RecallMyCar

1973 Ford Ranchero Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1973 Ford Ranchero, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA

4 safety recalls for the 1973 Ford Ranchero

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

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

  2. Idler and attachment (steering)

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

  3. Carburetor system (fuel system)

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

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

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

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1973 Ford Ranchero have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The left rear tires showed signs of excessive cracking. Kelly springfield. Size# 215/70r14, DOT# unknown. *ak”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 2, 2003 · Tires

Compare Ford Ranchero model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Ranchero model year in NHTSA's database.

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

Checking a specific 1973 Ford Ranchero

How do I know if my 1973 Ford Ranchero has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1973 Ford Ranchero; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 72V240000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

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.