IllustrationUPON STARTING RADIO/WINDSHIELD WIPER/DASH INSTRUMENTS WORKED, BUT WHEN MOTOR STARTS EVERY THING TURNS OFF, REPAIR WIRING AT IGNITION SWITCH AND REPLACED SWITCH.
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
What owners actually said
89 reportsRIGHT SIDE REAR EXTERIOR PANEL RUSTED FROM INSIDE OUT, AT TOP OF THE PANEL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN SMOKES, AS RESULT HAZARD AND TURN SIGNAL ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK
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
REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE IS SET TOO TIGHTLY OR IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. *DH
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
AFTER 4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *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