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Electrical systemPart report

1987 Ford Ranger Electrical system Problems

Complaints
14about this part
Share
28%of 50 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the electrical system of the 1987 Ford Ranger, 28% of the 50 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 10 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Truck was bought used and dealer maintained, it sat parked for 3 days without being touched due to son being in a pica cast from chest to feet, at approximately 2 am the locked truck honked and woke me up, when I went outside I could see flames in the passenger seat so got kids out of the house as there was gas line close and called the fire department which was unable to save the vehicle, as soon as the door opened it exploded into a big white ball not even the tires were any good. Fire department said it was the computer that shorted out and caught it on fire. …”

NHTSA complaint #10417308, filed 2011-08

“I had just left a red light. I was the 1st vechicle inthe north lane on a two lane street. The south bound side had about 8 cars . The last car hit a car in front of him, she hit a jeep in front of her, and impact caused her to swearve into the northbound side where I hit her in in the front passenger side. I had my grandson 9 in the front with me. My granddaughter 16 and her friend 15 were in the truck bed. I just had a small indention in the front of my truck. This truck was a 1987 long bed. Runs good. It I thought was steaming maybe I busted my radiator. My concern was the children. …”

NHTSA complaint #10127377, filed 2005-07

“Vehicle stalled and then caught on fire in the engine compartment. Consumer states no vehicle caught fire, then stalled in a matter of 30 seconds, the cab of trucj was on fire and consumer barely had enough time to pull to the side of the road, to get out of traffic, get her purse and get out of truck and get 10 feet away consumer states the fuel clip was never replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #986274, filed 1996-06

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026222%
20251023%
20243031%
2023211%
2022924%
202187%
2020118%
20194115%
201152%
201021%
200921%
200872%
200752%
2006114%
2005217%
2004174%
2003177%
2002175%
2001224%
2000386%
1999395%
1998295%
1997287%
1996389%
1995299%
1994256%
1993188%
19924122%
19912015%
19902019%
19891521%
19883236%
19871428%
19861337%
19851244%
1984217%
1983327%

Other parts of the 1987 Ford Ranger

Seat belts
8 complaints
Engine cooling
7 complaints
Fuel system
7 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Other or unknown
2 complaints
Suspension
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints
Vehicle speed control
2 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Brakes
1 complaints
Equipment
1 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1987 Ford Ranger

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology