1989 Ford Ranger Problems & Complaints

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH HERCULES H/P 4000 TIRES, SIZE: 215/70R14 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS CRACKING AND EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,400.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE FR380 TIRES, SIZE P215/70/R14. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE ALMOST FLAT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, HE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD LINES WERE BECOMING LOOSE AND APPEARED TO BE PEELING OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS 12,781. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 118,000.

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

ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER HOOD RIGHT SIDE RANDOMLY BURST INTO FLAMES IN MY GARAGE.....= = ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOAST...FAN BLADE IN A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR ALONG WITH MOST OF THE GRILLE AND HEAD LAMP.=.GARAGE----SMOKE DAMAGED,,,,,PUSHED IT OUT WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FIRE DEPT PUT IT OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TRANSPORTED TO A DEALER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NO CURRENT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

ON A RELATIVELY COLD AND RAINY EVENING, I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT AND ATTENDED AN EVENT LASTING A COUPLE OF HOURS. AFTER THE EVENT I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE. I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT 15 MPH THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AND CAME TO A CORNER, AND APPROACHING THE CORNER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I FIRST TOUCHED THE BRAKES THEY GRABBED HARD, SENDING ME INTO A SLIDE WHICH SENT MY VEHICLE THROUGH A FENCE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOTHING TO HELP. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE RELATED TO NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 601043, FORD TSB #985A36. I TALKED TO THE DEALER SHORTLY AFTER THIS HAPPENED, AND THEY SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY FORD TRUCKS AND THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN TO EXPECT SUCH A BRAKE CONDITION ANY TIME IT IS COLD AND WET AND USE BRAKES/ACCELERATOR SIMULTANEOUSLY TO WARM/DRY BRAKES.

CONSUMER STATES THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS BLOW OUT OF POSITION WHILE DRIVING 45MPH AND OVER, CAUSING DANGER WHILE CHANGING LANES, THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR DOES THIS ONLY ON HOT DAYS. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS BLOW OUT OF POSITION WHILE DRIVING 45MPH AND OVER, CAUSING DANGER WHILE CHANGING LANES, THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR DOES THIS ONLY ON HOT DAYS. *SLC

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

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

WHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL DIE. WHEN IT DIES IT'S HARD TO STEER. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT COULD BE THE IGNITION MODULE.*AK THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN TURNING SHARP CURVE AND WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT. *YH

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

THE IGNITION FAILED ON A COUNTRY ROAD GOING UPHILL AND AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD. SEVERAL VEHICLES STOPPED BEHIND ME, INCLUDING A SCHOOL BUS, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AND WOULD NOT PASS ME BECAUSE OF LIMITED VISABILITY. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO SART MY PICKUP THREE MEN CAME BY IN A OFFERRED TO PUSH ME OFF OF THE ROADWAY SO THAT I NO LONGER IMPEDED TRAFFIC. I REPLACE THE INGNITION MODULE MYSELF WITH AN AFTER MARKET UNIT AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS TO DATE.*AK

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AND DAMAGED LEFT FRONT OF VEH 1. THIS LOSS INVOLVES FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES AND THEN NI IS INTERESTED IN PURSUING SUBROGATION. (CLAIM# 40-2069-856) *MW

TIRES HAD PROPER INFLATION WHEN TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R21570R14 )

LEFT HOME IN MORNING TO GO TO WORK. IN FIRST 200 YARDS FELT BUMP, BUMP, BUMP IN STEERING. STOPPED AND LOOKED AT LEFT FRONT TIRE. TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM CARCASS FOR ABOUT SIX INCHES ALONG EDGE OF TIRE AS PART OF A ONE FOOT LONG BULGE ABOUT HALF THE TREAD SURFACE IN WIDTH. STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING IN GAP AND SOME WIRES WERE BROKEN. HAD NOTICED PREVIOUS DAY THAT STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TIRES ARE NOT WORN OUT - ABOUT 1/8 IN TREAD LEFT. BOUGHT TRUCK USED WITH 30K MILES. DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE ORIGINAL TIRES OR NOT. HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS TELL ME WHERE TO SEND THEM.( DOT NUMBER: W2HVM0019H TIRE SIZE: P215/70R14 )

LEFT HOME IN MORNING TO GO TO WORK. IN FIRST 200 YARDS FELT BUMP, BUMP, BUMP IN STEERING. STOPPED AND LOOKED AT LEFT FRONT TIRE. TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM CARCASS FOR ABOUT SIX INCHES ALONG EDGE OF TIRE AS PART OF A ONE FOOT LONG BULGE ABOUT HALF THE TREAD SURFACE IN WIDTH. STEEL BELT WAS SHOWING IN GAP AND SOME WIRES WERE BROKEN. HAD NOTICED PREVIOUS DAY THAT STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TIRES ARE NOT WORN OUT - ABOUT 1/8 IN TREAD LEFT. BOUGHT TRUCK USED WITH 30K MILES. DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE ORIGINAL TIRES OR NOT. HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS TELL ME WHERE TO SEND THEM.( DOT NUMBER: W2HVM0019H TIRE SIZE: P215/70R14 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R21570R14 )

