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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

13 reports
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60,000 miles · Dec 15, 2008
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CLUTCH PEDAL FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REAPIR SHOP THEY STATED THAT THE PUSH ROD FALLS OFF OF THE PEDAL, WHICH PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM SWITCHING GEARS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CLUTCH PEDAL FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REAPIR SHOP THEY STATED THAT THE PUSH ROD FALLS OFF OF THE PEDAL, WHICH PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM SWITCHING GEARS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH A NEW MASTER CYLINDER WITH A PUSH ROD. THE REPLACEMENT PART MET FACTORY REQUIREMENTS, BUT HAD A PLASTIC PUSH ROD. THE CONTACT WAS SKEPTICAL OF THE METAL PUSH ROD BEING REPLACED WITH A PLASTIC PUSH ROD. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,000. UPDATED 2/2/09 *CN UPDATED 02/04/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10251793

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD RANGER. THE PART FOR RECALL NUMBER 05S28 IS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART SHOULD ARRIVE IN MARCH OF 2008, BUT IT IS NOT DEFINITE. THE CONTACT FELT THIS EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED IF THE CONTACT IS INC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD RANGER. THE PART FOR RECALL NUMBER 05S28 IS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART SHOULD ARRIVE IN MARCH OF 2008, BUT IT IS NOT DEFINITE. THE CONTACT FELT THIS EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED IF THE CONTACT IS INCONVENIENCED WITHOUT THE USE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,758.

NHTSA ODI #10211159

123,000 miles · Aug 21, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlFire

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS MORE THAN LIKELY OF AN ELECTRICAL NATURE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THERE WERE NO P…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS MORE THAN LIKELY OF AN ELECTRICAL NATURE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT RARELY USED THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10166092

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 · Aug 7, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE 50-60 MPH WITHOUT APPLYING ACCELERATOR. THEN, SHUTDOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015674

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AFTER RELEASING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE THROTTLE REMAINED OPENED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718156

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH TO 45 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT OR RED LIGHT VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842345

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN ENGINE IS RESTARTED AFTER BEING SHUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES, THROTTLE STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #518681

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

THROTTLE: PULLING VEHICLE OUT OF PARKING LOT AND GAS PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. REMOVED FOOT FROM PEDAL , BUT PEDAL WAS STILL TO THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813581

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

ACCELERATOR STUCK IN FULL THROTTLE POSITION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #508473

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