38 of the
117 complaints about the 1988 Ford Ranger are about the
electrical system — 32% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
154,331 miles.
I BOUGHT A 1988 FORD RANGER TAN GOLD IN COLOR LOVE THE TRUCK, BUT I WENT TO INDIANA TO PICK MY SON UP EVERYTHING WAS FINE BUT ON THE WAY BACK THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING STARTED TO FALL APART HERE. OK, STARTER WOULDN'T RESTART HAD TO POP CLUTCH IT, AN THEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL ITSELF GAVE AWAY FROM THE FIRE WALL ON THE WAY HOME TO SAVANNA IL. OK, IT WAS DARK OUT SO THE NEXT DAY WENT TO LOOK AND MY SON AND I SAW THERE WAS A CRACK THERE SO WE TRIED TO FIX THIS AN SEE WHY IT WASN'T STARTING UP. I CALLED MIDAS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WELD THIS UP FOR ME. WE HAVE TRIED CARPENTER TAPE TO TRY AND PULL THE FIRE WALL BACK IN TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH TO GET THIS TRUCK SOMEWHERE TO BE FIXED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN FREEPORT IL , BUT I HAVE CALLED ON FORD TO DO SOMETHING AND NOT WAIT ON AN ACCIDENT OR RECALL. THE FLUID THAT LEAKED OUT HIT THE MOTOR GOING DOWN THE ROAD. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN UPDATED IVOQ 05/26/10 ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE. THE FIRE WALL COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE CONDITION IT WAS IN. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW CAB. UPDATED IVOQ 07/13/10 UPDATED 07/15/10.8JB
NHTSA complaint #10328338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 257,662 milesNewport Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
FAILURE IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM (THIRD TIME WITH THIS VEHICLE) 2-12-97 WAS THE FIRST TIME I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE, THEN ON 10-01-01 THE IGNITION MODULE NEEDED TO REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THIS IS QUITE A CONCERN TO ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS OUT. I LOSE ALL POWER, INCLUDING STEERING. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE 55 FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. THIS FAILURE ALSO DAMAGED THE DISTRIBUTOR WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED*AK.
NHTSA complaint #10036905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Graniteville, VTFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKING ON AND OFF. CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #10022893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lawrenceville, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PULL OUT THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FEEL FREE TO ADD. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8018601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chenango Forks, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, KEY WAS NOT IN IGNITION AND IT WAS IN GEAR , IT CAUGHT FIRE AND ROLLED ABOUT 50 FT WHERE IT HIT A BUILDING. $ AMOUNT OF DAMGE NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #879360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Longmont, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THIS PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPING FIRST OCCURRED DURING THE SUMMER OF 1990. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 70 DRIVING TO IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF ENGINE SHUTDOWNS THAT HAVE OCCURREDS CONTINUALLY SINCE THAT FIRST INCIDENT. THE SHUTDOWNS HAVE OCCURRED AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25 MPH TO 75 MPH. THE USUALLY HAVE OCCURRED AT THE HIGHER SPEEDS ON A HIGHWAY DURING WARMER WEATHER, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO OCCURRED AT LOWER SPEEDS IN THE CITY---ALTHOUGH LESS FREQUENTLY. WHEN I FIRST CHECKED WITH A MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE FUEL FILTER. REPLACING THESE DID NOT SOLVE IT. I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE TUNED HOPING THAT WOULD SOLVE IT. SEVERAL TUNE UPS HAVE NOT HELPED. FINALLY, IN 1996 I WAS TOLD BY A FORD TRRAINED TECHICIAN WHOM I MET WHILE ON VACATION THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE TFI MODULE. JUST THIS SEPTEMBER I DECIDED TO HAVE THE UNIT REPLACE ( I HAD FOUND A GOOD FORD TRAINED MECHANIC WHOM I HAD BEEN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO FOR SERVICING AND A MINOR REPAIR THE PAST YEAR). HE REPLACED THE ORGINAL TFI MODULE AND THE STATOR ASSEMBLY WITH FORD FACTORY PARTS---TFI MODULE E6SZ-12A297-A AND THE STATOR ASSEMBLY E8PZ-12A112-A). TWO DAYS AFTER REPLACING THESE PARTS THE ENGINE QUITE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH IN DOWNTOWN BOULDER, CO. I DID NOT LEARN THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN WAS THE RESULT OF THE TFI MODULE GETTING TOO HOT UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN THE NEWSPAPER. THE APPARENT CAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWNS IS THAT THE TFI MODULE IS MOUNTED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT AFTER 1995 FORD MOVED THE UNIT TO UNDERNEATH THE FENDER AWAY FROM ENGINE. I READ ABOUT THE JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA WHO ORDER A RECALL OF ALL FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM (AUG 8, 2000) I WROTE FORD AND ASKED FOR A REFUND OF THE MONEY I SPENT REPLACING THE UNIT. I ALSO REQUESTED THAT IF REPLACING THE UNIT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO FIX IT
NHTSA complaint #734940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ledyard, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH IS VERY WARM TO THE TOUCH AFTER OPERATION. I UNDERSTAND SOME FORDS WITH THIS SWITCH HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT MINE. WHY?
