FaultScore

1990 Ford Ranger engine problems

16 of the 141 complaints about the 1990 Ford Ranger are about the engine — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 138,000 miles.

A

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 8 50.0%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2 12.5%
Belts AND Associated Pulleys 2 12.5%
Radiator Assembly 1 6.3%
Cooling System 1 6.3%
FAN 1 6.3%
Engine 1 6.3%

Engine & Cooling across every Ford Ranger year

1988 15 2.6%
1989 13 2.2%
1990 16 2.7%
1991 16 2.7%
1992 20 3.4%
1993 14 2.4%
1994 27 4.6%
1995 17 2.9%
1996 36 6.1%
1997 19 3.2%
1998 57 9.7%
1999 51 8.7%
2000 43 7.3%
2001 35 6.0%
2002 46 7.8%
2003 27 4.6%
2004 24 4.1%
2005 17 2.9%
2006 20 3.4%
2019 32 5.4%
2020 18 3.1%
2021 15 2.6%
2025 10 1.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 275,000 miles Pensacola, FL

ENGINE

WHEN VEHICLE IS EITHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION THE PASSENGER HEAD LAMP MELTS, SOMETHING IS CAUSING THAT ONE LIGHT TO OVER HEAT AND HAS MELTED THE ENTIRE HEAD UNIT. I HAVE VERY LITTLE VISIBILITY WITH HEAD LAMPS ON. BATTERY IS CONSTANTLY CORRODED, NO MATTET HOW MUCH I CLEAN IT. AC/DEFROST DOES NOT WORK. RIGHT BLINKER DOES NOT STAY ON, SHUTS OFF WITH THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL. GAUGES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY NOR DO THE LIGHT INDICATORS. CHECK ENGINE LINE COMES ON AFTER EXCEEDING 30MPH AND WHEN I HAVE IT CHECKED IT'S ONLY THE O2 SENSOR. TRUCK GETS HOT BUT DOES NOT OVER HEAT AND ALL FLUIDS ARE TOPPED OFF. WHEN IN MOTION I CAN SMELL THE EXHAUST AND CAN FEEL THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE COMING THROUGH THE GEAR SHIFT MANIFOLD. AT TIMES DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT IN REVERSE. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT SHUT PROPERLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS WRECKED AND THE DOOR WAS POINT OF IMPACT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM PREVIOUS OWNER FOR $1,100 AND HE WAS UNABLE TO TELL ME ANYTHING REGARDING THE VEHICLE EXCEPT THAT IT DIDNT HAVE A SPARE OR OWNER MANUAL. MY FUEL IS LEAKING AND I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE POINT OF ESCAPE. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE STARTER AND SOLENOID TWICE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER REPLACING THOSE ITEMS IT STILL WOULDN'T START UNTIL I HAD PULLED BY A U-HAUL AND I HAD TO POP THE CLUTCH TO GET IT TO START. I HAVE BOUGHT OVER 6 HEAD LAMPS IN TWO WEEKS ALONE. I WORK AT NIGHT AND IM CONSTANTLY GETTING PULLED OVER; SO I EXPLAIN TO THE OFFICERS WHAT'S HAPPENING. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK SINCE FEBRUARY AND DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO DO UNTIL I TALKED TO A MECHANIC. THE TAILGATE DOES NOT OPEN AND I HAD TO TIE MY MUFFLER UP BECAUSE IT CAME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME AND DRAGS THE GROUND. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA complaint #11231208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Panama City, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

SERPINTINE BELT BROKE OFF REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, FIRESTONE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, PAINT FADED HAD TO BE REPAINTED AT MY EXPENSE THEN THE PAINT FADED AGAIN, BRAKES STOPED WORKING HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE PARTS AT MY EXPENSE, WATER PUMP FAILED PAID BY FORD UNDER WARANTY BUT FORD TRIED TO SAY NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE PUMP, I HAD TO SHOW THE MECHANIC THE CHECK HOLE WAS LEAKING. WINDOWS HAVE NOT WORKED FOR YEARS, GOT THEM FIXED AT MY EXPENSE BUT WINDOWS STILL FAIL TO OPERATE, DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR YEARS CANOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN MUST LEAVE DOORS UNLOCKED, TRUCK HAS HAD A SLIGHT OIL LEAK FOR YEARS, FUEL PUMP STARTED LEAKING GAS, FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK, GAS TANK HAD TO BE REMOVED TO FIX AT MY EXPENSE, FUEL GAUGE DIDNT WORK FOR YEARS UP UNTILL FUEL PUMP WAS FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10213661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belfari, WA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING COULD STOP AT STOP SIGN OR AT A RED LIGHT AND ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT THEN STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL RELATED TO IT.

NHTSA complaint #893757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boswell, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT START, CONSUMER HAD TO ORDER THE PART BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF STOCK. NLM

NHTSA complaint #552544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson, NH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

AT 53,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN ,CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE LEAKAGE DUE TO TWO CRACKED BOLT HEADS, OIL PAN GASKET DISSOLVED CAUSING THE OIL PUMP TO MALFUNCTION. *AK.ET.

NHTSA complaint #832292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Etna, NH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRACKED/WARPED ENGINE HEAD.

NHTSA complaint #513915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Etna, NH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRACKED/WARPED ENGINE HEAD.

NHTSA complaint #808328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vista, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

COOLING FAN FAILED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #510828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Appomattox, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FAILED MODULATOR VALVE.

NHTSA complaint #500886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Appomattox, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

THREE BELTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #500886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenville, SC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #500608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iowa City, 00

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

REPLACED THERMOSTAT. DUE TO OVERHEATED ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #964700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iowa City, 00

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

INSTALLED NEW MUFFLER DUE TO A HOLE IN MUFFLER.

NHTSA complaint #964700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iowa City, 00

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

REPLACED CORRODING TAIL PIPE.

NHTSA complaint #964700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iowa City, 00

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

REPLACED ENGINE PISTON RINGS.

NHTSA complaint #964700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Iowa City, 00

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

REPLACED LEAKING CRANKSHAFT SEALS.

NHTSA complaint #964700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Ford Ranger problems

← Full 1990 Ford Ranger report