Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1983 Ford Ranger. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY:LATCHES
- Summary
- SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THE HOOD IS NOT CLOSED TIGHTLY, OR IS INADVERTENTLY RELEASED, THE SECONDARY LATCH MAY NOT WORK AND THE HOOD MAY FLY UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- THE HOOD ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE HOOD AND LATCH COMPONENTS WILL BE ADJUSTED, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE OWNER.
FUEL:FUEL LINES:HOSES:NON-METALLIC
- Summary
- THE FLEXIBLE HOSE CONNECTING THE FUEL PUMP TO THE CARBURETOR FUEL LINE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FUEL PUMP.
- Remedy
- THE EXISTING FUEL HOSE WILL BE REPLACED AND TWO NEW HOSE CLAMPS WILL BE INSTALLED.
FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY:CAP:FILLER
- Summary
- IF TRUCK IS STRUCK FROM THE SIDE, THE CAP ON THE FUEL TANK COULD BECOME UNSEALED, ALLOWING UNSAFE LEAKAGE OF FUEL. THIS IS A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY". LEAKAGE CAN BE CAUSED BY AN ORANGE-COLORED PLASTIC DIESEL FUEL INFORMATION RING WHICH IS FOUND AROUND THE FUEL TANK NECK, OR BY THE TETHER.
- Remedy
- UPON INSPECTION, FUEL CAP TETHERS WILL BE REPLACED OR DIESEL FUEL INFORMATION RINGS WILL BE REMOVED.
SUSPENSION:I-BEAM:SOLID:FRONT SPRING:COIL
- Summary
- SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER SPRING SEAT ATTACHING STUDS. THESE STUDS COULD FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, ALLOWING THE LOWER SPRING SEAT TO MOVE AND POSSIBLY SLIDE OFF THE AXLE.
- Remedy
- THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE LOWER SPRING SEAT STUDS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS.
EXHAUST SYSTEM:MUFFLER:RESONATOR
- Summary
- ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE MUFFLER GRASS SHIELDS WERE INADVERTENTLY OMITTED DURING MANUFACTURE. WITHOUT THE GRASS SHIELD, AND DURING CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE MUFFLER SURFACE TEMPERATURES COULD BECOME HOT ENOUGH TO EXCEED SPECIFIED STANDARDS AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR IGNITING TALL GRASSES IF THEY WERE PRESENT BENEATH A STANDING VEHICLE.
- Remedy
- DEALER WILL INSTALL GRASS SHIELDS ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNER.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (11)
11 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 27.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 9.1% |
| Equipment | 1 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 9.1% |
| Power train | 1 | 9.1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 9.1% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 9.1% |
| Structure | 1 | 9.1% |
| Visibility | 1 | 9.1% |
How 1983 compares with other Ranger years
Best and worst Ranger years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 11 | 5 |
| 1984 | 12 | 6 |
| 1985 | 27 | 1 |
| 1986 | 35 | 4 |
| 1987 | 50 | 4 |
| 1988 | 89 | 1 |
| 1989 | 73 | 1 |
| 1990 | 105 | 3 |
| 1991 | 132 | 2 |
| 1992 | 189 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1983 Ranger for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1983 Ford Ranger FAQ
How many recalls does the 1983 Ford Ranger have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 84V111000 (latch), 84V112000 (fuel system), 84V082000 (fuel system), 83V032000 (suspension), 82V033000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1983 Ford Ranger problems?
Owners filed 11 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (3), Engine and engine cooling (1), Equipment (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1983 Ranger compare with other years?
Among the 1983–1992 Ford Ranger model years at least five years old, the 1983 drew the fewest complaints (11) and the 1992 the most (189). The 1983 drew 11. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.