RecallMyCar

1986 Ford Ranger Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1986 Ford Ranger, and owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
35
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 12
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–27
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1986 Ford Ranger

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

  1. Seats

    NHTSA 88V145000 Reported 90,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Wiring for the power lumbar seat system was routed directly beneath the seat cushion springs and may be abraded by the springs.

    Remedy: Install a fuse within the power lumbar electrical circuit.

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

    NHTSA 87V139000 Reported 3,600,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.

    Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.

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

    NHTSA 85V130000 Reported 30,564 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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: Replace nylon fuel hoses with rubber hoses.

  4. Electrical system: front underhood

    NHTSA 85V116000 Reported 7,886 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

    Remedy: Repair wiring harness, check engine and catalyst for damage.

35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1986 Ford Ranger have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 109,368 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 12 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Consumer would like information regarding a 1986 ford ranger she sold to her son. *kb”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 25, 2006 · Unknown or other

“Driver's side seat belt does not latch properly. *jb”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 17, 2003 · Seat belts

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1986 Ford Ranger (Ranger Pickup 2WD, Ranger Pickup 4WD, Ranger Pickup Cab Chassis). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–27 mpg
City / Highway15–25 / 19–29
FuelDiesel, Regular
EPA classSmall Pickup Trucks, Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2/2.3/2.9 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Ford Ranger model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1978 Ford Ranger01
1979 Ford Ranger01
1983 Ford Ranger511
1984 Ford Ranger612
1985 Ford Ranger127
1986 Ford Ranger435
1987 Ford Ranger450
1988 Ford Ranger189
1989 Ford Ranger173
1990 Ford Ranger3105
1991 Ford Ranger2132
1992 Ford Ranger2189
1993 Ford Ranger3232
1994 Ford Ranger4438
1995 Ford Ranger1321
1996 Ford Ranger2413
1997 Ford Ranger1411
1998 Ford Ranger5576
1999 Ford Ranger4755
2000 Ford Ranger3670
2001 Ford Ranger4515
2002 Ford Ranger3346
2003 Ford Ranger1243
2004 Ford Ranger10404
2005 Ford Ranger9289
2006 Ford Ranger12271
2007 Ford Ranger5270
2008 Ford Ranger5326
2009 Ford Ranger7169
2010 Ford Ranger8156
2011 Ford Ranger5235
2014 Ford Ranger01
2016 Ford Ranger01
2017 Ford Ranger01
2019 Ford Ranger11268
2020 Ford Ranger7129
2021 Ford Ranger6117
2022 Ford Ranger537
2023 Ford Ranger418
2024 Ford Ranger1386
2025 Ford Ranger1343
2026 Ford Ranger87

Checking a specific 1986 Ford Ranger

How do I know if my 1986 Ford Ranger 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 1986 Ford Ranger; 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 85V116000).

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.