IllustrationVEHICLE PARKED AND BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH.*AK
1988 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 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: 8 of 89 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports23 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
32 reportsNEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH WIRING WENT BAD IN HARNESS AND BURNT OUT SOLENOID AND STARTER.*AK
TRUCK WAS PARKED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED OUT, CONSUMER SAID THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH , DEALER SAID NOT IN THE RECALL, PURCHASED TRUCK USED . PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
STARTED TO STAY ON WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSTALLATION TO MELT.*AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE WIRE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT, GOT HOT . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
UPON STARTING RADIO/WINDSHIELD WIPER/DASH INSTRUMENTS WORKED, BUT WHEN MOTOR STARTS EVERY THING TURNS OFF, REPAIR WIRING AT IGNITION SWITCH AND REPLACED SWITCH.
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE DASH TO MELT, WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *AK
THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE UP IN THE MORNING, AND STARTED TO DRIVE TO WORK, HE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND THEN A FLAME OF FIRE APPEARED.*JB
RANGER WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE (ELECTRICAL SHORT). PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
187V141000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components
Sep 4, 1987
TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A TENDENCY FOR REAR BRAKE LOCKUP WOULD EXIST PARTICULARLY DURING HEAVY BRAKE APPLICAION WITH A LIGHTLY LOADED TRUCK. ALSO, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD BE REQUIRED IF THE BRAKE MODULATION (PUMPING THE BRAKES) IS USED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING A HARD BRAKE STOP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPLACE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES.
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
2PE92029 · 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