1990 Ford Ranger: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1990 Ford Ranger: 3 recalls, 105 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #89V234000 · 1989 · 4,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Throttle lever May contact throttle body air inlet tube, with the potential for throttle remaining open following release of the accelerator pedal from the full-throttle postion in trucks with 4.0 l engines.
Why it matters: Uncontrolled acceleration could create lack of controland cause an accident.
The fix: Manufacturer will replace air inlet tube with newly designed replacement with an increased throttle lever-to-inlet tube clearance.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #90V044000 · 1990 · 4,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Throttle lever May contact throttle body air inlet tube, with potential for throttle remaining open following release of the accelerator pedal.
Why it matters: Uncontrolled acceleration could create lack of controland cause an accident.
The fix: Manufacturer will replace air inlet tube with newly designed replacement.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #91V189000 · 1991 · 792,000 vehicles
What's wrong: When the automatic transmission shift lever is placed in the park position, the park pawl does not always abut or engage the park gear.
Why it matters: Driver May believe the vehicle is safely engaged in parkwhen the gear is not truly engaged. This can lead to the vehicle jumping out ofgear unintentionally, vehicle rollaway when parked on a sloped surface, andinadvertent motion when the vehicle is started. All of these conditions canresult in a…
The fix: Repair the transmission with a new park pawl.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Brakes (air) Equipment recall #98E010000 · 1998 · 23,500 vehicles
What's wrong: Equipment description: aftermarket brake rotors for use on certain Ford and Mazda trucks. Cracked castings caused cracks to appear on the outer diameter of the rotor hat or around the stud hole.
Why it matters: Loss of braking can result.
The fix: Aimco will reimburse consumers/installers for the cost of replacement rotors and installation. Consumers are requested to return to the location where the rotors were originally purchased/installed for replacement.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #06E026000 · 2006 · 61,944 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Why it matters: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 15 mention a fire, 4 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (20): the most common themes are fire / smoke (10), electrical failure (8).
- Tires (14): the most common themes are tire tread / blowout (13).
- Speed control / throttle (13): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (12): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 1990 Ford Ranger has 105 owner complaints, ranking #25 of 33 Ranger model years for complaints (well below the 248 average). Complaints peaked in 1996 (20 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 145,500 miles. Neighboring years: 1991 (132 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 26 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 22 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 23 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.9 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | Regular |
| 2.9 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 20 | 18 | Regular |
| 2.9 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Regular |
| 2.9 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
| 4.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1990 Ford Ranger.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 1990 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 1990 Ford Ranger, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1990 Ford Ranger problems?
Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (20), tires (14), speed control / throttle (13).
What gas mileage does the 1990 Ford Ranger get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.3 L, Manual 5-spd), across 9 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1990 Ford Ranger repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.