RoadVitals

1992 Ford Ranger Owner Complaints

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.
189
Latest Jul 30, 2015
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.
45
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 27, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 189 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 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 189 · page 1 of 8

Engine
Filed Jul 30, 2015

OIL PRESSURE SUDDENLY WENT TO ZERO.ENGINE BEGAN TO CLATTER.I RETURNED HOME.

NHTSA ID
10745122
Incident
Jul 22, 2015
Mileage
122,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 6, 2011

WHEN VEHICLE STARTED IN NEUTRAL, IT WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND THROTTLE WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT ANYONE TOUCHING IT, VEHICLE TOOK OFF IN REVERSE , FRONT WHEEL HIT BUILDING BENDING AXLE AND OTHER COMPONENTS THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 30 DAYS PRIOR WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10423981
Incident
Sep 2, 2011
Mileage
108,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 6, 2010
Crash reported

I HAVE A 1992 FORD RANGER THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING TOWER MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE FRONT SHOCK AND SPRING HAVE DROPPED MAKING THE TRUCK UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE BRAKE LINE WAS SMASHED WHEN IT GAVE WAY. MY BOYFRIEND ALSO HAD A 1992 FORD RANGER THAT THIS HAPPENED TO CAUSING HIM TO WRECK AND TOTAL THE TRUCK SO WE HAD TO JUNK IT. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS A COMMON THING FOR THE 1992'S ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT MUST BE PRETTY COMMON AS FORD HAS MADE A REPLACEMENT PART!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10354046
Incident
Sep 2, 2010
Mileage
118,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 28, 2009

TRUCK WAS WARMING UP WITH ME IN IT AROUND JANUARY. I WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, THEIR WAS NO RESPONSE AND WAS STUCK IN TRUCK. EVENTUALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE REAR SLIDING WINDOW. I WAS AND AM NEVER ABLE TO USE MY PASSENGER DOOR AGAIN, FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275175
Incident
Jan 12, 2009
Mileage
88,910 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 26, 2009
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MY COAST GUARD DUTY MY TRUCK STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED IN MY DASH AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS ENGULFING MY TRUCK IN FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256432
Incident
Jan 26, 2009
Mileage
124,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 26, 2008

JUST THIS PAST TWO WEEKS, WE TRADED TRUCKS. WE RECEIVED A 1992 FORD RANGER. DURING THE SMOG TEST IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS CRACKED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE PART COST $241 , LABOR $175 WHICH WAS A COSTLY SMOG CHECK. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS TYPE OF REPAIR IS VERY COMMON IN FORD RANGERS, ESPECIALLY THE OLDER ONES. THE FORD CO. HAS NOW REDESIGNED THE PART, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR OFFER OF HELP TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POORLY DESIGNED FUEL FILLER NECK. YOU ASKED HOW OFTEN THIS OCCURS - QUITE OFTEN - THE TWO TIMES I WAS IN THE OFFICE OF THE REPAIR SHOP, I ENCOUNTERED 3 OTHER CUSTOMERS THAT WERE IN THERE FOR THE SAME REASON !! I WOULD SAY THAT IS TOO OFTEN. AND, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE FORD CO TO REPLACE THE POORLY DESIGNED FUEL FILLER NECKS AND PAY FOR THE LABOR INVOLVED. ADDITIONALLY, I THINK THAT THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE MADE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC, SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BE DRIVING AROUND WITH A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FUEL VAPOR LEAK, AND THAT THEY CAN GET SOME FINANCIAL HELP WHEN IT IS TIME TO SMOG THEIR TRUCK AND THIS PROBLEM IS DISCOVERED. CAROLYN NEUMAN *TR

NHTSA ID
10232446
Incident
Jun 25, 2008
Mileage
51,697 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 12, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS FUTURA GLS SUPER SPORT, SIZE P225/60R15 TIRES. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS ALSO BUBBLING, SPLITTING, AND HAD CRACKS ON THE SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES BOUNCED AND SQUEAKED MORE WHILE DRIVING GREATER THAN 40 MPH. THE OTHER THREE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS THE WORST. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,415 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,415.

