FaultScore

1991 Ford Ranger electrical problems

23 of the 145 complaints about the 1991 Ford Ranger are about the electrical system — 16% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 100,000 miles.

F

23

Complaints

0

Crashes

20

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 7 30.4%
Interior/Under Dash 5 21.7%
Front Underhood 3 13.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery 2 8.7%
Wiring 2 8.7%
Electrical System 2 8.7%
Ignition 1 4.3%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 1 4.3%

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.

at 150,000 miles Bloomfield, NM Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1991 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 8/23/12

NHTSA complaint #10467104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles SAN Francisco, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING OUT SIDE WHEN THE BATTERY EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AS A RESULT. *JG

NHTSA complaint #10001471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Davenport, IA Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A FAILED IGNITION SWITCH, MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FAILED PART WAS NOT WORTHY OF ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE TO COMPENSATE FOR A VEHICLE DESTROYED BY FIRE. PH. CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.

NHTSA complaint #8024028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Francisco, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

CONSUMER STATED THAT A BATTERY EXPLODED, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. MANUFACTURE OF BATTERY IS JOHNSON CONTROLS INC. /SEAR DIE HARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8021108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Murrells Inlet, SC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THERE WAS A FIRE WITHIN THE FIREWALL WITH SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.

NHTSA complaint #849756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mendota, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

VEHICLE PARKED. INFORMED VEHICLE ON FIRE. POPPED HOOD & NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM ALTERNATOR AREA. PUT FLAMES OUT 3 TIMES. NOTICED THE WIRE CONNECTOR HAD CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #845769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Athens, AL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED/BURNED, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #522984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancaster, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, INSTRUMENT PANEL MELTED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #820130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Waxahachie, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL PERFORMED A DETAILED INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. OWNER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #819488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT. Worth, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

LOOSE FRONT WHEEL WELL WIRING CONNECTOR CAUSED INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #518480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marysville, WA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DASHBOARD STARTED TO VE ENGULFED IN A FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE INTERIOR OF THE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #810091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hagerstown, MD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DRIVING FROM WORK, STARTED & WARMED UP ENGINE, SMELLED SOMETHING, TURNED ON INTERIOR LITE, NOTICED SMOKE FROM DASHBOARD, AMBER GLOWED AT FEET AREA, PULLED OVER, FLAMES ENGULFED TRUCK; VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #805813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hagerstown, MD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DRIVING FROM WORK, STARTED & WARMED UP ENGINE, SMELLED SOMETHING, TURNED ON INTERIOR LITE, NOTICED SMOKE FROM DASHBOARD, AMBER GLOWED AT FEET AREA, PULLED OVER, FLAMES ENGULFED TRUCK; VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #805813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonne Terre, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE FIRE CAUSED BY IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #502246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Green Acres, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ELECTRICAL HOUSING AREA NEAR THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #986864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stewartsvill, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOOD; CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #984560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Ozark, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY A UNDER DASH FIRE. SOURCE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Novi, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #983685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Novi, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #983685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonneterre, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

UNDER THE DASH FIRE , VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT INTERIOR BURNED.

NHTSA complaint #979527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bonneterre, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

UNDER THE DASH FIRE , VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT INTERIOR BURNED.

NHTSA complaint #979527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake CI, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

TURN IGNITION OFF, FUEL RELAY KEEPS RUNNING, BATTERY SHORTS OUT DUE TO WIRING RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME. TT

NHTSA complaint #962388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wales Center, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

AFTER SITTING FOR A DAY, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, NO ONE DROVE THIS VEHICLE AT ALL, FIRE COMPANY SAID DUE TO ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM. TT

NHTSA complaint #961821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Ford Ranger problems

← Full 1991 Ford Ranger report