NHTSA complaint #716281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Creston, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE EEC-IV COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #521508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Joppatowne, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
UPON STARTING RADIO/WINDSHIELD WIPER/DASH INSTRUMENTS WORKED, BUT WHEN MOTOR STARTS EVERY THING TURNS OFF, REPAIR WIRING AT IGNITION SWITCH AND REPLACED SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #507525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellijay, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO ACT UP. AFTER DRIVING APPROX 2 MILES SHE SMELLED SMOKE, AND SHE STOPPED AND OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE ENGINE ON FIRE. IT SPREAD TO THE DASH, AND BURNED THE SEATS INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #819140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Magnolia, MAFire2 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING WITNESSES TOLD HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, OWNER THEN PULLED OVER TO FIND REAR OF VEHICLE ON FIRE. HE NOTES THAT HE AND HIS DOG HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF DRIVER'S SIDE TO ESCAPE, ENGINE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #805898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Centerview, MOFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE PARKED AND BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH.
NHTSA complaint #802708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Collings Lakes, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH WIRING WENT BAD IN HARNESS AND BURNT OUT SOLENOID AND STARTER.
NHTSA complaint #802250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Collings Lakes, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH WIRING WENT BAD IN HARNESS AND BURNT OUT SOLENOID AND STARTER.
NHTSA complaint #802250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Altos, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #507018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greensboro, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRUCK WAS PARKED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED OUT, CONSUMER SAID THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH , DEALER SAID NOT IN THE RECALL, PURCHASED TRUCK USED . PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #802602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lusby, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
STARTED TO STAY ON WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSTALLATION TO MELT.
NHTSA complaint #801459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm BAY, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE WIRE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT, GOT HOT . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #800862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Farmingham, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE DASH TO MELT, WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #986817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lubbock, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE UP IN THE MORNING, AND STARTED TO DRIVE TO WORK, HE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND THEN A FLAME OF FIRE APPEARED.
NHTSA complaint #985655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milan, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
RANGER WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE (ELECTRICAL SHORT). PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #985477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alamogordo, NM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SEPARATED INTO 2 PARTS, CAUSING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES FAILING. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #504066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Philad, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #504368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Philad, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #504368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Philad, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #504368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grand Blanc, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, FROM THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #984275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sierra Madre, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ARRIVED HOME, PARKED VEHICLE AND WENT INSIDE OF HOME, NOTICED ABOUT 5 MINS LATER SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD, WITHIN MINS FIRE ENGULFED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #983764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sierra Madre, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ARRIVED HOME, PARKED VEHICLE AND WENT INSIDE OF HOME, NOTICED ABOUT 5 MINS LATER SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD, WITHIN MINS FIRE ENGULFED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #983764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE Dalles, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
EXPERIENCING SHORTS IN IGNITION, HAVE TO JIGGLE TO MAKE IT OPERATE PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #983691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE Dalles, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
EXPERIENCING SHORTS IN IGNITION, HAVE TO JIGGLE TO MAKE IT OPERATE PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #983691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.