IllustrationPROBLEM HAS PERSISTED REGARDLESS OF REPLACEMENTS, VERY DANGEROUS. OVERALL, HEAT UP OF ENGINE, ETC SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR FACTOR.*AK
1987 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1987 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 50 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports14 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
50 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WILL NOT STAY LATCHED... EITHER IT WILL NOT LATCH AT ALL, OR WILL LATCH AND THEN COME UN-LATCHED AS I AM DRIVING.. THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED, AND ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. *AK
WHEN THE FTI MODUAL WENT OUT I WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK TRYING TO PULL THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS NO PWR STEERING OR BRAKES, THE EMERGENSY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE TRUCK.
ELECTRICAL COMPUTER SHORT OUT WAS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF VEHICLE FIRE. *MJS
GAS MILEAGE HAS DECREASED TO 6 MILES PER GALLON. NO FUEL LEAKS HAVE BEEN FOUND. BASIC PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED SUCH AS FUEL FILTER, PLUGS AND WIRES, AIR FILTER. TIMING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND SET CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, NONE OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE IMPROVED THE GAS MILEAGE.
BALL JOINT DID NOT CONTAIN GREASE FITTINGS RESULTING IN RUSTING.
THE PAINT ON MY TRUCK STARTED PEALING ABOUT 2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE / WENT TO DEALER SAID (S.O.L.) WARRANTY OVER. I HEARD THERE IS ACLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM IWOULD LIKE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS THANKS
STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
487V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 4, 1987
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
87V140000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Sep 4, 1987
WHEEL LUG NUT CONE ANGLES DO NOT MATCH LUG NUT SEATING ANGLES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NUTS COULD LOOSEN IN SERVICE CREATING POTENTIAL FORWHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM TRUCK.
Remedy: REPAIR TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS.
87V075000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
May 26, 1987
THE BUCKLE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ANCHORED TO THE FLOOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WOULDNOT WITHSTAND A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT LOAD AND WOULD BE A POTENTIAL FOR PERSONALINJURY.
Remedy: INSPECT AND MAKE PROPER INSTALLATION OF SEAT BELT AND BUCKLE ANCHOR BOLTS, IF NECESSARY.
87V070000 · Equipment:other:labels
May 18, 1987
STICKERS CONCERNING HANDLING AND MANEUVERABILITY WHICH ARE AFFIXED TO DRIVERS SUN VISOR SLEEVES DO NOT MEET CRITERIA FOR PERMANENT ADHESION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT MEET FORMATS SPECIFIED BY PARTS 573 AND579 OF 49CFR.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED NEW SUN VISOR SLEEVES WITH ALL APPLICABLE DECAL INFORMATION PERMANENTLY AFFIXED.
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
4PE92029 · Whl Separation/torque Loss
Opened Mar 16, 1992 · Closed Aug 31, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA90042 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE89129 · Gearshift Lever Breaks
Opened Jun 7, 1989 · Closed Mar 23, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUMMARY: CONSUMERS ALLEGE THAT GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLESEQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE, RESULTING IN INABILITYTO SHIFT GEARS.ADDITIONALLY, FRACTURE MAY OCCUR AT A LOCATION WHICHALLOWS TRUNNION PIN TO FALL INTO GEARSHIFT MECHANISM, POSSIBLY LOCKING UPTHE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.===
EA88033 · Under Seat Fires
Opened May 11, 1988 · Closed Jan 23, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available