FaultScore

1987 Ford Ranger electrical problems

16 of the 58 complaints about the 1987 Ford Ranger are about the electrical system — 28% of everything reported for this model year.

F

16

Complaints

1

Crashes

10

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 6 37.5%
Switch 5 31.3%
Electrical System 3 18.8%
Front Underhood 2 12.5%

Electrical System across every Ford Ranger year

1985 14 2.3%
1986 17 2.7%
1987 16 2.6%
1988 38 6.1%
1989 16 2.6%
1990 23 3.7%
1991 23 3.7%
1992 42 6.8%
1993 18 2.9%
1994 26 4.2%
1995 32 5.2%
1996 39 6.3%
1997 28 4.5%
1998 33 5.3%
1999 41 6.6%
2000 38 6.1%
2001 22 3.5%
2002 18 2.9%
2003 17 2.7%
2004 16 2.6%
2005 21 3.4%
2006 11 1.8%
2019 41 6.6%
2020 11 1.8%
2024 19 3.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Saint Anthony, ID Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TRUCK WAS BOUGHT USED AND DEALER MAINTAINED, IT SAT PARKED FOR 3 DAYS WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED DUE TO SON BEING IN A PICA CAST FROM CHEST TO FEET, AT APPROXIMATELY 2 AM THE LOCKED TRUCK HONKED AND WOKE ME UP, WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE I COULD SEE FLAMES IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SO GOT KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE AS THERE WAS GAS LINE CLOSE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHICH WAS UNABLE TO SAVE THE VEHICLE, AS SOON AS THE DOOR OPENED IT EXPLODED INTO A BIG WHITE BALL NOT EVEN THE TIRES WERE ANY GOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER THAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT IT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE WITH THE COMPUTERS BUT THEY WOULD NOTATE IT. LOCATION OF OCCURANCE AND WAS RUPERT,IDAHO AND REPORTED TO FORD DEALER IN BURLEY,ID

NHTSA complaint #10417308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburndale, FL Crash Fire 5 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAD JUST LEFT A RED LIGHT. I WAS THE 1ST VECHICLE INTHE NORTH LANE ON A TWO LANE STREET. THE SOUTH BOUND SIDE HAD ABOUT 8 CARS . THE LAST CAR HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, SHE HIT A JEEP IN FRONT OF HER, AND IMPACT CAUSED HER TO SWEARVE INTO THE NORTHBOUND SIDE WHERE I HIT HER IN IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD MY GRANDSON 9 IN THE FRONT WITH ME. MY GRANDDAUGHTER 16 AND HER FRIEND 15 WERE IN THE TRUCK BED. I JUST HAD A SMALL INDENTION IN THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK. THIS TRUCK WAS A 1987 LONG BED. RUNS GOOD. IT I THOUGHT WAS STEAMING MAYBE I BUSTED MY RADIATOR. MY CONCERN WAS THE CHILDREN. THEN IT STARTED SMOKING. A FIRE EXTINQUISHER WAS USED. A LITTLE WHILE LATER IT CAUGHT AND BURNED UP.

NHTSA complaint #10127377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rustburg, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I'V HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION MODULE 3 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST DATE OF THE FIRST TIME OF BREAKING DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #755449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pamplico, SC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE WAS PARKED/ IDLING WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #895519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clearwater, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #734611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Idaho Falls, ID Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL COMPUTER SHORT OUT WAS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF VEHICLE FIRE. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #9000040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millwood, WV Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY SMOKE APPEARED FROM DASH COLUMN. VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE DO TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #817048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK CONSUMER STATES NO VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, THEN STALLED IN A MATTER OF 30 SECONDS, THE CAB OF TRUCJ WAS ON FIRE AND CONSUMER BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, GET HER PURSE AND GET OUT OF TRUCK AND GET 10 FEET AWAY CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL CLIP WAS NEVER REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #986274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tumwater, WA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #504134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Margar, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AFTER PARKED AND RESTARTED TEN MINUTES, TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #984277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED THERE IS A BURNT SMELL, WHILE DRIVING, CONSOLE SHUTS DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #983724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Rosa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH STICKS, WON'T ALLOW KEY TO TURN VEHICLE OFF, ALSO EXPERIENCES PROBLEM IN STARTING.

NHTSA complaint #983856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED THERE IS A BURNT SMELL, WHILE DRIVING, CONSOLE SHUTS DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #983724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Rosa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH STICKS, WON'T ALLOW KEY TO TURN VEHICLE OFF, ALSO EXPERIENCES PROBLEM IN STARTING.

NHTSA complaint #983856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coon Rapids, MN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

STARTED VEHICLE, DROVE A QUARTER OF BLOCK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AND SHOT UP NINE FEET.

NHTSA complaint #983365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Castle, DE Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #983154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

← Full 1987 Ford Ranger report