RecallMyCar

1988 Ford Ranger Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1988 Ford Ranger, and owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
89
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 23
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–23
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 1988 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. Foundation components (service brakes)

    NHTSA 87V141000 Reported 141 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Trucks were built with incorrect rear brake assemblies. Consequence of defect: a tendency for rear brake lockup would exist particularly during heavy brake applicaion with a lightly loaded truck. Also, increased stopping distance would be required if the brake modulation (pumping the brakes) is used to control the vehicle during a hard…

    Remedy: Replace rear brake assemblies.

89 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Ford Ranger have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 23 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 113,095 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 30 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I was driving uphill on highway 152 when my slip yoke exploded blowing out the rear of the bellhousing to my transmission throwing the truck rear end 6 ft in the air and the nose of the truck 3 feet i”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 17, 2018 · Power train

“1988 ford ranger was towed back out here on 4/1/2011 ok this 1988 ford ranger has not been drove anywhere ok it also was on recall for brake work an this can't be done either cause of other issue with”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 6, 2011 · Power train

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1988 Ford Ranger (Ranger Pickup 2WD, Ranger Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–23 mpg
City / Highway15–21 / 20–26
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Pickup Trucks
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 1988 Ford Ranger

How do I know if my 1988 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1988 Ford Ranger; your car may already have been repaired under it.

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 87V141000).

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.