Your vehicle report
1992 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
- 189
- Received Jan 1995 to Jul 2015
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Vehicle catches fire from wiring30 complaints · 16% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Side mirrors give poor rear visibility17 complaints · 9.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Tires blow out or tread separates16 complaints · 8.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #96V024001The 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.
- Recall #92V006000Water 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.
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: 13 crashes, 32 fires, 16 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 17 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
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 | 17 |
| 1996 | 29 |
| 1997 | 13 |
| 1998 | 14 |
| 1999 | 26 |
| 2000 | 31 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 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 | 189 |
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 | 30 | 16% | – | |
| Side mirrors give poor rear visibility | 17 | 9.0% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 16 | 8.5% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 9 | 4.8% | – | |
| Coil springs break and puncture tires | 8 | 4.2% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 8 | 4.2% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 6 | 3.2% | – | NHTSA recall #92V006000 |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 5 | 2.6% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 5 | 2.6% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 5 | 2.6% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 5 | 2.6% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 4 | 2.1% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 4 | 2.1% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 3 | 1.6% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 3 | 1.6% | – |
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 #96V024001February 5, 1996108,000 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #92V006000January 14, 1992190,000 vehicles affected
structure: body: door
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.
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.
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 1992 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