IllustrationVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AT IGNITION WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WANTS $125 BEFORE LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FOUND THAT CONNECTOR ON TOP OF STEERING COLUMN IS COMPLETELY MELTED & IS BARE. *AK
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 reportsENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING, OTHER TIMES WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY, OTHER TIMES NOT. I'VE HEARD RUMORS THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE WORKS. I CHECKED THE FORD WEB AND FOUND NO RECALLS OF ANY SORT. *AK
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 76MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VEHICLE SWERVED AND FLIPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. FIRESTONE, P21575R15. FIRESTONE, WAS NOTIFIED, AND THERE WERE INJURIES.*AK
THREE OF FOUR TIRES HAVE FAILED, TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED A THUMPING NOISE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING (FIRESTONE FR480 215/70R14). NLM
RT FRONT UPPER SPRING /SHOCK MOUNT RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING SUSPENSION COLLAPSE AND SHOCK FAILURE - AT HIGHWAY SPEED - RUST WAS HIDDEN BY COATING ON PLATE - NO RUST ON BALANCE OF TRUCK. RUBBER BUMP STOP DESTROYED-NOT ABLE TO BE REPLACED, NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM FORD
THE VEHICLE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE MORNING WITH THE FRONT RIGHT FENDER RESTING ALMOST ON THE TIRE. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE SPRING SUPPORT BROKEN AND RESTING AGAINST THE AFT WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD FRONT END DAMAGE AND HAS BEEN RUST PROOFED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE SUPPORT APPEARES TO HAVE CORROSION FAILED. THE REPAIRING…
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THE VEHICLE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE MORNING WITH THE FRONT RIGHT FENDER RESTING ALMOST ON THE TIRE. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE SPRING SUPPORT BROKEN AND RESTING AGAINST THE AFT WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD FRONT END DAMAGE AND HAS BEEN RUST PROOFED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE SUPPORT APPEARES TO HAVE CORROSION FAILED. THE REPAIRING DEALER [FORD] HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE.
TRUCK WHILE PARKED IN DRIVE WAY CAUGHT ON FIRE IN IGNITION SWITCH AREA, BURNING STEERING COLUM, MELTED INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DASH PANEL INTO THE FLOOR, MELTED DRIVER DOOR PANEL AND HEAD LINER, ALSO BORKE WINDSHIELD DO TO HEAT.
FIRESTONE TIRE P235/70R15; HAVE THERE BEEN ANY TYPE OF RECALLS OF THIS TIRE. INSD STATES TREAD DID SEPARATE. (CLAIM# 36-A135-436) *MW
I WAS DRIVING FROM SACRAMENTO, CA TO FRESNO, CA. OUTSIDE OF MERCED, THE TOP LAYER OF MY TIRE PEELED OFF, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. THE TIRE FLAP SLAPPED INTO THE BACK REAR PANEL OF MY TRUCK, AND DAMAGED THE BACK PANEL, TAIL LIGHTS, AND TAILPIPE. I BELIEVE THAT ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE HAD I NOT JUST …
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I WAS DRIVING FROM SACRAMENTO, CA TO FRESNO, CA. OUTSIDE OF MERCED, THE TOP LAYER OF MY TIRE PEELED OFF, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. THE TIRE FLAP SLAPPED INTO THE BACK REAR PANEL OF MY TRUCK, AND DAMAGED THE BACK PANEL, TAIL LIGHTS, AND TAILPIPE. I BELIEVE THAT ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE HAD I NOT JUST BEEN RETURNING FROM A ADVANCED DRIVING SCHOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. WE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND TRIED TO GET THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO SUBROGATE THE CLAIM TO FIRESTONE, BUT FIRESTONE SAID THAT THEIR TIRE WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE TRUCK JUST TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THE TIRE MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE AND THAT I MIGHT WANT TO GET IT LOOKED AT. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CHECK IT OUT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: FR480 )
WE HAD JUST DEPARTED HOME AND HAD BEEN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN SEATTLE FOR A COUPLE OF MILES WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER POINTED OUT THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM. WE PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY SHORTLY AND SAW THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS IN BAD SHAPE. APPARENTLY, THE FORWARD BIAS OF WEIGHT MADE THIS UNNOTICEABLE TO US. WE HAD NOT SENSED ANY IM…
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WE HAD JUST DEPARTED HOME AND HAD BEEN ON INTERSTATE 5 IN SEATTLE FOR A COUPLE OF MILES WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER POINTED OUT THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM. WE PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY SHORTLY AND SAW THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS IN BAD SHAPE. APPARENTLY, THE FORWARD BIAS OF WEIGHT MADE THIS UNNOTICEABLE TO US. WE HAD NOT SENSED ANY IMPACT WITH A ROAD HAZARD BUT HAD TO ASSUME SUCH HAD OCCURRED. BY THE TIME WE HAD STOPPED THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY UNREPAIRABLE, BUT I COULD NOT SAY IF IT WAS DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN (7/30/99) TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE A NEW ATX TIRE WAS INSTALLED. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT RECALL THIS INCIDENT TOOK ON MORE SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR MINDS AND I HAVE TAKEN THE PRECAUTION OF PURCHASING NEW TIRES (NON-FIRESTONE) FOR THE TRUCK WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ANY RECALL OF THE SIZE ATX TIRES I HAD REMOVED. I THOUGHT IT A GOOD IDEA TO SEND YOU THIS INFORMATION TO ADD TO THE RESEARCH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 21575R15 )
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.