Defect
WHEEL LUG NUT CONE ANGLES DO NOT MATCH LUG NUT SEATING ANGLES.
Consequence
NUTS COULD LOOSEN IN SERVICE CREATING POTENTIAL FORWHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM TRUCK.
Remedy
REPAIR TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS.
1987 Ford Ranger Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1987 Ford Ranger has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,632,070 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence
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.
Defect
THE BUCKLE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ANCHORED TO THE FLOOR.
Consequence
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.
Defect
STICKERS CONCERNING HANDLING AND MANEUVERABILITY WHICH ARE AFFIXED TO DRIVERS SUN VISOR SLEEVES DO NOT MEET CRITERIA FOR PERMANENT ADHESION.
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2crashes4injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
3fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1crashes2fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1crashes3fires5injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
2fires
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Total complaints58
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Tl*the contact owns a 1987 ford ranger. The vehicle has firestone tires, size 30x9.5/r15lt. While driving 35 mph, the contact heard a loud banging sound from the front passenger side tire. He inspected the vehicle and noticed that the tread had completely separated from the tire. He called the…”
“While driving on interstate 75 between naples and miami florida, the tread on my firestone fr 440 tire separated which cause my ford ranger truck to fish tail on highway. I controlled the vehicle to a stop on shoulder of the highway. Called police and they dispatched road service. The firestone…”
“I had just left a red light. I was the 1st vechicle inthe north lane on a two lane street. The south bound side had about 8 cars . The last car hit a car in front of him, she hit a jeep in front of her, and impact caused her to swearve into the northbound side where I hit her in in the front…”
“When accelerating on a flat straight highway from 30 mph, the truck jerked to the right went into the ditch and rolled several times, totalling the vehicle. Investigating officer commented that the bolts that hold the cab onto the frame one was missing and another was sheared off. Truck recently…”
“Lugs on right rear broke off when tightening. *ak”
“Vehicle was parked/ idling when it suddenly caught on fire in engine compartment. Please provide any further details.*ak”
“While driving at approximately 55 mph front fuel tank on dual tank assembly, fell off, and was being dragged by vehicle. Provide more information. *ak”
“While driving 45 mph on highway engine shut off, and consumer was almost rear ended. There was no prior warning. Consumer has not contacted dealer yet. *ak”
Defect investigations
Investigation EA88033 Opened 1988-05-11 · closed 1989-01-23
UNDER SEAT FIRES
There is no summary currently available
Investigation EA90042 Opened 1990-08-31 · closed 1991-12-31
THROTTLE STICKING
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE89129 Opened 1989-06-07 · closed 1990-03-23
GEARSHIFT LEVER BREAKS
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…
Investigation PE92029 Opened 1992-03-16 · closed 1992-08-31
WHL SEPARATION/TORQUE LOSS
There is no summary currently available
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Ford Ranger as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.