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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 →
89Owner complaints

Model-year median: 144

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
27
198535
198650
198789
198873
1989105
1990132
1991
Compare all Ranger years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
32Engine And Engine Cooling
13Power Train
9Seat Belts
9Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
6Structure
4Visibility
4Steering
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Suspension
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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
89,000 miles · Jul 18, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

DRIVING 60 MPH, A LOSS OF POWER WAS NOTICED. THIS BECAME A LOUD EXHAUST NOISE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, PUTTING UP THE HOOD TO SEARCH FOR PROBLEMS, AND FINDING NO EVIDENCE OF ANY, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. A FIRE STARTED WHICH COMPLETELY DESTROY…

Read full complaint

DRIVING 60 MPH, A LOSS OF POWER WAS NOTICED. THIS BECAME A LOUD EXHAUST NOISE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, PUTTING UP THE HOOD TO SEARCH FOR PROBLEMS, AND FINDING NO EVIDENCE OF ANY, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. A FIRE STARTED WHICH COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343825

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE ENGINE BY THE FUEL RAIL. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 26, 2005. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TRIED TO START IT THEN IT BACK FIRED AND CAUGHT FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10131091

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE VALVE LIFTER IS MAKING A LOUD TAPPING NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #839498

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

SILICONE GASKET MATERIAL DETERIORATES AND CLOGS OIL PUMP PICKUP.

NHTSA ODI #781212

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED, OIL KEEPS FILLING UP WITH GAS AND BLOWS GRAY SMOKE.

NHTSA ODI #780674

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

GENERAL ENGINE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN OEM OIL PAN GASKET FAILS AND PLUGS OIL PUMP PICKUP AND PRODUCES A LOW OR NO OIL PRESSURE SITUATION INTERNALLY. SB BC307291-228, 94-1-11 AND 94-6-15 RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #540527

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR UNDER.

NHTSA ODI #523515

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING IN HOT CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816547

Mileage unknown · May 30, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

AFTER 4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985042

Mileage unknown · May 13, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #984303

Official recalls

1

87V141000 · 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

2

PE92029 · 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