NHTSA ID
10205472
Incident
Aug 20, 2007
Mileage
142,415 mi
Suspension
Filed May 29, 2007

OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT TWO DAYS, I NOTICED A SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. ON THE SECOND DAY, I NOTICED UPON APPROACHING THE TRUCK THAT THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER WAS ALMOST TOUCHING THE TIRE. REMOVING THE WHEEL, I DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER SPRING SEAT HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS THIRTY DEGREES FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THE SHEET METAL IN THE SEAT CRUMBLED IN MY HAND WHEN I TOOK HOLD OF IT, AND THE HOUSING WAS TORN 75% OF THE WAY THROUGH FROM FRONT TO BACK. AT HIGH SPEED, THIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEATH TRAP. I NOTE 15 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN YOUR DATABASE. LEFT SIDE SPRING SEAT IS PERFECT AND INTACT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10191991
Incident
May 29, 2007
Mileage
81,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 21, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THROUGH AN ALLEYWAY, A FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER SIDE DASH PANEL AREA WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE FIRE DAMAGE; AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10173978
Incident
Nov 16, 2006
Mileage
99,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 13, 2006

TRUCK OIL PRESSURE SUDDENLY DROPPED VERY LOW. TRUCK BEGAN MAKING KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE HEAD AREA. DISASSEMBLY OF OIL PAN, OIL PUMP, AND OIL PUMP TUBE SCREEN REVEALED COMPLETE BLOCKAGE OF SCREEN FROM OIL PAN GASKET MATERIAL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10173388
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
83,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 31, 2006
Fire reported

MY 1992 FORD RANGER SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6, 2006. THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AND WOULDN'T START. I LEFT IT OVERNIGHT AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE POLICE AT 5 A.M IN THE MORNING SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. APPARENTLY IT HAD CAUGHT FIRE (WHILE IT WAS OFF) AND COMPLETELY TOTALED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, LEAVING ME AT A COMPLETE LOSS (INSURANCE DID NOT COVER THIS TYPE OF CLAIM). BEING A 19 YEAR OLD IN COLLEGE THIS CAME AS A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE FINANCIALLY. FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL NEVER DRIVE A FORD AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY JUNKYARD, WHERE THE BRAND NEW 1,000 CLUTCH AND NEW TIRES WERE REMOVED AND SOLD FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S PROFIT. I GOT NOTHING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10164036
Incident
Jun 6, 2006
Mileage
125 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 30, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND A BRICK WALL. *AK *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10113646
Incident
Feb 11, 2005
Mileage
91,649 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2004

THE STARTER SOLENOID CLIP CONNECTOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START UP AGAIN UNTIL PART IS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10097064
Incident
Oct 18, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 23, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH, MY REAR TIRE CAME APART AND TOTALLED THE BED OF MY TRUCK AND BROKE THE BRAKE LINE AND NEARLY CAUSED A ROLLOVER. THIS WAS THE FOURTH OF THE SET OF TIRES TO COME APART OR DEVELOP A BUBBLE.

NHTSA ID
10051017
Incident
Nov 11, 2003
Mileage
106,291 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 10, 2003
Fire reported

1992 FORD RANGER HAD FIRE IN IGNITION WIRING HARNESS, BELOW DASH AND MOUNTED TO STEERING COLUMN. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041575
Incident
Oct 6, 2003
Mileage
39,781 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 17, 2003

RIGHT FRONT UPPER SPRING SEAT BRACKET (PART NO. 5A318) HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING BODY TO DROP ONTO FRONT TIRE. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH A THICK PLASTIC COATING ON THE PART ALLOWED MOISTURE TO BE TRAPPED CAUSING PREMATURE RUSTING. UPPER PART OF SPRING SEAT BRACKET PUSHED THROUGH FENDER LINER INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN VIEWING THE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR TRUCK THERE APPEAR TO BE NUMEROUS SIMILAR EVENTS ON THE APPARENT DEFECTIVE RIGHT FRONT UPPER SPRING SEAT BRACKET. *JB

