RecallMyCar

Ford Ranchero Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 17 safety recalls and 3 owner complaints across 10 model years of the Ford Ranchero (1968–1979). The most-complained-about year is 1979.

17
safety recalls, all years
3
owner complaints, all years
1973
year with most recalls
1979
year with most complaints

Pick your Ford Ranchero model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1979 Ford Ranchero32
1977 Ford Ranchero20
1976 Ford Ranchero10
1975 Ford Ranchero20
1974 Ford Ranchero10
1973 Ford Ranchero41
1972 Ford Ranchero30
1971 Ford Ranchero10
1970 Ford Ranchero10
1968 Ford Ranchero10

What Ford Ranchero owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The 1979 model year has the most, with 2.

All Ford Ranchero recalls (17)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford Ranchero, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 84V078000 Reported 810,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Blades may crack and may, over a period of time, loosen from fan assembly.

    Remedy: Fan assembly will be replaced without charge.

    Model years: 1977

  2. Mid/rear assembly (seats)

    NHTSA 79V013000 Reported 4,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The involved vehicles may have been built with incorrect weld nuts that attach the rear portion of the front outboard seat track to the floor pan. The incorrect nuts have an oversize diameter and thread, and upon front seat track anchor bolt installation, the threads may have been stripped.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, repair any stripped weld nuts and install larger size bolts to anchor the seat track to the floor at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1979

  3. Shaft sector (steering)

    NHTSA 78V269000 Reported 20,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The steering gears on the involved vehicles may have been built with improperly manufactured sector shafts from which the threaded portions of the shafts may fracture and separate. Should the sector shaft fracture, the pitman arm may disengage from the splined portion of the sector shaft.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering gear assembly or install a new sector shaft in the steering gear assembly.

    Model years: 1979

  4. Wheels

    NHTSA 78V237000 Reported 800 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Due to an error in the vehicle assembly computer broadcast program, the involved vehicles were equipped with 14x5.5 inch wheel rims which were intended for use on passenger cars. The tires were not marked with the information specified by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other…

    Remedy: The existing 14x5.5 inch wheels will be replaced with 14x6.0 inch wheels.

    Model years: 1979

  5. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 77V141000 Reported 60,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The involved vehicles may experience fuel leakage at the rubber hose connecting the fuel inlet tube to the carburetor filter. This leakage condition is due to insufficient insertion of the fuel tube into the hose or improper positioning of the hose clamp, causing the clamp to be crimped directly over the fuel tube bead.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the existing fuel hose clamp with a spring-type clamp at the hose-to-fuel inlet tube connection, and adjust the connection where necessary, without charge.

    Model years: 1977

  6. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 77V097000 Reported 471,535 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Seven-blade cooling fans installed on the involved vehicles may be subject to fatigue cracking of the blades due to stresses generated during normal vehicle operation.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace seven blade fan with a fan of five blade design, without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1972

  7. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 76V067000 Reported 410,580 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1976

  8. Carburetor system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 75V042000 Reported 140,870 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1975

  9. Carburetor system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 74V126000 Reported 2,027 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1975

  10. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 74V011000 Reported 127,208 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1974

  11. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 73V159000 Reported 13,475 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1973

  12. Idler and attachment (steering)

    NHTSA 73V057000 Reported 58,832 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1973

  13. Carburetor system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 72V272000 Reported 11,782 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1973

  14. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

    NHTSA 72V240000 Reported 1,033,800 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1972, 1973

  15. Webbing (seat belts)

    NHTSA 72V160000 Reported 4,072,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The shoulder belt pin connector plastic sleeves which were injection molded can have surface imperfections or discontinuities at the point at which thermal plastic is injected into mold and where flow diverges to fill both sides of the ring. If the condition exists and the sleeve breaks away from the pin, the shoulder belt will not…

    Remedy: Replace the shoulder belt pin connector plastic sleeve with neoprene retainers.

    Model years: 1970, 1971

  16. Axle shaft (power train)

    NHTSA 72V095000 Reported 407,244 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1972

  17. Idler and attachment (steering)

    NHTSA 68V018000 Reported 39,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1968

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.