The 1986 Ford Ranger has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,728,450 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
WIRING FOR THE POWER LUMBAR SEAT SYSTEM WAS ROUTED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SEAT CUSHION SPRINGS AND MAY BE ABRADED BY THE SPRINGS.
THIS COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH MAY CREATESUFFICIENT HEAT TO START A FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION PAD AND/OR TRIM COVER.
INSTALL A FUSE WITHIN THE POWER LUMBAR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT.
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.
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
NYLON FUEL LINES ON THE FUEL RETURN SIDE OF THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY MAY CRACK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LINE COULD LEAK AND, IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, CREATE…
REPLACE NYLON FUEL HOSES WITH RUBBER HOSES.
THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS INSULATION MAY BE DAMAGED DUE TO COPPER SPIKES PRODUCED DURING THE WELDING OF ITS WIRES. THIS CREATES A POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE WIRES WHICH ENERGIZE THE FUEL PUMP, CAUSING SOME FUEL INJECTORS TO OPEN, DISCHARGING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE. …
REPAIR WIRING HARNESS, CHECK ENGINE AND CATALYST FOR DAMAGE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Driver's side seat belt does not latch properly. *jb”
“Vehicle stalled while driving. Also, saw flames coming from under the dash. Vehicle was totalled.*ak”
“Vehicle stalled while driving. Also, saw flames coming from under the dash. Vehicle was totalled.*ak”
“No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak”
“On 2/25/2000 I bought these tires at sears auto center in findlay ohio. They have not maintained the correct air presure. I have to put air in them every other day . They are not safe to drive on because they are constantly loosing air pressure. I have been back to sears on…”
“Abs system is working intermittently. Also, sun roof doesn't work, and water pump had to be replaced. In addition, vehicle is shifting hard. *ak”
“Abs system is working intermittently. Also, sun roof doesn't work, and water pump had to be replaced. In addition, vehicle is shifting hard. *ak”
“Abs system is working intermittently. Also, sun roof doesn't work, and water pump had to be replaced. In addition, vehicle is shifting hard. *ak”
ANALYSIS:A REVIEW OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S RESPONSES TO ODI INFORMATIONREQUESTS ISSUED UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONS PE 87-012, PE 87-017, ANDPE 87-020, INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE AND/OR MALFUNCTION OF THE SPRING-LOCKFUEL LINE COUPLINGS APPEARED TO BE THE MAJOR SOURCE OR CAUSE OF ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT…
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES. FAILURE OF THE COUPLINGS CAN TAKEPLACE AFTER COMPLIANCE WITH A FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN, ON NEWLY DELIVEREDVEHICLES FROM THE FACTORY WITH MINIMAL…
SUMMARY: CONSUMERS ALLEGE THAT GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLESEQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE, RESULTING IN INABILITYTO SHIFT GEARS.ADDITIONALLY, FRACTURE MAY OCCUR AT A LOCATION WHICHALLOWS TRUNNION PIN TO FALL INTO GEARSHIFT MECHANISM, POSSIBLY LOCKING UPTHE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING A LOSS…
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Ford Ranger as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.