NHTSA ID
10039053
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
Mileage
71,470 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 3, 2003
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IDLING SMOKE COMES FROM BOTH THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE HOOD. NO FIRES AS OF YET BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BEFORE THE TRUCK BURNS DOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10037100
Incident
Sep 2, 2003
Mileage
53,645 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 13, 2003
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10025986
Incident
Jul 4, 2003
Mileage
74,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 17, 2003

DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED OFF FROM THE INSIDE CABLE. WHILE OPENING THE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10024261
Incident
Jun 17, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Jun 17, 2003

INSIDE DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER WORKS DUE TO A BROKEN CABLE LINKAGE DURING COLD WEATHER. FORD SAYS MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL GROUP. OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR AGAIN. IF MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL GROUP IT WOULD MEAN THAT IT HAS THE UPDATED CABLE, YET THIS "UPDATED" CABLE ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF BREAKING. WHY NOT A RECALL ON THE UPDATED CABLE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T? *JB

NHTSA ID
10023256
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
Mileage
82,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 20, 2003

THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10020211
Body & structureSuspension
Filed May 20, 2003

I OWN 92 FORD RANGER. LAST THURSDAY,5/15/2003, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICED MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER THAN THE REST OF THE TRUCK. AFTER I PARKED AT WORK I INVESTIGATED AND NOTICED THAT THE SHOCK/SPRING TOWER WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT WAS ALMOST READY TO FALL OFF. THE SPRING WAS BENT BACKWARDS AND THE SHOCK WAS BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM. AT THE FORD DEALER, THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY ONLY MAKE THAT PART FOR THE RIGHT SIDE? THE LEFT SIDE LOOKS LIKE BRAND NEW. APPARENTLY ONLY THE RIGHT ( PASSENGER ) SIDE RUSTS OUT AND NOT THE LEFT. IT SEEMS THAT METAL IS INFERIOR AND CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FORD MUST KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY ONLY MAKE THE PART FOR ONE SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER. I CAN'T FIND ANY RECALL INFO ON THIS. BESIDES THE $800.00 COST TO REPAIR, THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018966
Incident
May 14, 2003
Mileage
102,680 mi
Suspension
Filed May 19, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT LEAF SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER FELL APART DUE TO RUSTED MOUNT ATTACHMENTS. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020107
Incident
May 19, 2003
Interior & seats
Filed May 13, 2003

WHILE DRIVING MY 1992 FORD RANGER XLT PICK-UP TRUCK THE DRIVERS SEAT MECHANISM WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY ACTION TO INITIATE THE FAILURE EMITTED A NOISE AND SUDDENLY FAILED. MY TORSO IMMEDIATELY FELL BACKWARDS AS THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AVOID ANY ACCIDENT, COLLISION OR INJURY SAVE FOR A BIT OF A STRAIN ON MY ABDOMINAL MUSCLES WHICH WAS NOT SERIOUS. THE SEAT WILL NOT RETURN AND STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION NOR WILL IT LATCH DOWN SECURELY (TO PREVENT FROM SLIDING FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS). THE FAILURE HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE WITHOUT REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT SHOULD THE FAILURE HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY OTHER TIME I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DAMAGE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. IF THIS EVENT CAN HAPPEN IN OTHER SUCH VEHICLES OWNERS SHOULD BE WARNED TO INSPECT THIS MECHANISM FOR WEAR OR WHATEVER CAUSED IT TO FAIL. ALSO I AM RELUCTANT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BY REPLACING IT WITH A USED SEAT SINCE A USED PART MAY BE JUST AS UNRELIABLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEW PARTS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM FORD IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE INOPERATIVE DRIVERS SEAT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10018624
Incident
May 9, 2003
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 22, 2003

THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS RUSTED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10017392
Incident
Apr 22, 2003

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.

Narrow this down by component

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .