Your vehicle report
1987 Ford Ranger
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 50
- Received Jan 1995 to Aug 2011
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Vehicle catches fire from wiring13 complaints · 26% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Seat belt fails to latch or retract8 complaints · 16% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline5 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #87V139000Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
- Recall #87V140000Wheel lug nut cone angles do not match lug nut seating angles.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 4 crashes, 14 fires, 8 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 3 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 50 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 13 | 26% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 8 | 16% | – | NHTSA recall #87V075000 |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 5 | 10% | – | NHTSA recall #87V139000 |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #87V139000September 4, 19873,600,000 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Coupling could disengage due to fuel pressure,vibration, and engine movements; this would cause loss of fuel which, inpresence of an ignition source, creates a fire risk.
Remedy
Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
NHTSA recall #87V140000September 4, 19871,220 vehicles affected
wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Wheel lug nut cone angles do not match lug nut seating angles.
Nuts could loosen in service creating potential forwheels to separate from truck.
Remedy
Repair to prevent loosening of lug nuts.
NHTSA recall #87V075000May 26, 198713,430 vehicles affected
seat belts: front: anchorage
The buckle portion of the seat belt assembly may not have been properly anchored to the floor.
If this condition exists, the seat belt assembly wouldnot withstand a substantial impact load and would be a potential for personalinjury.
Remedy
Inspect and make proper installation of seat belt and buckle anchor bolts, if necessary.
NHTSA recall #87V070000May 18, 198717,420 vehicles affected
equipment: other: labels
Stickers concerning handling and maneuverability which are affixed to drivers sun visor sleeves do not meet criteria for permanent adhesion.
Vehicles do not meet formats specified by parts 573 AND579 of 49CFR.
Remedy
Owners will be mailed new sun visor sleeves with all applicable decal information permanently affixed.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1987 Ford Ranger.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN