Complaints
50
Crashes
2
Fires
20
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1986 Ford Ranger Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#112 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:11
#27 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:3
#36 complaints
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Avg mileage:109,368 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Ford Ranger.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 12 | — | 11 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 | — | 3 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 6 | 1 | — | 109,368 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
11
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
109,368
Electrical System:Ignition
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Sunroof/Moonroof
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Ford Ranger. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Ranger Years
1986 Ford Ranger — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1986 Ford Ranger reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Ford Ranger has 50 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition:Switch with 12 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Ford Ranger?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (12 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (7 complaints); Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly (6 complaints, avg 109,368 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1986 Ford Ranger?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 109,368 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1986 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Ford Ranger include 2 crash-related reports, 20 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Ford Ranger as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Ford Ranger?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Ranger reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1986 Ford Ranger
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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