1997 Ford Ranger headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DOME LIGHT STARTED TURNING ITSELF ON WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD TURN ITSELF BACK OFF. IT WOULD ALSO TURN ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. I COULDN'T GET THE LIGHT COVER OFF SO I PULLED THE FUSE WHICH LEAVES ME WITH NO WINDSHIELD WASHER SQUIRTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. NO MATER WHAT IS DONE OR FIXED, THE LIGHT STAYS ON WHICH IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE CARS WILL USUALLY AUTOMATICALLY FAIL INSPECTION WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET IT TO PASS INSPECTION IF ITS ON 90% OF THE TIME? I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 93 RANGER BUT OTHER PEOPLE WITH RANGERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES & THIS SITE SHOWS OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. WHY WON'T FORD RECALL & FIX IT WHEN ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM? THESE THINGS ARE SAFETY ISSUES!! I CAN'T ADD WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY ARE ONGOING ISSUES FOR THE LAST TENISH YEARS!

NHTSA complaint #10995244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

GUY NEXT DOOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR LATE ONE NIGHT TO TELL ME THAT MY DOME LIGHT WAS ON. I LOOKED & IT WASN'T. HE SAID THAT WAS ODD BECAUSE HE EVEN WALKED BY IT & COULD SEE INSIDE. A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF. FROM THAT POINT ON IT WOULD RANDOMLY TURN ITSELF ON. NATURALLY FORD TOLD ME THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP IT WITHOUT PAYING A TON OF MONEY TO A GARAGE WAS TO PULL THE FUSE & I'VE HAD TO USE A FLASHLIGHT IF I NEED A LIGHT AT NIGHT EVER SINCE. MY TRUCK ALSO HAS A THEFT LIGHT BECAUSE A FACTORY ALARM WAS AN OPTION FOR MY TRUCK. I DO NOT HAVE AN ALARM BUT THE WORD ALARM IS STILL ON THE PANEL. THAT LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON & SAY THEFT. I DO NOT HAVE AN ALARM! I TOLD FORD & THAT TOLD ME THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE I DON'T HAVE AN ALARM. I SAID THAT MAYBE A WIRE WAS CROSSED SOMEWHERE BUT FORD TOLD ME," NO! ". TALKING TO OTHER RANGER OWNERS HERE & THERE I'VE FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY ARE THERE OTHERS DOING THE EXACT SAME THINGS BUT IT IS ALSO OTHER YEARS BESIDES 1997. I LIKE THE TRUCK JUST TIRED OF FORD & TIRED OF THE BS!!

NHTSA complaint #10744089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

GUY NEXT DOOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR LATE ONE NIGHT TO TELL ME THAT MY DOME LIGHT WAS ON. I LOOKED & IT WASN'T. HE SAID THAT WAS ODD BECAUSE HE EVEN WALKED BY IT & COULD SEE INSIDE. A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF. FROM THAT POINT ON IT WOULD RANDOMLY TURN ITSELF ON. NATURALLY FORD TOLD ME THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP IT WITHOUT PAYING A TON OF MONEY TO A GARAGE WAS TO PULL THE FUSE & I'VE HAD TO USE A FLASHLIGHT IF I NEED A LIGHT AT NIGHT EVER SINCE. MY TRUCK ALSO HAS A THEFT LIGHT BECAUSE A FACTORY ALARM WAS AN OPTION FOR MY TRUCK. I DO NOT HAVE AN ALARM BUT THE WORD ALARM IS STILL ON THE PANEL. THAT LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON & SAY THEFT. I DO NOT HAVE AN ALARM! I TOLD FORD & THAT TOLD ME THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE I DON'T HAVE AN ALARM. I SAID THAT MAYBE A WIRE WAS CROSSED SOMEWHERE BUT FORD TOLD ME," NO! ". TALKING TO OTHER RANGER OWNERS HERE & THERE I'VE FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY ARE THERE OTHERS DOING THE EXACT SAME THINGS BUT IT IS ALSO OTHER YEARS BESIDES 1997. I LIKE THE TRUCK JUST TIRED OF FORD & TIRED OF THE BS!!

NHTSA complaint #10744089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: 1. INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL WIPE 2, 3, 4, 5 TIMES AT RANDOM IN A ROW ALWAYS AND NOT IN THAT ORDER. 2. BACKUP LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BLOW FUSE AFTER REPLACING ALL LIGHTING PARTS 3. HORN WORKS 1% OF THE TIME, UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE. 4. AC BLOWS HOT AIR INTERMITTENTLY EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BLOWER BLEND DOOR. 5. GAS: WHEN BELOW 1/4 TANK AND MAKING RIGHT TURN TRUCK WILL STALL, EVEN AFTER WORK ON TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10329668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE RELAY TO THE DOME LIGHT SHORTED OUT. IT'S HAPPENED TWICE. I KNOW 3 OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO DRIVE RANGERS , AND HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF THEM HAS HAD THE SAME FAILURE TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #10113917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH 1997 FORD RANGER. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10066975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOME LIGHTS STAYS ON FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. I HAD TO REMOVE THE BULBS, NOW I HAVE NO DOME LIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10082748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10052268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

