VehicleVerdict

1992 Ford Ranger problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 1992 Ford Ranger sits mid-pack among Ranger years: 231 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 159, with 6 recalls and one closed investigation. Complainants reported 16 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (44), suspension (34), and visibility & wipers (22), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

231

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

1

Investigations

16

Crash-involved

35

Fires reported

16

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1992 compare to other Ranger years?

See all Ranger years to avoid →

What are the most common 1992 Ford Ranger problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System4419%
Suspension3415%
Visibility & Wipers2210%
Tires & Wheels219%
Engine209%
Brakes188%
Body & Structure156%
Transmission146%
Fuel System115%
Seats73%
Speed Control73%
Lighting42%
Latches & Locks31%
Steering31%
Seat Belts21%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)21%
Other21%
Trailer Hitch10%
Airbags10%

Does the 1992 Ford Ranger have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

01X001000Tires & WheelsMay 22, 2001 · 13,000,000 units

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.

Consequence

SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

00T005000Tires & WheelsAugust 21, 2000 · 14,400,000 units

Defect

TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.

Consequence

IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

98E010000BrakesApril 8, 1998 · 23,500 units

Defect

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BRAKE ROTORS FOR USE ON CERTAIN FORD AND MAZDA TRUCKS. CRACKED CASTINGS CAUSED CRACKS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE ROTOR HAT OR AROUND THE STUD HOLE.

Consequence

LOSS OF BRAKING CAN RESULT.

Remedy

AIMCO WILL REIMBURSE CONSUMERS/INSTALLERS FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT ROTORS AND INSTALLATION. CONSUMERS ARE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE ROTORS WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED/INSTALLED FOR REPLACEMENT.

96V024001BrakesFebruary 5, 1996 · 108,000 units

Defect

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

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.

92V006000Body & StructureJanuary 14, 1992 · 190,000 units

Defect

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

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, DROVE DOWN BLOCK AND NOTICED SMOKE, PULLED VEHICLE OVER, LIFTED HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES NEAR IGNITION AREA, WENT TO NEIGHBOR AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT DID NOT HELP, CONSUMER DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE.*AK *JB

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · May 9, 1996 · fire

I HAVE A 1992 FORD RANGER THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING TOWER MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE FRONT SHOCK AND SPRING HAVE DROPPED MAKING THE TRUCK UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE BRAKE LINE WAS SMASHED WHEN IT GAVE WAY. MY BOYFRIEND ALSO HAD A 1992 FORD RANGER THAT THIS HAPPENED TO CAUSING HIM TO WRECK AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · September 2, 2010 · crash

CONSUMERS DASH AREA BURNED DOWN OVERNIGHT. THE STEREO AND HEATER COMPARTMENT AREA ALSO MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IN THE OFF POSITION.*AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · August 16, 1996 · fire

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

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · January 1, 1996 · crash

VEHICLE HAS A DEFECT IN THE VALVE TRAIN, THE VALVE TAPPET HOLES THAT ALLOW THE OIL TO FLOW THROUGH ARE SMALLER THAN THE NEW FORD TAPPET HOLES. THIS CAUSED THE ROLLER ROCKER ARM FULCRUMS TO FAIL AS WELL AS THE VALVE COVER GASKET.29113 DUP OF 524264; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 28, 1997

1992 Ford Ranger — common questions

Is the 1992 Ford Ranger reliable?

It is close to typical for the Ranger: 231 NHTSA complaints, 6 recalls, and 1 investigation on file.

What are the most common 1992 Ranger problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (44 complaints), suspension (34 complaints), visibility & wipers (22 complaints).

Does the 1992 Ford Ranger have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1992 Ford Ranger. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1992 Ford Ranger under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Ford Ranger years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Ranger years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 1998, 2001, 1997, 1996, 1994, 2004, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2019, 2008, 2006, 2003, 2007, 1993, 2011, 2020. The cleanest record among Ranger years belongs to 2017.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.