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 reports
125 miles · Jul 31, 2006
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed ControlFire
MY 1992 FORD RANGER SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6, 2006. THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AND WOULDN'T START. I LEFT IT OVERNIGHT AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE POLICE AT 5 A.M IN THE MORNING SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. APPARENTLY IT HAD CAUGHT FIRE (WHILE IT WAS OFF) AND COMPLETELY TOTALED THE…
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MY 1992 FORD RANGER SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6, 2006. THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AND WOULDN'T START. I LEFT IT OVERNIGHT AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE POLICE AT 5 A.M IN THE MORNING SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. APPARENTLY IT HAD CAUGHT FIRE (WHILE IT WAS OFF) AND COMPLETELY TOTALED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, LEAVING ME AT A COMPLETE LOSS (INSURANCE DID NOT COVER THIS TYPE OF CLAIM). BEING A 19 YEAR OLD IN COLLEGE THIS CAME AS A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE FINANCIALLY. FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL NEVER DRIVE A FORD AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY JUNKYARD, WHERE THE BRAND NEW 1,000 CLUTCH AND NEW TIRES WERE REMOVED AND SOLD FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S PROFIT. I GOT NOTHING. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10164036
91,649 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND A BRICK WALL. *AK *NM *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10113646
100,000 miles · Oct 18, 2004
Electrical System
THE STARTER SOLENOID CLIP CONNECTOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START UP AGAIN UNTIL PART IS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10097064
106,291 miles · Dec 23, 2003
Tires
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH, MY REAR TIRE CAME APART AND TOTALLED THE BED OF MY TRUCK AND BROKE THE BRAKE LINE AND NEARLY CAUSED A ROLLOVER. THIS WAS THE FOURTH OF THE SET OF TIRES TO COME APART OR DEVELOP A BUBBLE.
NHTSA ODI #10051017
39,781 miles · Oct 10, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
1992 FORD RANGER HAD FIRE IN IGNITION WIRING HARNESS, BELOW DASH AND MOUNTED TO STEERING COLUMN. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041575
71,470 miles · Sep 17, 2003
Seats
RIGHT FRONT UPPER SPRING SEAT BRACKET (PART NO. 5A318) HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING BODY TO DROP ONTO FRONT TIRE. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH A THICK PLASTIC COATING ON THE PART ALLOWED MOISTURE TO BE TRAPPED CAUSING PREMATURE RUSTING. UPPER PART OF SPRING SEAT BRACKET PUSHED THROUGH FENDER LINER INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. …
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RIGHT FRONT UPPER SPRING SEAT BRACKET (PART NO. 5A318) HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING BODY TO DROP ONTO FRONT TIRE. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH A THICK PLASTIC COATING ON THE PART ALLOWED MOISTURE TO BE TRAPPED CAUSING PREMATURE RUSTING. UPPER PART OF SPRING SEAT BRACKET PUSHED THROUGH FENDER LINER INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN VIEWING THE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR TRUCK THERE APPEAR TO BE NUMEROUS SIMILAR EVENTS ON THE APPARENT DEFECTIVE RIGHT FRONT UPPER SPRING SEAT BRACKET. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10039053
53,645 miles · Sep 3, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING AND/OR IDLING SMOKE COMES FROM BOTH THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE HOOD. NO FIRES AS OF YET BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BEFORE THE TRUCK BURNS DOWN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10037100
74,000 miles · Jul 13, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10025986
Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages
DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED OFF FROM THE INSIDE CABLE. WHILE OPENING THE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10024261
82,000 miles · Jun 17, 2003
Structure
INSIDE DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER WORKS DUE TO A BROKEN CABLE LINKAGE DURING COLD WEATHER. FORD SAYS MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL GROUP. OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR AGAIN. IF MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL GROUP IT WOULD MEAN THAT IT HAS THE UPDATED CABLE, YET THIS "UPD…
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INSIDE DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER WORKS DUE TO A BROKEN CABLE LINKAGE DURING COLD WEATHER. FORD SAYS MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL GROUP. OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR AGAIN. IF MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL GROUP IT WOULD MEAN THAT IT HAS THE UPDATED CABLE, YET THIS "UPDATED" CABLE ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF BREAKING. WHY NOT A RECALL ON THE UPDATED CABLE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T? *JB
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.
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
1
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.
1992 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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