATER PUMP FAILED PAID BY FORD UNDER WARANTY BUT FORD TRIED TO SAY NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE PUMP, I HAD TO SHOW THE MECHANIC THE CHECK HOLE WAS LEAKING. WINDOWS HAVE NOT WORKED FOR YEARS, GOT THEM FIXED AT MY EXPENSE BUT WINDOWS STILL FAIL TO OPERATE, DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR YEARS CANOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN MUST LEAVE DOORS UNLOCKED, TRUCK HAS HAD A SLIGHT OIL LEAK FOR YEARS, FUEL PUMP STARTED LEAKING GAS, FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK, GAS TANK HAD TO BE REMOVED TO FIX AT MY EXPENSE, FUEL GAUGE DIDNT WORK FOR YEARS UP UNTILL FUEL PUMP WAS FIXED. *CN

NHTSA ID
10213661
Incident
Mar 11, 1992
Mileage
1,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 7, 2001

WHILE DRIVING COULD STOP AT STOP SIGN OR AT A RED LIGHT AND ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT THEN STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL RELATED TO IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
893757
Incident
Aug 6, 2001
Engine
Filed Jun 8, 2000

CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT START, CONSUMER HAD TO ORDER THE PART BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF STOCK. NLM

NHTSA ID
552544
Incident
Apr 5, 2000
Engine
Filed Dec 15, 1998

AT 53,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN ,CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE LEAKAGE DUE TO TWO CRACKED BOLT HEADS, OIL PAN GASKET DISSOLVED CAUSING THE OIL PUMP TO MALFUNCTION. *AK.ET.

NHTSA ID
832292
Incident
Jan 10, 1998
Engine
Filed Jan 29, 1997

CRACKED/WARPED ENGINE HEAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
808328
Engine
Filed Jan 29, 1997

CRACKED/WARPED ENGINE HEAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
513915
Engine
Filed Oct 30, 1996

COOLING FAN FAILED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID
510828
Incident
May 25, 1993
EngineSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Jan 8, 1996

FAILED MODULATOR VALVE.

NHTSA ID
500886
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 4, 1996

ENGINE REPLACED. *SD

NHTSA ID
500608
Incident
Jan 4, 1996
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed May 1, 1995

FUEL REGULATOR RUPTURED, RESULTING IN FUEL SPEWING. TT

NHTSA ID
964700
Incident
Mar 24, 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .