FaultScore

1989 Ford Ranger brake problems

10 of the 88 complaints about the 1989 Ford Ranger are about the braking system — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 150,000 miles.

D

10

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 6 60.0%
Pads 2 20.0%
Disc 1 10.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 10.0%

Brakes across every Ford Ranger year

1988 11 1.2%
1989 10 1.1%
1991 13 1.4%
1992 18 2.0%
1993 67 7.3%
1994 130 14.2%
1995 71 7.8%
1996 83 9.1%
1997 53 5.8%
1998 71 7.8%
1999 105 11.5%
2000 88 9.6%
2001 63 6.9%
2002 24 2.6%
2003 38 4.1%
2004 24 2.6%
2005 11 1.2%
2019 21 2.3%
2021 15 1.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 150,000 miles Covington, WA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

NHTSA complaint #10073088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Covington, WA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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.

NHTSA complaint #10073088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oakville, CT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

NHTSA complaint #548892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Victoria, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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.

NHTSA complaint #852060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Victoria, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

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.

NHTSA complaint #852060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

NHTSA complaint #979672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

NHTSA complaint #979672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Helen, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

NHTSA complaint #977888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Jame, MO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

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

NHTSA complaint #483707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bedford, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

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

NHTSA complaint #970456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Ford Ranger problems

← Full 1989 Ford Ranger report