FaultScore

1991 Ford Ranger transmission problems

14 of the 145 complaints about the 1991 Ford Ranger are about the transmission — 10% of everything reported for this model year.

C

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Manual Transmission 4 28.6%
Clutch Assembly 3 21.4%
Automatic Transmission 2 14.3%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 7.1%
Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) 1 7.1%
Axle Shaft 1 7.1%
Floor Shift Assembly 1 7.1%
Axle Hubs 1 7.1%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Ford Ranger year

1988 11 1.3%
1990 11 1.3%
1991 14 1.7%
1992 14 1.7%
1993 21 2.5%
1994 51 6.0%
1995 24 2.8%
1996 31 3.7%
1997 44 5.2%
1998 68 8.0%
1999 74 8.7%
2000 71 8.4%
2001 57 6.7%
2002 64 7.5%
2003 17 2.0%
2004 27 3.2%
2019 92 10.8%
2020 47 5.5%
2021 56 6.6%
2022 17 2.0%
2024 25 2.9%
2025 12 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Philadelphia, PA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

CONSUMER PURCHASED MANUAL LOCKING HUBS FROM DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS THAT WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLE. AFTER MANUAL LOCKING HUBS WERE INSTALLED ON FRONT WHEELS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A TEST DRIVE. AFTER DRIVING FOR FIVE MILES AT A SPEED OF 10 TO 15 MPH, HOUSING FOR RIGHT/FRONT HUB CRACKED AND DISCONNECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.

NHTSA complaint #8002936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Haven, MI 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION AND THE TRANSMISSION REMAINED IN THE REVERSE GEAR. I BELEIVE THAT THIS IS AN FMVSS VIOLATION OF THE SHIFT /INDICATION SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #747550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Howell, MI

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CLUTCH WAS BAD DUE TO CRACK IN FIREWALL NOT ALLOWING FULL TRAVEL OF MASTER CYLINDER AND PROBLEMS SHIFTING. TRANSMISSION BEARINGS AND GEARS WORN OUT BEYOND REASONABLE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #719047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Howell, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CLUTCH WAS BAD DUE TO CRACK IN FIREWALL NOT ALLOWING FULL TRAVEL OF MASTER CYLINDER AND PROBLEMS SHIFTING. TRANSMISSION BEARINGS AND GEARS WORN OUT BEYOND REASONABLE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #719047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Howell, MI

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

CLUTCH WAS BAD DUE TO CRACK IN FIREWALL NOT ALLOWING FULL TRAVEL OF MASTER CYLINDER AND PROBLEMS SHIFTING. TRANSMISSION BEARINGS AND GEARS WORN OUT BEYOND REASONABLE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #719047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chico, CA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHEN PURCHASED VEHICLE ABS LIGHTS WERE ON AND STAYED ON. ALSO, CLUTCH BECAME INOPERABLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FIREWALL WAS CRACKED BROKEN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #856044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Butte, MT

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #713931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lawrence, KS

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MADE BY MAZDA) USED ON 3.0L AND 4.0L 2WD RANGERS LEAKS FROM THREE RUBBER PLUGS ON THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION BEHIND THE SHIFTER. THIS IS WELL KNOWN AMONG RANGER OWNERS. AFTER LEAKING VERY LITTLE FLUID, MY TRANSMISSION L

NHTSA complaint #710041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

DEFECT CAUSES SHIFING INTO ANY GEAR WHEN STOPPED , REPLACE CLUTCH TWICE, NO IMPROV.

NHTSA complaint #706864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

RIO Rancho, NM

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY

GEAR SHIFT KNOB FELL OFF IN DRIVERS HAND WHILE SHIFTING GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #535807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Gardner, ME

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH CYLINDER LOCATED AT THE BASE OF FIREWALL BROKE THROUGH THE FIREWALL, CAUSING THE GEAR TO BECOME STUCK. WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #834663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Charles, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

WHILE FULLY ENGAGED IN PARK, VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO DRIVE BY ITSELF, BEING BOTH IN PARK/DRIVE AND THE SAME TIME, BREAKING THE PARKING PAW AND SENDING THE VEHICLE FORWARD, STOPPING ONLY WHEN HUSBAND PUT BRAKES ON. WHEN CONTACTED FORD, THE CONSUMER WQW TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON THE TRUCK THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA complaint #810488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arcadia, OK Fire

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, PULLED OVER, FLAMES COMING FROM FOR FRONT VENT ON THE DASH. (TRANSMISSION) PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #985088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Taberg, NY

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

FACTORY INSTALLED WRONG CLUTCH/PRESSURE PLATE, CAUSING FAILURE. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #481637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Ford Ranger problems

← Full 1991 Ford Ranger report