A FEW THINGS HERE, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT RANDOM. HAD IT CHECKED A FEW TIMES. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. DOME LIGHT/DOOR CHIME WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN DOOR IS SHUT AND/OR CAR IS TURNED ON. LEFT HAND BLINKER WENT NUTS A FEW TIME, BASICLY IT WAS BLINKING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. A FEW SECOND 'POWER LOSS' HAPPEND A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING, LOST POWER TO RAIDO, AND LIGHTS. THE REAR END BOUNCES WAY TOO MUCH WHEN I HIT A BUMP, CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #10051112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE INTERIOR LIGHT IN MY TRUCK DOES NOT GO OUT WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT AND THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #10043513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN OFF AND ON WHENEVER THEY WANT TO. THEY SOMETIMES WILL NOT RUN AT ALL OR THEY WILL STOP RUNNING DURING USE. THE DOME LIGHT ALSO STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDOW. IT STARTED DOING IT WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR THEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR STARTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I CHECKED WITH A DEALER AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH RANGERS FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND STILL TROUBLES MANY OWNERS RIGHT UP TO THE 2001 MODELS. *MR *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS**739942

NHTSA complaint #10006361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND THE WASHERS DID NOT WORK. ALSO THE DOME LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OR MORE. *JB THE WIPERS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE USED. THE DOME LIGHT WAS DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. SCC

NHTSA complaint #10009970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AND STAY ON. ALSO, ALARM WILL COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE DOOR SWITCHES WILL NOT ALLOW THE INTERIOR LIGHT TO GO OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS IN FULL MOTION WITH THE CLUTCH LET ALL THE WAY OUT. WHEN BACKING UP IN THE DARK IT IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE INTERIOR LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA complaint #8013044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WON'T GO IN ANY GEAR THIS MORNING SEEMED FINE YESTERDAY.THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME EVEN WITH THE DOOR CLOSED, IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE AND IS VERY INCONVENIENT.

NHTSA complaint #757312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON. ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1994 FORD RANGER.

NHTSA complaint #753684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN SENSORS IN DOOR ACCUMLATE DIRT IT CAUSES DOME LIGHT TO COME ON. LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT UNTIL CONSUMER TAKES OUT FUSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #891326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN GETTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON ALL DAY, AND THERE IS A BINGING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #889319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR DOOR LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHEN DOORS ARE SHUT, AND WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS PROBLEM BECOMES MORE OF A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #885853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. REPLACED THE INTERIOR LIGHT RELAY. THIS DID NOT WORK. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE LIGHT OFF. THIS CAUSES SERVERE DANGERS AT NIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #742328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DOME LIGHT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE PINGING SOUND AS IF THE DOOR WAS AJAR. I CALLED CARRIAGE FORD (WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE). THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NECESSARILY IN THE DOME LIGHT BUT IN THE DOOR SWITCHES--THEY'VE HAD TO REPLACE A NUMBER OF THESE ALREADY. MY DAUGHTER, WHO LIVES IN TN, ALSO HAS A RANGER AND SHE'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE NOTICED PEOPLE IN OTHER RANGERS DRIVING WITH THEIR DOME LIGHTS STUCK ON, TOO. I REASONED THIS MUST BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND CHECKED TO SEE HOW MUCH THE PARTS WERE TO REPLACE IT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MINIMAL FOR THE PARTS--BUT THE LABOR WAS $160+. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS WITH THESE PARTS. BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES, (DOME LIGHT AS WELL AS REAR HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT) I HOPED THEY'D TAKE CARE OF IT. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME. CAN YOU? WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? THANKS, CHRISQUIRE@HOME.COM.

NHTSA complaint #741980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS

POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS MAKING A NOISE LIKE PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER PUMP REPLACED. RIGHT WINDOW IS LOOSE WHILE GOING DOWN. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OCCASIONALLY WHILE TAKING OFF. THERE ARE LOOSE BOLTS UNDERNEATH SEATS. FOG LIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER STATES OIL FROM MASTER CYLINDER DAMAGED HOOD. DOOR LOCK INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR NEVER WORKED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #882240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DRAINING BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #881757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR LIGHT FAILS TO SHUT OFF OCCASIONALLY AFTER DOOR IS CLOSED;PRESENTS PROBLEM FOR NIGHT DRIVING WHEN THIS OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #740218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, AND IS VERY DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER OWNED A 1993, RANGER AND HAD SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURR TO SEE IF THEY WILL PAY FOR IT.

NHTSA complaint #879913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN DOME LIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED A POSSIBLE SHORT IN SWITCH WAS CAUSING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #879706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN DOME LIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED A POSSIBLE SHORT IN SWITCH WAS CAUSING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #879706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTED AND DOOR CLOSED AND DOES NOT GO OFF. PROBLEM SEEING AT NIGHT... NO WAY TO TURN OFF WITHOUT REMOVING THE BULBS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT START WHEN TURNED ON THE DO NOT GO OFF WHEN SWITCHED OFF. HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ON THEN OFF AGAIN. SHIFT KNOB COMES OFF WHEN PULLING SHIFT LEVER FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 4TH. MAKES SHIFTING DIFFICULT WHILE STARTING UP A HILL AND MERGING ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THE KNOB SLIPS OFF COMPLETELY AND THE SHIFTER ENDS UP IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #738540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTED AND DOOR CLOSED AND DOES NOT GO OFF. PROBLEM SEEING AT NIGHT... NO WAY TO TURN OFF WITHOUT REMOVING THE BULBS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT START WHEN TURNED ON THE DO NOT GO OFF WHEN SWITCHED OFF. HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ON THEN OFF AGAIN. SHIFT KNOB COMES OFF WHEN PULLING SHIFT LEVER FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 4TH. MAKES SHIFTING DIFFICULT WHILE STARTING UP A HILL AND MERGING ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THE KNOB SLIPS OFF COMPLETELY AND THE SHIFTER ENDS UP IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #738540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR LIGHT STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #878229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DOME LIGHT COMES ON BY ITSELF AND FAILS TO TURN OFF.

NHTSA complaint #784485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.