33 of the 744 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger are about the electrical system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 50,000 miles.
33
Complaints
0
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4WD STOPPED WORKING SOME TIME AGO, SERVO/ACTUATOR SEEMED TO BE FREE, RECENTLY STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES IN THE FRONT RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE HUB IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. SORT OF POPS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP HVAC DOES NOT WORK, FAN SPEED ONLY INTERIOR COURTESY STOPPED WORKING
NHTSA complaint #11319686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY FUSE #27 FOR BACKUP LIGHTS AND THE O/D KEEPS BLOWING OUT AND NOW THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES SOMETIMES I PULLED THE COVER OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THE O/D CORD WASN'T PINCHED OR DAMAGED ALSO NO APPEARANCE OF ANY WIRE TOUCHING ANYTHING
NHTSA complaint #11122301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN SIGNALS FAILURE AT TIMES, DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10492989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPON ACTIVATING TURN SIGNAL ON A DARK MORNING, THE HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY FAILED. ACTIVATING THE DIM/BRIGHT LEVER PROVIDED INTERMITTENT ACTIVATION. UPON RELEASE OF THE DIM/BRIGHT FUNCTION THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT REMAIN ON IN EITHER DIM OR BRIGHT MODE. OTHER USERS OF VEHICLE REPORT COMPLETE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THEY TOO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTORE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY AFTER SEVERAL FRANTIC SECONDS OPERATING THE LIGHT SWITCH OR THE DIMMING LEVER WHILE TRAVELING IN THE DARK.
NHTSA complaint #10446786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PARKED OUT ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND 9 PM. FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND PUT IT OUT AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AROUND 9:25 PM.
NHTSA complaint #10442704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRUCK WAS PARKED AT THE VETERINARIAN AND I HAD GONE INSIDE WITH MY TWO DOGS. AFTER ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES SOMEONE OUTSIDE WAS BLOWING THERE CAR HORN. THE RECEPTIONIST LOOKED OUT AND THEN TOLD ME MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. I RAN OUTSIDE AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE USED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS BUT THAT DID VERY LITTLE. THE FIRE TRUCK GOT THERE AND GOT THE FIRE PUT OUT. THEY CUT THE HOOD OPEN TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10395094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE 1998 FORD RANGER WAS PART OF AN AUGUST 2007 RECALL BECAUSE OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD SINCE THEN, THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, DON'T PARK VEHICLE NEAR A STRUCTURE, BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED, AND PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY. WELL, IT'S NEARLY GROUND HOG'S DAY, AND GUESS WHAT? NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO SUPPLY PARTS. FORD NO DOUBT IS STILL BUILDING NEW VEHICLES AND PUTTING WIRING HARNESSES IN THEM, BUT THEY DON'T TAKE THE RECALL SERIOUSLY. NO WONDER THEY'RE NOT A VIABLE AUTOMOBILE ENTITY ANY MORE. BRING ON THE EUROPEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10216625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
MY 1998 FORD RANGER CAUGHT FIRE ON JULY 31, 2006. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE AND THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND A WATCHFUL NEIGHBOR CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NOW, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE IS COMPLETELY CHARRED, PROPERTY ON THE HOUSE IS DAMAGED, AND THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I WILL HAVE A FIRE INSPECTOR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL SWITCH PRESENT ON MANY FORD VEHICLES. THE NHTSA IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER, AS IT HAS ALREADY RECEIVED OVER 550 COMPLAINTS FROM SIMILAR INCIDENTS. PLEASE MAKE A REPORT OF THIS COMPLAINT AND CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10164062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD 3 DOOR SWITCHES REPLACED ON MY RANGER DUE TO THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT COMING ON. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE W/FORDS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY DOME LIGHT WILL STAY ON, AS DOES THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND SOMETIMES THE HORN STARTS BLOWING.
