IllustrationCONSUMER STARTED THE AUTOMOBILE AND IMMEDIATELY IT TOOK OFF, GOING THROUGH HIS YARD AND THEN INTO HIS NEIGHBOR'S YARD. VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT HIT A POLE. NO INJURIES. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN A LOCKED POSITION ALL OF THE TIME. *AK *YC
1992 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 22 of 189 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 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports32 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
189 reportsTHERE IS A DEFECT IN THE SIDE MIRRORS OF THE '92 RANGER. THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN POSITION AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS OF USE. I'VE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF MIRRORS (BOTH SIDES). MY SIDE MIRRORS "COLLAPSE" WHEN I DRIVE OVER 45 MPH RESULTING IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION-I HAVE NO REAR VISIBILITY TO THE SIDES. I HA…
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THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE SIDE MIRRORS OF THE '92 RANGER. THEY LOSE THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN POSITION AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS OF USE. I'VE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF MIRRORS (BOTH SIDES). MY SIDE MIRRORS "COLLAPSE" WHEN I DRIVE OVER 45 MPH RESULTING IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION-I HAVE NO REAR VISIBILITY TO THE SIDES. I HAVE DIFFICULTY CHANGING LANES. I'VE SPOKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MY BEST OPTION WOULD BE TO BUY AFTERMARKET MIRRORS (NOT FORD/MOTORCRAFT), UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND COMPATIBLE AFTERMARKET MIRRORS. THIS HAS BEEN A NAGGING PROBLEM FOR ME AS IT APPEARS IT HAS BEEN FOR OTHERS. *AK
THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND ROOF OF THE TRUCK IS PEELING. THE DEALER CALLED IT PAINT DELAMINATION AND ADMITTED IT AS A FACTORY DEFECT. HOWEVER SINCE MY 3YR/30000MI WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED THERE WAS NOTING THEY COULD DO. I PERSUDED THE ISSUE WITH ANOTHER DEALER AND GOT THE SAME STORY. I CALLED THE FACTORY CONSUMER SERVICE LINE AND…
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THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND ROOF OF THE TRUCK IS PEELING. THE DEALER CALLED IT PAINT DELAMINATION AND ADMITTED IT AS A FACTORY DEFECT. HOWEVER SINCE MY 3YR/30000MI WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED THERE WAS NOTING THEY COULD DO. I PERSUDED THE ISSUE WITH ANOTHER DEALER AND GOT THE SAME STORY. I CALLED THE FACTORY CONSUMER SERVICE LINE AND THEY REFERED ME TO THE REAGIONAL MANAGER FOR THE NORTHWEST. HE NEVER RETURNED ANY OF MY ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT HIM. I RETURNED TO MY ORIGNAL DEALER, GOT THE SAME STORY, BUT WHEN THEY LOOKED UP THE VIN# FOR MY TRUCK THEY HAD IT REGISTERED TO SOMEONE ELSE AND TOLD ME SINCE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I ARGUED THE FACT THAT I WAS THE ORIGNIAL OWNER AND COULD PROVE IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT WOULD NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. I LEFT THE ISSUE ALLONE FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS UNTIL I READ AN ARTICAL IN THE OCT 1999 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS. SO I DECIDED I WOULD PICK UP THE FIGHT AGAIN. THANKS FOR LISTENING.
OIL PRESSURE FLUCTUATED THEN DROPPED. RATTLING HEARD IN VALVES AFTER PRESSURE DROP.
THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RETURN. WHEN STARTING THE TRUCK FUEL SPRAYS EVERYWHERE. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND AFTER OWNER STARTED SMELLING FUEL. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK
TRANSMISSION PLASTIC FUNNEL BEARING SNAPPED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE RUNNING BROAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OFF, TORN APART ON THE BACK TIRE, DAMAGED THE WHEEL WELL AND THE REAR LIGHT. MANUFACTURER/DEALER ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
AFTER EXHAUST HAD BEEN DONE THE SHOP TOWER MOUNT RUSTED COMPLETELY. *AK
WHEEL BEARING WAS NOT GREASED ENOUGH, WHICH WAS THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE WHEEL FALLING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
RIGHT FRONT SPRING BRACKET RUSTED OUT AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING FENDER TO DRAG TIRE WHILE PULLING OUT GARAGE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER . *AK
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.
92V006000 · Structure:body:door
Jan 14, 1992
WATER CAN ENTER THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CABLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THE WATER IN THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CABLE CAN FREEZE AND CAUSE THE LATCH MECHANISM TO MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE MALFUNCTION OF THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CAN RESULT INTHREE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS: 1) THE DOOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE RELATCHED, 2) THEINSIDE DOOR HANDLE CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND 3) THE DOOR COULD APPEAR TO BELATCHED WHEN IT IS NOT, ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY IF IT IS JARRED,AND INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE ADJACENT SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: REVISED DOOR RELEASE CABLES AND WATER SHIELDS WILL BE INSTALLED.
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
1EA95018 · 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.