Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 Ranger.
The 1983 Ford Ranger carries a 4.0-quart engine-oil capacity and calls for 10W-30 or 10W-40 viscosity for routine maintenance. Its reliability record includes 13 owner complaints, with the Electrical System flagged as the top problem area and 7 recalls on file. Because the broader model complaint history covers only 1990 through 2020—ranging from a high of 818 complaints for the 1999 model down to a single complaint for 2014—the 1983 Ranger falls outside that tracked span, yet its low complaint count indicates it produced relatively modest reported issues compared with the worst years captured in the data.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 187.8 in |
| Overall width | 66.9 in |
| Overall height | 66.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 in |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Ranger of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | XLS Regular Cab 2.0L I-4 | 14.80 sec | 19.97 sec | 73 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-40 / 10W-30 engine oil.
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 5 Pints, rear |
| Engine Oil | 10W-40 · 10W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.0 qt |
| Engine Oil | 10W-40 · 10W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.0 qt |
| Engine Oil | 10W-40 · 10W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.0 qt |
| Transfer Case Fluid | ATF |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record supplied contains no entry for 1983, so the year cannot be situated within the observed complaint/recall trajectory that runs from 1990 onward. During the 1990‑2020 span, complaints rose from 139 in 1990 to a peak of 818 in 1999 before gradually declining, while recalls remained generally single‑digit to low‑teens per year. For 1983, the only available federal data list the top complaint areas as Electrical System (5 complaints), Engine & Engine Cooling (1), Power Train (1) and Equipment (1), with zero crash complaints and two fire complaints. Because no recall, investigation or TSB counts are provided for 1983, the extent of manufacturer‑initiated remedies for that model year is unknown from this dataset. Taken together, the sparse but low‑volume complaint profile for 1983 suggests fewer reported issues than the high‑volume years of the 1990s, yet the absence of a full federal record warrants a thorough pre‑purchase inspection, especially of the electrical system.
All 13 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET BRAKE ROTORS FOR USE ON CERTAIN FORD AND MAZDA TRUCKS. CRACKED CASTINGS CAUSED CRACKS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER DIAMETER OF THE ROTOR HAT OR AROUND THE STUD HOLE. Remedy: AIMCO WILL REIMBURSE CONSUMERS/INSTALLERS FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT ROTORS AND INSTALLATION. CONSUMERS ARE REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE ROTORS WERE ORIGINALLY…
Showing 5 of 9 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01157 | 2001-08-06 | Unknown Or Other | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 98246 | 1998-12-07 | Electrical System | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE… |
| 9888 | 1998-04-27 | Power Train | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 985A36 | 1998-03-18 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | A GRABBING AND/OR STICKING CONDITION DURING THE FIRST FEW BRAKE APPLICATIONS WHEN THE… |
| 985A13 | 1998-03-18 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.0 qt of 10W-40 OR 10W-30, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.