NHTSA complaint #10110354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR AJAR SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS; CAUSES DOME LIGHT TO STAY ILLUMINATED; HAD TO REPLACE SWITCH INSIDE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10104684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO OPERATE AGAIN. *AK THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO MOVE THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING COLUMN BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK ON. THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10080145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER MUST TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO OPERATE AGAIN. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER PLACED THE HIGH BEAMS ON, THEY WOULD FAIL TO GO BACK TO DIM. THE SWITCH ON THE DASH SOMETIMES FAILED TO BRING THE LIGHTS ON, WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE GOING OFF. THE SWITCHES IN THE DOORS WERE FAULTY AND CASUED THE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO TURN OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10063013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE ANTI THEFT DEVICE WOULD ACTIVATE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. DRIVER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. *AK A TECHNICIAN DISABLED THE RELAY. *TS *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10042313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE POWER THE CORD THAT THAT GOES TO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED SOME OF THE WIRES LOCATED BEHIND SPEEDOMETER. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE INSIDE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF, WHEN THE KEYS ARE LEFT INSIDE THE IGNITION WITH THE DOOR CLOSED, THE CHIMER WILL KEEP DINGING UNTIL THE KEY IS REMOVED, THE DEALER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE JEWEL MODULAR, HOWEVER THE BULBS INSIDE THE DASH KEEP BLOWING, WHEN THE BLINKERS ARE TURNED ON THERE IS A CRACKLING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WIRE SHORTING OUT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACT ERRACTICALLY WHEN IN DELAY MODE, THE HAZARD LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT, WHEN HE TURNS THE SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION, THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND WHEN CONSUMER TURNS THE SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION, THE LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF.
NHTSA complaint #565698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL IDLING AND SMOKE STARTED COMIING FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #8006268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS SITTING/IDLING AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8006271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
4- WHEEL DRIVE HAS QUIT WORKING, IT HAS ONLY BEEN USED 3-4 TIMES. ALSO HORN HAS FAILED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #882226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE DASH SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING, DOOR AJAR ALARM ALL WAYS STAY ON AND DOME LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT FOR HOURS AT A TIME DASH GETS HOT, LAST TIME TOOK IT INTO BE FIX CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND WILL NOT GO OUT AT ALL ANY MORE WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT UNTIL ENGINE BLOUS UP, SPEED DOARMERE LIGHT AND FUEL LIGHT ON DASH HAS WENT OUT WILL NOT COME BACK ON AT ALL. THE DASH IS ALL WAYS HOT AND SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO FORD AND THE DEALER AND NO ONE WILL DO ANY THING ABOUT IT AND WHEN I HAVE THEY ALL WAYS SAY TO MANY MILES AND WHEN THERE WAS NOT TO MANY MILES ON IT THEY WILL NOT EVERN FIX IT AND I HAVE TOOK IT BACK SO MANY TIMES I GOT SICK OF IT. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN FIX FROM THE DAY I HAVE BOUGHT IT FROM AJ MOTORS OR FORD. WHEN I CALLED FOR THEY WORD HANG UP ON ME OR GIVE ME A RUN AROUND EVEN TO THIS DAY. "" ( NO HELP AT ALL FROM FORD AND STILL MY TRUCK IS NOT FIXED) ""
NHTSA complaint #732827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
COIL PACK KEEPS FAILING DUE TO FAULTY SENSORS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO QUIT RUNNING. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED PACK AT LEAST TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #872330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING DOOR ADJAR AND INTERIOR LIGHT MALFUNCTION. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERIES FAILS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO GET HIS VEHICLE JUMP STARTED OR TOWED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERIES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO GET HIS VEHICLE JUMP STARTED OR TOWED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER MANY TIMES BUT THE ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THE COMPUTER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERIES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO GET HIS VEHICLE JUMP STARTED OR TOWED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE VEHICLE STALLS AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO FORDS ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN THE SHOP MANY TIMES AND FORD HAS DUPLICATED THE MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM OR COME UP WITH ANY FIX. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 4 MONTH DURING THE LAST YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #709802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATER FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #608755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, REPAIRED THROTTLE VALVE ASSEMBLY, REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER AND REPLACED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #545721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPUTER SYSTEM IS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE DOES NOT IDLE DOWN FROM SPEED UPON RELEASE OF PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA complaint #835436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY (ALL POWER WILL GO OUT) WHICH ALMOST COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, FUSES ETC. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE FURTHER DETAILS AND VIN #. 8AK
NHTSA complaint #829612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.