1978 Ford Ranger problems

General information about Ford-Ranger
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The Ford Ranger is a compact or mid-size pickup marketed globally by Ford over a series of generations, varying between both in-house or outside development and manufacturing — and with a hiatus in North America from 2011–2018.

Debuting as a compact pickup in North America in 1982 for the 1983 model year, the Ranger was later introduced in some South American countries. From 1998 to 2011, the Ranger nameplate was used for models developed by Mazda for sale outside the North American market. In 2011, Ford introduced the first Ranger based on the T6 platform. Considered a mid-size pickup truck, the model was developed in-house by Ford Australia. In that same year, the North American-market Ranger was discontinued, leaving the T6 platform-based Ranger as the sole Ranger model worldwide.

For the 2019 model year, the Ranger was reintroduced in North America using the globally-marketed T6 model. It is manufactured at the Michigan Assembly Plant at Wayne, Michigan. The Ranger is smaller than the F-150 and larger than the Maverick in the Ford North American pickup truck range, while for markets outside the Americas it is typically the only Ford pickup offered for sale.

The second generation of the T6-based Ranger was released in 2021 for worldwide markets, using a revised T6 platform.

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Common 1978 Ford Ranger problems

Based on complaints from owners of the Ford Ranger 1978, several common problems have been reported. Here is a detailed list of these issues:

Transmission Issues: The 2002 model of the Ford Ranger had significant transmission issues, including erratic shifting and gear loss.

Rust Under the Bed: Rust issues under the bed have been a concern for some owners. It is recommended to thoroughly inspect for rust, especially hidden areas, as repairs for rust damage can be costly.

Tight Space Between Seat and Gas Pedal: Some tall owners have found the space between the seat and gas pedal to be tight, causing discomfort during driving.

Head Replacement Difficulty: Replacing heads on the 1978 Ford Ranger has been challenging due to design changes mid-run, leading to difficulties in finding compatible replacement parts.

Maintenance Costs: Owners have reported relatively high maintenance costs for the 1978 Ford Ranger, particularly related to rust repairs and specific part replacements.

Originality: Despite its age, the 1978 Ford Ranger is praised for being easy to work on, with parts being relatively easy to find. Many owners appreciate its originality and classic design.

These reported issues highlight some of the common problems faced by owners of the 1978 Ford Ranger. Regular maintenance and thorough inspections can help mitigate these concerns and ensure the longevity of this classic vehicle.

What year of Ford Ranger to stay away from?

A: Yes, some Ford Ranger model years have proven less reliable than others. It's best to avoid the following years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2019. These years have been subject to numerous customer complaints and issues.

What engine is in a 1978 Ford Ranger?

Power comes from a stout 460 5.8-liter V8 with C6 automatic transmission. This Ranger XLT also features working 4WD.

What year Ranger is the best?

What is the best year for a used Ford Ranger?

2021 Ford Ranger - Notable for its turbocharged engines and impressive safety/infotainment features.
2020 Ford Ranger - KBB score of 4.4/5, 4.1/5 from Edmunds.
2009 Ford Ranger - 4.4/5.0 from Edmunds.
2010 Ford Ranger - 4.4/5 from KBB.

What is the best year used Ford Ranger to buy?

Before diving deep into configurations and trims, here are the overall 5 best used Ford Ranger model years to buy used.

2009 Ford Ranger. The 2009 Ford Ranger stands against the test of time even over a decade later. ...
2010 Ford Ranger. ...
2020 Ford Ranger. ...
2021 Ford Ranger. ...
2022 Ford Ranger.

What engine is in a 1978 Ford Ranger?

Power comes from a stout 460 5.8-liter V8 with C6 automatic transmission. This Ranger XLT also features working 4WD.

What year of Ford Ranger to stay away from?

Why did Ford stop making the Ranger?

While among the highest-selling vehicles in the compact segment for nearly its entire 29-year production, an overall decline in demand for compact trucks led to its discontinuation after the 2011 model year (a short 2012 run was produced for fleet sales).

Which Ford Ranger is 4x4?

The 2024 Ford Ranger has available 4x4 on all trims. The other available drive type is 4x2.

1978 Ford Ranger car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Ranger problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Unknown or other problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1978 Ford Ranger vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1978 Ford Ranger complaints

The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1978 Ford Ranger.

1996-09-23

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1996-08-12
Crash: 1
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Summary: HITCH BROKE OFF, CAUSING ACCIDENT.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

Add Complaint

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1978 Ford Ranger problems:

1978-1979 Bronco a good investment? - Full Size Ford Bronco Forum

https://www.fullsizebronco.com/threads/1978-1979-bronco-a-good-investment.292386/

Mar 4, 2014 ... Do Broncos from these years have any well-known problems that make them live in mechanic shops? Or do you all think my main expense (for a ...

Ford Ranger reliability: are they still as bad as they were? : r ...

https://www.reddit.com/r/4x4Australia/comments/14qtmil/ford_ranger_reliability_are_they_still_as_bad_as/

Jul 4, 2023 ... If Ford never fixed that issue, and its still a known problem with modern trucks... I wouldn't recommend that vehicle to *ANYONE*. It was ...

79 F-150 Common Problems? | Pirate 4x4

https://www.pirate4x4.com/threads/79-f-150-common-problems.412669/

Nov 14, 2005 ... 89 Ranger, 2.9, 6" lift, 35" baja claws ... It will be a ford 9 inch rear, and a dana 44 front, if stock. ... 1978 f250 2wd. My all time favorite ...

Common TC window problems...

https://turboford.org/thread-common-tc-window-problems

never had a problem from mine. Josh 1991 Ford Ranger 2.3 Turbo. Reply · samickguy15. Posting Freak. Posts: 1,425. Joined: Oct 2005. #3. 09-24-2007, 06:45 PM. I ...