16 of the
88 complaints about the 1989 Ford Ranger are about the
electrical system — 18% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
73,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING SECONDARY IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
NHTSA complaint #10986335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sedalia, MOFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER HOOD RIGHT SIDE RANDOMLY BURST INTO FLAMES IN MY GARAGE.....= = ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOAST...FAN BLADE IN A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR ALONG WITH MOST OF THE GRILLE AND HEAD LAMP.=.GARAGE----SMOKE DAMAGED,,,,,PUSHED IT OUT WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FIRE DEPT PUT IT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10225977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesGreat Bend, KSFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TRANSPORTED TO A DEALER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NO CURRENT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 09/18/07
NHTSA complaint #10201603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jasper, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL DIE. WHEN IT DIES IT'S HARD TO STEER. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT COULD BE THE IGNITION MODULE.*AK THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN TURNING SHARP CURVE AND WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #874365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cumberland, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION FAILED ON A COUNTRY ROAD GOING UPHILL AND AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD. SEVERAL VEHICLES STOPPED BEHIND ME, INCLUDING A SCHOOL BUS, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AND WOULD NOT PASS ME BECAUSE OF LIMITED VISABILITY. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO SART MY PICKUP THREE MEN CAME BY IN A OFFERRED TO PUSH ME OFF OF THE ROADWAY SO THAT I NO LONGER IMPEDED TRAFFIC. I REPLACE THE INGNITION MODULE MYSELF WITH AN AFTER MARKET UNIT AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS TO DATE.
NHTSA complaint #731178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Corpus Chrisit, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION, TURNED OFF FOR AROUND OR ABOUT TWO HOURS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN WIRE WHICH SHORTED OUT. CONSUMER ALSO VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. 8AK
NHTSA complaint #855289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT Worth, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DRIVER SMELLED GAS, PULLED OVER AND WITHIN 1 MINUTE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES WHICH STARTED UNDERNEATH HOOD. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #853498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakville, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ENGINE DIED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, BROKEN CRIMP HOOKS THAT HOLD THE PLASTIC HALF OF THE SWITCH TO THE METAL HALF. MJS
NHTSA complaint #549033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT Worth, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ,STARTED SMELLING GAS AND PULLED OVER, WITHIN 1 MINUTE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHICH STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #852216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Placentia, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN DEC. OF 96. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #821762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rocky Mount, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DIFFICULTY IN STARTING VEHICLE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUING TO TURN OVER WHILE IN POSTION.
NHTSA complaint #801103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
White Hall, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, WIRING AROUND THE BATTERY, VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #985992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
James Town, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DRIVING VEHICLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES, ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT SECTION OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #984933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thomaston, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #980105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thomaston, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #980105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thomaston, GAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
UNDER THE DASH COMPARTMENT FIRE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ELECTRICAL SHORT. ALL WIRING BURNED AND INTERIOR BURNED WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #980268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.