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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 →
27Owner complaints

Model-year median: 144

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
198312
198427
198535
198650
198789
1988
Compare all Ranger years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
12Power Train
5Visibility
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2
All reported categories
Suspension
2Steering
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1

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 reports
Mileage unknown · May 2, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK, PARKED VEHICLE, WENT INSIDE OF HOUSE, HALF HOUR TO HOUR LATER VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983954

Mileage unknown · May 1, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

BACKING VEHICLE UP, FRIEND STOPPED BY, SMELLED WIRING BURNING, SOON SMOKE APPEARED IN STEERING COLUMN, SOON AFTER FIRE ENGULFED THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983882

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDERHOOD; INSURANCE CO. TRACED FIRE BACK TO STEERING COLUMN AREA; ALL WIRES BURNED UP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983575

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 1996
VisibilityFire

HEATER MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #504025

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 1996
VisibilityFire

LEAVES FELL INTO THE HEATER/AC AIR INTAKE GRILLE, COMING IN CONTACT WITH RED HOT RESISTOR COILS, CAUSING THE LEAVES TO BURST INTO FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #503531

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE CARBURETOR RADIATOR HAD TO REPLACE ABOUT THREE TIME PURCHASE CAR USED. TT

NHTSA ODI #962860

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1995
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED (OTHER VEHICLE FROM 480880). *AK

NHTSA ODI #479214

Official recalls

1

85V045000 · 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

1

DP85020 · 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