1989 Ford Ranger Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 10%of 73 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 150,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the brakes of the 1989 Ford Ranger, 10% of the 73 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 150,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, 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.
“On a relatively cold and rainy evening, I parked my vehicle in a parking lot and attended an event lasting a couple of hours. After the event I returned to my vehicle to leave. I was travelling about 15 MPH through the parking lot and came to a corner, and approaching the corner applied the brakes to slow down. When I first touched the brakes they grabbed hard, sending me into a slide which sent my vehicle through a fence. In addition, the rear anti-lock braking system did nothing to help. I believe this to be related to NHTSA item number 601043, Ford TSB #985a36. …”
NHTSA complaint #10073088, filed 2004-05, 150,000 miles“The rear wheels locked up while braking and trying to avoid hitting another vehicle causing consumers to loose control of the vehicle resulting in the truck sliding and hitting a bridge shoulder rail. Nlm”
NHTSA complaint #548892, filed 1999-10Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 22% |
| 2025 | 7 | 16% |
| 2024 | 7 | 7% |
| 2023 | 3 | 17% |
| 2022 | 3 | 8% |
| 2021 | 15 | 13% |
| 2020 | 9 | 7% |
| 2019 | 20 | 7% |
| 2011 | 8 | 3% |
| 2010 | 4 | 3% |
| 2009 | 6 | 4% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 5 | 2% |
| 2005 | 10 | 3% |
| 2004 | 23 | 6% |
| 2003 | 35 | 14% |
| 2002 | 23 | 7% |
| 2001 | 55 | 11% |
| 2000 | 78 | 12% |
| 1999 | 88 | 12% |
| 1998 | 60 | 10% |
| 1997 | 44 | 11% |
| 1996 | 69 | 17% |
| 1995 | 60 | 19% |
| 1994 | 116 | 26% |
| 1993 | 60 | 26% |
| 1992 | 17 | 9% |
| 1991 | 12 | 9% |
| 1990 | 6 | 6% |
| 1989 | 7 | 10% |
| 1988 | 9 | 10% |
| 1987 | 1 | 2% |
| 1986 | 3 | 9% |
| 1984 | 2 | 17% |
| 1983 | 1 | 9% |
Other parts of the 1989 Ford Ranger
15 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsTires
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1989 Ford Ranger
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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