The 1991 Ford Ranger has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 900,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC96V0240011996-02-05108,000 affected
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.
POWER TRAIN91V1890001991-11-04792,000 affected
Defect
WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.
Consequence
DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.
Complaints by component
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
9
1fires
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
8
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
7
7fires1injuries
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
7
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
6
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
5
4fires
SUSPENSION:FRONT
5
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
4
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints145
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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”
“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…”
“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…”
“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.…”
“The consumer made contact with the manufacture for the front end suspension part that was discontinued. *jb”
“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…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95018 Opened 1995-06-19 · closed 1996-04-02
SEPARATION OF MASTER CYLINDER
FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI…
InvestigationEA95018 Opened 1995-06-19 · closed 1996-04-02
SEPARATION OF MASTER CYLINDER
FORD CONTINUES TO SUDY THE PROBLEM ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE WHY STUD FRACTURES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.LIKEWISE, ODI CONTINUES GATHERING INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE RECALL SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THE SCOPE SHOULD BE EXPANDED, ODI…
InvestigationPE92029 Opened 1992-03-16 · closed 1992-08-31
WHL SEPARATION/TORQUE LOSS
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE92084 Opened 1992-10-23 · closed 1993-02-26
FRONT SEAT TRACK FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationRQ97015 Opened 1997-10-29 · closed 1999-04-01
PARKING PAWL
WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARKING PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR UNINTENTIONALLY AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING INADVERTENTLY
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 Ford Ranger as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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