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R21570R14 )

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

WHEN BACKING OUT THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER NOTICED RUST ON THE PAVEMENT. INSPECTED VEHICLE AND NOTICEDT THAT STEEL SPRING WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE SUSPENSION , RUSTED OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION, TURNED OFF FOR AROUND OR ABOUT TWO HOURS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN WIRE WHICH SHORTED OUT. CONSUMER ALSO VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. 8AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DRIVER SMELLED GAS, PULLED OVER AND WITHIN 1 MINUTE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES WHICH STARTED UNDERNEATH HOOD. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ,STARTED SMELLING GAS AND PULLED OVER, WITHIN 1 MINUTE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHICH STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, ALSO, THERE 1S VIBRATION/JERKING AND A GRINDING NOISE. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT. VHEICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE DIED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, BROKEN CRIMP HOOKS THAT HOLD THE PLASTIC HALF OF THE SWITCH TO THE METAL HALF. MJS

THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP WHILE BRAKING AND TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING CONSUMERS TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN THE TRUCK SLIDING AND HITTING A BRIDGE SHOULDER RAIL. NLM

VEHICLES VIBRATES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH AND RUMBLING NOISE.

VEHICLES VIBRATES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH AND RUMBLING NOISE.

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

REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT WEATHER OR IF IT IS SAFE TO RIDE A CHILD IN AN EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. *AK

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED FROM ITS MOUNTING LOCATION ON THE FIREWALL. AFTER INSPECTING THE ASSEMBLY IT APPEARES AS IF THE WELD THAT SECURES THE MOUNTING BRACKET TO THE FIREWALL FAILED. THERE WERE NO REINFORCING ELEMENTS IN PLACE TO PREVENT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FROM DETACHING. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER; AT THE TIME I WAS SURROUNDED BY TRAFFIC GOING ABOUT 50-60MPH. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT WON'T RETRACT.CONSUMER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, AND EVENTUALLY IT STOPS PULLING. CONSUMER HAD TO REBUILT TRANSMISSION TWICE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS HAVE BROKEN . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

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

WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN DEC. OF 96. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

FUEL TANK LEAKS. *AK

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

SHOULDER AND SEATBELTS ARE LOOSE AND DONT RETRACT ALL THE TIME. HAS NOT GONE TO DEALER. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE MANUAL DOOR LOCK STICKS/JAMS, LOCKING OCCUPANTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

ENGINE HEADS CRACKED. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BEING RELEASED. *AK

DIFFICULTY IN STARTING VEHICLE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUING TO TURN OVER WHILE IN POSTION.*AK

ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.

THROTTLE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, ENGINE ACCELERATED, DRIVER FORCED TO DRIVE INTO NEIGHBOR'S TRUCK, NO PRIOR WARNING.*AK

DUE TO THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL SEPARTING FROM THE AXEL THE CONSUME HAD A ACCIDENT.*AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, WIRING AROUND THE BATTERY, VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES, ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT SECTION OF VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS. *DH

ONE OF THE SEAT TRACK ON DRIVERS SIDE BROKE, RESULTING IN POOR PERFORMANCE.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WILL OCCASIONALLY RELEASE AUTOMATICALLY FROM LOCKED POSITION/THROWN TO POSITION FURTHEST FROM STEERING WHEEL. *AK

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

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

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED FLYWHEEL. *AK

TRUCK WAS PARKED FOR THREE WEEKS, CONSUMER CAME BACK THE INSTRUMENT WAS BURNED OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *A

UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE *AK

UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE *AK

UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE*AK

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON THE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE SYSTEM WILL NOT KICK IN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON THE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE SYSTEM WILL NOT KICK IN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

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

ABS: REAR ANTI LOCK BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL; RELY ON FRONT BRAKES ONLY; OWNER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF FAILURE UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TT

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

SEMI-METALLIC BRAKE DEVELOP HEAT, WARPING ROTORS. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 468584) *AW

THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND IS VERY BAD ON THE TRUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

WHEN DRIVING THE SIDE MIRROR ON EACH DOOR STARTS MOVING . TT

THE FRONT LEFT DISC BRAKE WARPED AND IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE PISTON KEPT CRUMPLING AND IT WAS DUE TO STICKING PADS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

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

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT IS NOT WORKING. TT

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

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

RADIATOR COOLING FAN DEVELOPED CRACKED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. TT

HOOD IS TOO SHORT IN WIDTH.

FRONT BUMPER IS TOO LONG. *SKD

DRIVER'S DOOR FLEW OPEN DURING IMPACT OF ABOVE MENTIONED ACCIDENT.

DRIVER'S SEAT SEPARATED FROM SEAT TRACK DURING ACCIDENT, THROWING DRIVER BACK INTO REAR GLASS, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *SKD