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1990 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Ford Ranger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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 105 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports15 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
1,000 miles · Jan 4, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

SERPINTINE BELT BROKE OFF REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, FIRESTONE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, PAINT FADED HAD TO BE REPAINTED AT MY EXPENSE THEN THE PAINT FADED AGAIN, BRAKES STOPED WORKING HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE PARTS AT MY EXPENSE, WATER PUMP FAILED PAID BY FORD UNDER WARANTY BUT FORD TRIED TO SAY NOTHING WAS WRONG W…

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SERPINTINE BELT BROKE OFF REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, FIRESTONE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, PAINT FADED HAD TO BE REPAINTED AT MY EXPENSE THEN THE PAINT FADED AGAIN, BRAKES STOPED WORKING HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE PARTS AT MY EXPENSE, WATER PUMP FAILED PAID BY FORD UNDER WARANTY BUT FORD TRIED TO SAY NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE PUMP, I HAD TO SHOW THE MECHANIC THE CHECK HOLE WAS LEAKING. WINDOWS HAVE NOT WORKED FOR YEARS, GOT THEM FIXED AT MY EXPENSE BUT WINDOWS STILL FAIL TO OPERATE, DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR YEARS CANOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN MUST LEAVE DOORS UNLOCKED, TRUCK HAS HAD A SLIGHT OIL LEAK FOR YEARS, FUEL PUMP STARTED LEAKING GAS, FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK, GAS TANK HAD TO BE REMOVED TO FIX AT MY EXPENSE, FUEL GAUGE DIDNT WORK FOR YEARS UP UNTILL FUEL PUMP WAS FIXED. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10213661

168,000 miles · Jul 27, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SUDDENLY AND THEN STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A FISHING LINE WRAPPED AROUND THE BRAKE PADS, ROTOR AND DRUM WHICH NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. A MONTH AN…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SUDDENLY AND THEN STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A FISHING LINE WRAPPED AROUND THE BRAKE PADS, ROTOR AND DRUM WHICH NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. A MONTH AND A HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING 45-50MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATER PEDAL DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT EFFORT. TO CONTROL THE SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE DEPRESSED HOWEVER THE BACK WHEELS BEGIN TO SPIN WITHOUT GRIPPING AND LUNGES FORWARD. TO MAKE THE VEHICLE STOP THE IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED OFF. THERE IS A RECALL #89V234000 PERTAINING TO FUEL THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL. THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10163727

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AFTER MARKET BRAKE PADS MANUFACTURERED BY PERFORMANCE FRICTION CORP 83 CARBON METALLIC HIGHWAY, CLOVER SC. 29710-0819 PHONE 803-222-2141, WERE DEFECTIVE. PADS CAME UNGLUED, AND RETAINING CLIP BROKE ON TWO SETS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877174

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. ALSO,CALIPERS LOCKED UP AND THE ROTORS WERE WORN. MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKES CALIPERS AND ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842315

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD PROBLEM WITH REAR BRAKE SHOES & WENT TO CHECK THEM OUT. NOTICED NO REAR BRAKES AT ALL. THE SOLENOID VALVE WAS CLOSED. WAS NOT ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH. HAD NO WARNING CONCERNING THE REAR BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE PARTS FOR THE BRAKES ARE ON BACK ORDER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841289

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING BRAKES TO PULSATE/VIBRATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #513016

Official recalls

3

91V189000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Nov 4, 1991

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.

90V044000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 1, 1990

THROTTLE LEVER MAY CONTACT THROTTLE BODY AIR INLET TUBE, WITH POTENTIAL FOR THROTTLE REMAINING OPEN FOLLOWING RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION COULD CREATE LACK OF CONTROLAND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE AIR INLET TUBE WITH NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT.

89V234000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Dec 22, 1989

THROTTLE LEVER MAY CONTACT THROTTLE BODY AIR INLET TUBE, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THROTTLE REMAINING OPEN FOLLOWING RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM THE FULL-THROTTLE POSTION IN TRUCKS WITH 4.0 L ENGINES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION COULD CREATE LACK OF CONTROLAND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE AIR INLET TUBE WITH NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT WITH AN INCREASED THROTTLE LEVER-TO-INLET TUBE CLEARANCE.

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

3

RQ97015 · Parking Pawl

Opened Oct 29, 1997 · Closed Apr 1, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARKING PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR UNINTENTIONALLY AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING INADVERTENTLY

PE92084 · Front Seat Track Failure

Opened Oct 23, 1992 · Closed Feb 26, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available

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