IllustrationENGINE GASKET BLEW, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK AND THE OIL PUMP TO STOP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
1991 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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 132 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 →
- Suspension. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 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 reports21 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
132 reportsRQ97015, WHILE IN PARK POSITION AND IN A SLIGHT INCLINE THE VEHICLE HAD A NOISE AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN FIREWALL WHICH CAUSES PROBLEMS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE RIGHT FRONT UPPER SPRING MOUNT LOCATED IN THE LOWER SUSPENSION HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CLUTCH CYLINDER LOCATED AT THE BASE OF FIREWALL BROKE THROUGH THE FIREWALL, CAUSING THE GEAR TO BECOME STUCK. WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
THE COOLING FAN FAILED WHILE DRIVING @62MPH ON THE FREEWAY AT AN EVEN SPEED IN O.D. THE BLADE CAME OFF THE FAN DAMAGING THE RADIATOR AND CUTTING COOLING SYSTEM HOSES AND CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONG UNIT HAD TO BE REPAIRED AS A HOSE WAS SEVERED AND COMPLETE SYSTEM DRIED (DRYER) AND RESERVI…
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THE COOLING FAN FAILED WHILE DRIVING @62MPH ON THE FREEWAY AT AN EVEN SPEED IN O.D. THE BLADE CAME OFF THE FAN DAMAGING THE RADIATOR AND CUTTING COOLING SYSTEM HOSES AND CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONG UNIT HAD TO BE REPAIRED AS A HOSE WAS SEVERED AND COMPLETE SYSTEM DRIED (DRYER) AND RESERVICED WITH FREON.
WHILE STATIONARY IN MY 1991 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB PICKUP WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKELED I ENDURED A 50+ MPH REAR END COLLISION. THE MOMENTUM OF THE COLLISION THREW ME FORWARD AND AS I RECOILED BACK AGAINST THE SEAT, THE SEAT COLLAPSED AND ALLOWED ME TO BE THROWN BACKWARDS WITH SUCH FORCE AS TO BREAK THE REAR WINDOW WITH MY HEAD…
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WHILE STATIONARY IN MY 1991 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB PICKUP WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKELED I ENDURED A 50+ MPH REAR END COLLISION. THE MOMENTUM OF THE COLLISION THREW ME FORWARD AND AS I RECOILED BACK AGAINST THE SEAT, THE SEAT COLLAPSED AND ALLOWED ME TO BE THROWN BACKWARDS WITH SUCH FORCE AS TO BREAK THE REAR WINDOW WITH MY HEAD.
DURING ROUTINE WASHING OF VEHICLE PAINT PEELED OFF CAB. SMALL AMOUNTS AT FIRST, THEY BECAME LARGER OVER TIME. SOON, ABOUT 1/2 HALF OF PAINT ON ROOF OF CAB HAD PEELED OFF. DECIDED TO SEEK REMEDY AT DEALER WHO SAID NOT COVERED, INSURANCE COMPANY SAID IT IS MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND NOT COVERED. I'VE BEEN PESIMMISTIC EVER SINCE A…
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DURING ROUTINE WASHING OF VEHICLE PAINT PEELED OFF CAB. SMALL AMOUNTS AT FIRST, THEY BECAME LARGER OVER TIME. SOON, ABOUT 1/2 HALF OF PAINT ON ROOF OF CAB HAD PEELED OFF. DECIDED TO SEEK REMEDY AT DEALER WHO SAID NOT COVERED, INSURANCE COMPANY SAID IT IS MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND NOT COVERED. I'VE BEEN PESIMMISTIC EVER SINCE AND RECENTLY THE PRIMER COATING HAS FAILED AND THE ROOF IS NOW BEGINNING TO RUST.
THIS VEHICLE HAS DELAMINATION OF THE CLEARCOAT ON THE HOOD AND THE BED RAILS. THIS IS NOW STARTING TO OCCUR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS I HAVE SEEN MANY FORD VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT.
OIL PAN GASKET DESINTEGRATES AND PLUGS OIL PUMP.
Official recalls
296V024001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic
Feb 5, 1996
THE STUDS WHICH ATTACH THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY CAN DEVELOP STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRACK OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH STUDS FRACTURING. THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VACUUM BOOSTER, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PREVENTING THE SERVICE BRAKES FROM ACTIVATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.
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.
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
4RQ97015 · 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
EA95018 · Separation Of Master Cylinder
Opened Jun 19, 1995 · Closed Apr 2, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI WILL REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED.
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