IllustrationINTERMITTENT ENGINE STALL.
1985 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1985 Ford Ranger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 27 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports8 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reportsWHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
OWNER STATES UPON TURNING HEATER ON THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND THERE IS FAULTY WIRING AND THIS COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN PARK IN IDLE POSITION, JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO REVERSE. *AK
REAR AXLE FAILED. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601571) *DH
LEFT REAR AXLE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING WHEELS TO FALL OFF, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DH
OUTER STEERING RING IS COMING APART, WOBBLING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. AREA DEALERS ARE AWARE OF SAME FAILURES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE ORIGINATING AT THE IGNITION HOT WIRE/SWITCH AREA. (PER ARSON INVESTIGATOR). *AK
DASH FIRE. *DH
Official recalls
185V045000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 17, 1985
THE NYLON FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES ARE IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALONG THE FRAME SIDE RAIL AND COULD CONTACT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUCH CONTACT COULD CAUSE ABRASION OF THE LINES AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL LEAKAGE CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REROUTE OR REPLACE AFFECTED FUEL LINES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP85020 · Stalling When Cold
Opened Apr 11, 1985 · Closed Jun 6, 1985
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
STALLING WHEN COLD