1986 Ford Ranger: recalls and complaints
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1986 Ford Ranger. The newest campaign is 88V145000. NHTSA received the report on 2 Sep 1988. The NHTSA record gives the component Seats. NHTSA has 35 complaints on file for this model year. 7 NHTSA investigations name this model year.
The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.
This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.
Remedy of the newest campaign, 88V145000, in the NHTSA record
Install a fuse within the power lumbar electrical circuit.
Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on . Complaint file through . Recall file through .
Since the last update
No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks
Recall campaigns
4 campaigns, newest first. 3,728,450 units in total.
- 88V145000Seats
- 87V139000Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
- 85V130000Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
- 85V116000Electrical System / Wiring / Front Underhood
88V145000Received . 90,000 units.
Seats
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
Wiring for the power lumbar seat system was routed directly beneath the seat cushion springs and may be abraded by the springs.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This could result in a short circuit which may createsufficient heat to start a fire in the seat cushion pad and/or trim cover.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install a fuse within the power lumbar electrical circuit.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
87V139000Received . 3,600,000 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
85V130000Received . 30,564 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
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 the potential for a fire.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace nylon fuel hoses with rubber hoses.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
85V116000Received . 7,886 units.
Electrical System / Wiring / Front Underhood
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
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. Consequence of defect: fuel discharged into the engine would eventually leak through the exhaust system to the ground. This could result in a fire if a source of ignition is present.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Repair wiring harness, check engine and catalyst for damage.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.
Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.
Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.
Complaints by component
35 complaints, 50 component mentions.
A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.
- 1986 Ford Ranger
- All 1986 vehicles
| Component | 1986 Ranger | All 1986 vehicles | Ranger, all years | Mentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 340 | 147.2 | 64.7 | 17 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 180 | 138.3 | 45.9 | 9 |
| Seat Belts | 140 | 121.5 | 24.1 | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 80 | 92.1 | 38.6 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 60 | 77.2 | 71.3 | 3 |
| Wheels | 40 | 10.8 | 10 | 2 |
| Power Train | 40 | 57.7 | 86.7 | 2 |
| Steering | 40 | 48 | 20 | 2 |
| Visibility | 20 | 28.2 | 37.3 | 1 |
| Tires | 20 | 42.5 | 85.3 | 1 |
The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 12.
- Complaints that report a crash
- 2
- Complaints that report a fire
- 12
- Injuries in the complaints
- 3
- Deaths in the complaints
- 0
- Date of the newest complaint
- 25 Jul 2006
These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.
Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.
Investigations
| Number | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Campaign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE92029 | Preliminary evaluation | WHL SEPARATION/TORQUE LOSS | Suspension | 16 Mar 1992 | 31 Aug 1992 | |
| EA90042 | Engineering analysis | THROTTLE STICKING | Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages | 31 Aug 1990 | 31 Dec 1991 | |
| EA90016 | Engineering analysis | GEAR SHIFT LEVER FAILS | Steering | 23 Mar 1990 | 23 Oct 1990 | |
| PE89129 | Preliminary evaluation | GEARSHIFT LEVER BREAKS | Steering | 7 Jun 1989 | 23 Mar 1990 | |
| EA88033 | Engineering analysis | UNDER SEAT FIRES | Electrical System | 11 May 1988 | 23 Jan 1989 | 88V145000 |
| EA87020 | Engineering analysis | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages | 7 May 1987 | 24 Sep 1987 | 87V139000 |
| PE87012 | Preliminary evaluation | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages | 19 Dec 1986 | 15 May 1987 |
Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.
Other model years
The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.
- 19780
- 19790
- 19835
- 19846
- 19851
- 19864
- 19874
- 19881
- 19891
- 19903
- 19912
- 19922
- 19933
- 19944
- 19951
- 19962
- 19971
- 19985
- 19994
- 20003
- 20014
- 20023
- 20031
- 200410
- 20059
- 200612
- 20075
- 20085
- 20097
- 20108
- 20115
- 20140
- 20160
- 20170
- 201911
- 20207
- 20216
- 20225
- 20234
- 202413
- 202513
- 20268
A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.
Follow by RSS:Ford recallsVehicle recalls
Official channels
- NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
- NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
- NHTSA page of the 1986 Ford RangerThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.
Cite this page
Recall Register. 1986 Ford Ranger: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/ford/ranger/1986/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through .
Sources
- Source
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
- Licence
- US government work, public domain
- Recall file through
- 30 Sep 2026
- Complaint file through
- 30 Sep 2026
- First complaint in the file
- 1 Jan 1995
- Manufacturer in the recall file
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.
Questions
- How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1986 Ford Ranger?
- 3,728,450 units in 4 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
- How many recall campaigns does the Ford Ranger have for all model years?
- NHTSA lists 102 recall campaigns for the Ford Ranger, model years 1978 to 2026. 4 of them name the 1986 model year.
- Which component do the complaints about the 1986 Ford Ranger name most often?
- Electrical System: 17 of 50 component mentions, or 340 per 1,000. For all 1986 vehicles the figure is 147.2 per 1,000.
- Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1986 Ford Ranger open?
- No. Each of the 7 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.