13 of the
88 complaints about the 1989 Ford Ranger are about the
engine — 15% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
102,000 miles.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11245886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesElizabeth, WA
ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10986335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TRUCK QUITS IN HIQH HEAT,FORD NO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #731591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Presque IS, ME
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD FOUR ENGINE REPLACEMENTS WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
NHTSA complaint #537494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cedar Point, KS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEADS CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #511743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orange, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #507559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wooster, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS.
NHTSA complaint #504904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cockeysvil, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
METAL AROUND THE CENTER HUB OF FLYWHEEL BROKE, CAUSING DRIVE TRAIN TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #504465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Onekama, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PAN SEALANT PIECES FOUND IN OIL PUMP, CLOGGING IT, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #500823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cockeysville, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FLYWHEEL CRACKED. RESULTIN GIN TRANSMISSION FAILUR/VEHICLE ASCTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL.
NHTSA complaint #502991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakville, CT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE HEADS CRACKED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO MIX WITH OIL. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #485189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW City, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOTH CYLINDER HEADS CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX W/OIL.
NHTSA complaint #482303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grayson, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
RADIATOR COOLING FAN DEVELOPED CRACKED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. TT
NHTSA complaint #959766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.