FaultScore

1990 Ford Ranger acceleration problems

13 of the 141 complaints about the 1990 Ford Ranger are about the throttle and cruise control — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 123,000 miles.

D

13

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 8 61.5%
Accelerator Pedal 3 23.1%
Cruise Control 1 7.7%
Cables 1 7.7%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Ranger year

1990 13 2.6%
1993 24 4.7%
1994 24 4.7%
1995 21 4.2%
1996 36 7.1%
1997 24 4.7%
1998 75 14.8%
1999 55 10.9%
2000 55 10.9%
2001 57 11.3%
2002 51 10.1%
2003 40 7.9%
2004 19 3.8%
2019 12 2.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 60,000 miles Bonafay, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CLUTCH PEDAL FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REAPIR SHOP THEY STATED THAT THE PUSH ROD FALLS OFF OF THE PEDAL, WHICH PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM SWITCHING GEARS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH A NEW MASTER CYLINDER WITH A PUSH ROD. THE REPLACEMENT PART MET FACTORY REQUIREMENTS, BUT HAD A PLASTIC PUSH ROD. THE CONTACT WAS SKEPTICAL OF THE METAL PUSH ROD BEING REPLACED WITH A PLASTIC PUSH ROD. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000. UPDATED 2/2/09 *CN UPDATED 02/04/09.

NHTSA complaint #10251793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD RANGER. THE PART FOR RECALL NUMBER 05S28 IS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART SHOULD ARRIVE IN MARCH OF 2008, BUT IT IS NOT DEFINITE. THE CONTACT FELT THIS EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED IF THE CONTACT IS INCONVENIENCED WITHOUT THE USE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,758.

NHTSA complaint #10211159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,000 miles Falls Church, VA Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS MORE THAN LIKELY OF AN ELECTRICAL NATURE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT RARELY USED THE CRUISE CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10166092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 168,000 miles American Canyon, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SUDDENLY AND THEN STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A FISHING LINE WRAPPED AROUND THE BRAKE PADS, ROTOR AND DRUM WHICH NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. A MONTH AND A HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING 45-50MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATER PEDAL DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT EFFORT. TO CONTROL THE SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE DEPRESSED HOWEVER THE BACK WHEELS BEGIN TO SPIN WITHOUT GRIPPING AND LUNGES FORWARD. TO MAKE THE VEHICLE STOP THE IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED OFF. THERE IS A RECALL #89V234000 PERTAINING TO FUEL THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL. THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10163727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ostcuta, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE 50-60 MPH WITHOUT APPLYING ACCELERATOR. THEN, SHUTDOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8015674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Syracuse, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AFTER RELEASING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE THROTTLE REMAINED OPENED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA complaint #718156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln Park, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH TO 45 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT OR RED LIGHT VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD.

NHTSA complaint #842345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mountain Grove, MO Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ACCELERATOR STUCK IN FULL THROTTLE POSITION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #508473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochdale, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

WHEN ENGINE IS RESTARTED AFTER BEING SHUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES, THROTTLE STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA complaint #518681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brook Park, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

THROTTLE: PULLING VEHICLE OUT OF PARKING LOT AND GAS PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. REMOVED FOOT FROM PEDAL , BUT PEDAL WAS STILL TO THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA complaint #813581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glenshaw, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE, WENT TO FULL THROTTLE AND CRASHED. TT DEALER REPLACED AIR VALVE, HOWEVER DID NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD CORRECT PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #972922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chesterland, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE; AFTER SHIFTING, REMOVE FOOT FROM PEDAL; PEDAL DOES NOT RETURN TO IDLE; LURCHED FORWARD AT HIGH RPM'S. TT

NHTSA complaint #969861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amherst, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE FREEZES IN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA complaint #478108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Ford Ranger problems

← Full 1990 Ford Ranger report