1989 Ford Ranger: common problems

Owners of the 1989 Ford Ranger filed 73 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 73
involving a crash: 6

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
2 Engine and cooling 15% of all complaints
3 Fuel system 12% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
5 Tires 10% of all complaints
6 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
7 Seat belts 4% of all complaints
8 Seats 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Electrical system: 15 complaints (21% of all).
Engine and cooling: 11 complaints (15% of all).
Fuel system: 9 complaints (12% of all).
Service brakes: 7 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Tires: 7 complaints (10% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2.3 L · petrol · 4 cyl
2.9 L · petrol · 6 cyl
automatic, 4-speed
manual, 5-speed

Drive: RWD, AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 73 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire13 · 18%
rust, corrosion6 · 8%
stalls while driving4 · 5%
engine failure or replacement2 · 3%
seat belts2 · 3%
transmission slipping2 · 3%
vibration2 · 3%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 1%
fuel system, fuel smell1 · 1%
jerking, harsh shifts1 · 1%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	15	0
Engine and cooling	11	0
Fuel system	9	0
Service brakes	7	1
Tires	7	2
Powertrain	5	0
Seat belts	3	0
Seats	3	1
Structure	3	0
Vehicle speed control	3	1
Engine	2	0
Latches, locks, linkages	2	0
Suspension	2	0
Visibility	2	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

On a relatively cold and rainy evening, I parked my vehicle in a parking lot and attended an event lasting a couple of hours. After the event I returned to my vehicle to leave. I was travelling about 15 mph through the parking lot and came to a corner, and approaching the corner applied the brakes to slow down.
Service brakes · crash · 2004-05-25 · NHTSA complaint #10073088
Tires had proper inflation when tread separation caused loss of control and accident. ( dot number: tire size: r21570r14 )
Tires · crash · 2000-09-18 · NHTSA complaint #731067
Throttle stuck in open position, engine accelerated, driver forced to drive into neighbor's truck, no prior warning.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 1996-08-02 · NHTSA complaint #800407
Due to the front right wheel separting from the axel the consume had a accident.
Wheels · crash · 1996-07-30 · NHTSA complaint #800209
Driver's door flew open during impact of above mentioned accident.
Seats · crash · 1995-02-16 · NHTSA complaint #478087
Vehicle body and structural frame have abnormal corrosion and rust and critical components have failed. Cab is attached to frame with four bolts. The metal around the front left bolt had completely rusted away. Cab is therefore only held down now by three bolts.
Engine · 2019-08-22 · NHTSA complaint #11245886
While driving at low speeds, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact, a certified independent mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle as having secondary ignition failure. The vehicle was not repaired.
Electrical system · 2017-05-18 · NHTSA complaint #10986335
Tl* the contact owns a 1989 ford ranger equipped with hercules h/p 4000 tires, size: 215/70r14 (na). The contact stated that the front driver side tire was cracking and experienced tread separation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was recommended to replace all the tires.
Tires · 2015-09-08 · NHTSA complaint #10762300

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

199510
199622
19973
19983
199913
200012
20012
20021
20041
20071
20081
20092
20151
20171
20191

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 4,331 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Ranger has 194 complaints (44 years in the data). This year has 73, below average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Ford Ranger?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 73. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (18%), rust, corrosion (8%), stalls while driving (5%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Ford Ranger?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1989 Ford Ranger from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1989 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.