A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 5Mar 2007
NHTSA investigations into the 1985 Ford Ranger
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP85020Opened 11 Apr 1985Closed 6 Jun 1985ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
STALLING WHEN COLD
STALLING WHEN COLD
Recalls on the 1985 Ford Ranger
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
07E064000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
Risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
98E010000
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BRAKE ROTORS FOR USE ON CERTAIN FORD AND MAZDA TRUCKS. CRACKED CASTINGS CAUSED CRACKS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE ROTOR HAT OR AROUND THE STUD HOLE.
Risk: LOSS OF BRAKING CAN RESULT.
85V045000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE NYLON FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES ARE IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALONG THE FRAME SIDE RAIL AND COULD CONTACT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUCH CONTACT COULD CAUSE ABRASION OF THE LINES AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL LEAKAGE CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 198504235 units in Canada
4X4 VEHICLES WITH 2.3L ENGINES AND ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION. THE NYLON FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES MAY BE IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALONG THE FRAME SIDE RAIL. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A MISROUTED LINE COULD MOVE OUT OF ITS INSTALLED POSITION AND COME IN CONTACT WITH A UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVE-SHAFT. SUCH CONTACT COULD RESULT IN ABRASION OF THE LINES AND EVENTUAL LOW PRESSURE FUEL LEAKAGE. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE WOULD EXIST.
Recall 1984029185 units in Canada
ON VEHICLES WITH FRONT-DRIVE AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS THE CAM IN THE FRONT HUB LOCKING MECHANISM MAY BE INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED. THE CAM COULD FRACTURE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONT DRIVE AXLES. IF A PIECE OF THE CAM BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE WHEEL HUB NUT IT COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY RESULT IN WHEEL SEPARATION AND POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH.
STREAM AND LIQUID CAME OUT OF HEATER SYSTEM, BURNED DRIVER'S LEG AND FOOT, CAN NOT USE HEATER.
NHTSA complaint #559346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grifton, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #808883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Springs, MDCrash
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
LEFT REAR AXLE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING WHEELS TO FALL OFF, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #506694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Palm, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #505009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FLFire
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
HEATER MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #504025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE ORIGINATING AT THE IGNITION HOT WIRE/SWITCH AREA. (PER ARSON INVESTIGATOR).
NHTSA complaint #985032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 27,000 milesMagnolia, AR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
STALLS AT ANY TEMPERATURE WHILE DRIVING. WHEN STOPPED I HAVE TO ALMOST FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL TO GET MOVING W/O STALLING. HEATER GETS ALMOST TOO HOT.
NHTSA complaint #10185272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STREAM AND LIQUID CAME OUT OF HEATER SYSTEM, BURNED DRIVER'S LEG AND FOOT, CAN NOT USE HEATER.
NHTSA complaint #559346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pacifica, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STALLED WHITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER WAS CRANKING ENGINE, BUT IT DID NOT START. CONSUMER REPLACED IGNITION MODULE. THEN,COULD START VEHICLE WITHOUT A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #880172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PLROVIED FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #872874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Laverkin, UT
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
3 TIRES WITHIN 3 MONTHS HAD TREAD COME OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: AUVRUR351 TIRESIZE: LT2.15/75R)
NHTSA complaint #732900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #714414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westhaven, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT ENGINE STALL.
NHTSA complaint #525123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grifton, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #808883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodville, OH
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #513963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Drift, KY
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR AXLE FAILED. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601571)
NHTSA complaint #507266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Drift, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #507266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
OWNER STATES UPON TURNING HEATER ON THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND THERE IS FAULTY WIRING AND THIS COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #806384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dryden, MI
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN PARK IN IDLE POSITION, JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #801148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Springs, MDCrash
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
LEFT REAR AXLE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING WHEELS TO FALL OFF, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #506694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spring Valle, CA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
OUTER STEERING RING IS COMING APART, WOBBLING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. AREA DEALERS ARE AWARE OF SAME FAILURES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #987001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Palm, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #505009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FLFire
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
HEATER MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #504025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE ORIGINATING AT THE IGNITION HOT WIRE/SWITCH AREA. (PER ARSON INVESTIGATOR).
NHTSA complaint #985032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milwaukie, ORFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK, PARKED VEHICLE, WENT INSIDE OF HOUSE, HALF HOUR TO HOUR LATER VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #983954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.