FORD RANGER · model year

1991 FORD RANGER

145 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991FORDRANGER carries 145 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 25 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 RANGER is visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior with 11 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (9) and tires:tread/belt (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1991 RANGER, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

145
Complaints
10
Crashes
25
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

145 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE9
TIRES:TREAD/BELT8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH7
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS7
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH5
SUSPENSION:FRONT5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION4
TIRES4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD3
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY3
STRUCTURE:BODY3

Recent Complaints

20120723FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 8/23/12 *CN

Mileage: 150,000

20120723FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 8/23/12 *CN

Mileage: 150,000

20110614SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAD DROPPED APPROXIMATELY FIVE INCHES FROM THE REGULAR POSITION AND THE FRONT FENDER WAS COVERING THE TOP OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING MOUNT WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOCAL AUTO SHOP WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

20110509FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP BECAME CORRODED AND WAS PARTIALLY FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IT WOULD CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STRAP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS TO THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,800 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20110324STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE FRAME HAS HORRIBLE CORROSION. ALL THE SPRING HANGERS ARE WERE FAILING BAD. I DON'T EVEN THINK IT CAN BE WELDED BECAUSE IT IS RUSTED FROM ONE END TO ANOTHER. FORD REALLY MESSED THIS ONE UP. AND WHY DO ALL THE FUEL GAUGES QUIT WORKING? *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20091127STRUCTURE

PEELING FACTORY PAINT PRIMARILY ON TOP SURFACES..I.E. HOOD, CAB ROOF, COWLING. I HAVE OWNED TRUCK SINCE 12/8/99 AND HAS HAD PROBLEM SINCE,IT HAS LOST NEARLY ALL PAINT ON ROOF , HOOD HAS ABOUT 1/3 LEFT. PRIMARILY LIFTS/PEELS WHEN WASHED OR WHEN LEFT OUT IN RAIN. HAS HAD BITS PEEL BACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MAINLY OCCURS THOUGH WITH WASHING. HAVE INQUIRED WITH DEALERS TO NO AVAIL. WAS TOLD BY ONE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THAT THE PERIOD FOR REPAIR OF CONDITION HAD PASSED. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOR HEARD ANYTHING FROM MFR REGARDING THIS ISSUE WHATSOEVER. *TR

20090527FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE DEFROSTER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY WIRE UNDER THE HOOD THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CLUTCH AND POWER STEERING WERE REPAIRED AND THE GAS LINE WAS CLEANED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/01/09

Mileage: 100,000

20041102SUSPENSION

THE CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURE FOR THE FRONT END SUSPENSION PART THAT WAS DISCONTINUED. *JB

Mileage: 42,000

20041006VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

BOTH MIRRORS FOLDED UP AGAINST THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. DRIVER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TWICE. HOWEVER, DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. *AK TRUCK IS IN GARAGE FROM 11-1 TOMAY 1. AND I STIKK ONLY GET1 YEAR TO 18 MONTHS PER MIRROR. I REALIZE THE VEHICLE IS 13 YEARS OLD AND REDESIGNING THE MIRROR IS NOT ANOPTION. HOWEVER, FORD MOTOR CORP SURELY COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRICE! RETAIL IS CLOSRE TO $7500 PER PIECE. I KNOW REDESIGNING IS OUT OF QUESTION, BUT FOR THOSE OF US THAT INTEND ON KEEPING OUR VEHICLES, THE COMPANY COULD REDUCE THE PRICE. *AK

20040715STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS MOTOR MOUNTS ARE RUSTING RIGHT OUT FROM THE FRAME. HE STATES HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. HE STATES HE HAS NOT SEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT HE DOES NOT THINK THIS IS NORMAL. *NM

20030611SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

RIGHT FRONT SPRING BRACKET RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING BODY TO DROP ONTO FRONT TIRE, AND I NOTICED THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND WAS WANTING TO KNOW IS FORD GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR ARE WE THE PUBLIC GOING TO GET STUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM ? *JB

Mileage: 58,212

20030424TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TRAVELING N ON I-95 ON 12/20/2002 AT APPROX 4 P.M. RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, BEAT AND DAMAGED FENDER; HOWEVER, TIRE MAINTAINED SAME PRESSURE. 1 WAS ASSISTED BY OFFICER K.R. MEARES OF TOBESON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT,TEL 910-671-3100. DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS------770783. *AK *NLM

20030110FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING OUT SIDE WHEN THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AS A RESULT. *JG *JB

Mileage: 50,000

20021209FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A FAILED IGNITION SWITCH, MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FAILED PART WAS NOT WORTHY OF ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE TO COMPENSATE FOR A VEHICLE DESTROYED BY FIRE. PH. CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *JB

20021030TIRES

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 70MPH, FELT THE FRONT STARTING TO VIBRATE. HAD PULLED OVER AND CHECKED TIRES. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A LARGE BUBBLE. THE TREAD WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE. WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER AND THE SPARE TIRE REPLACED THE BLOWN TIRE. NOT ORIGINAL TIRES. FIRESTONE FR 480 P215/70R14 TS

20021018FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

CONSUMER STATED THAT A BATTERY EXPLODED, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. MANUFACTURE OF BATTERY IS JOHNSON CONTROLS INC. /SEAR DIE HARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

20020913VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

BOTH MIRRORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONE TIME BECAUSE THEY DO NOT STAY POSITIONED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE MIRRORS DO NOT STAY IN POSITIONED DRIVERS HAVE NO VIEW OF REAR LANES, THE MIRRORS FOLD BACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *YH

20020905SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT SHOCK MOUNT COMPLETELY RUSTED. *YH

20020904TIRES:SIDEWALL

TIRES WERE PURCHASE AT COSTCO WHOLESALE. THESE TIRES SEEM TO HAVE A WEAKER SIDEWALL THAN THE OTHERS TIRES THEY SALE. POSSIBLY A SAFETY HAZARD. THESE TIRES WERE WARRANTED TO 80,000 MILES. S.*AK

20020531STRUCTURE:BODY

FIREWALL SEPARATING AND CRACKING AT CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

Compare 1991FORDRANGER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 FORD RANGER have?
The 1991 FORD RANGER has 145 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 25 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 FORD RANGER?
The most-complained component for the 1991 FORD RANGER is VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1991 FORD RANGER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.