Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1973 Ranchero.
The 1973 Ford Ranchero, a compact pickup that bridged the gap between light trucks and personal cars, was built on Ford’s existing platform and offered a range of engines common to the era, though specific details are not listed here. A standout feature of that model year was its modest yet reliable powertrain, paired with a body that accommodated both cargo and passengers. With only a single owner complaint—focused on tires—and a total of four recalls, the 1973 Ranchero sits comfortably in the middle of its model line’s reliability record, indicating a generally dependable but not exceptional performance history.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Wheelbase | 114.2 in |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1973 Ford Ranchero dominate in one area — the tires, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 4 recall campaigns target the tires, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the tires pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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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.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.