FaultScore

1998 Ford Ranger window and wiper problems

18 of the 744 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 33,290 miles.

B

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Window Devices AND Controls 5 27.8%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 4 22.2%
Windshield 2 11.1%
Exterior 2 11.1%
Heater Core 2 11.1%
Visibility 2 11.1%
Glass, Side/Rear 1 5.6%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Ford Ranger year

1990 16 4.7%
1991 13 3.8%
1992 22 6.5%
1994 14 4.1%
1995 67 19.7%
1996 54 15.9%
1997 36 10.6%
1998 18 5.3%
1999 76 22.4%
2019 24 7.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 30,000 miles Hickory, NC

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA complaint #10254105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Haughton, LA

VISIBILITY

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS ARE SEVERELY CLOUDY, A LOT WORSE AS TIME TIME GOES ON....YEARS AGO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK THEY WERE CLEAR, NOW THEY ARE VERY - VERY OPAC, CLOUDY, SO BAD THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE HEADLIGHT BULB ! THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM! SO MANY, IN FACT THAT THE PART STORE AFTERMARKET INDUSTRIES HAVE COME OUT WITH A RESTORATION KIT . I AM SURE THAT THE CLOUDY, OPAC LENS DO SEVERELY LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED THROUGH THE LENS. MY OPINION ON THIS IS THAT THE TYPE OF PLASTIC SELECTED BY FORD SEEMED FINE BACK IN 1998 BUT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS THE PLASTIC DETERIORATES. MY RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURES REPLACE THEM. BY, I DID BUY THE KIT FROM A PARTS STORE AND IT IS CALLED HEADLIGHT RESTORER / DEFOGGER KIT. MYHEADLIGHT.COM . MY BROTHER AND I HAND BUFFED HIS 2001 JEEP HEADLIGHTS AND IT TOOK US ALMOST 2 HOURS ! IT DID HELP THE AMOUNT OF LIGHTING! P.S. SORRY, HAVEN'T GOT SPELL-CHECK....

NHTSA complaint #10247863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,290 miles Tacoma, WA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

HEATER WENT BAD ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT THAT IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER'S FAULT FOR MAKING A BAD HEATER. *LA

NHTSA complaint #10059489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Advance, IN

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT STAYING ON, PLUS THE WIPERS ARE IRRADIC AND THE WINDOWS WILL SOMETIMES GO DOWN ON THEIR OWN. IT WAS FIXED ONCE AND NOW IT'S HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ON THIS VERY SAME ITEM AND I FEEL FORD SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I CALLED THEM AND ASKED IF THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD FIX SEEING AS IT'S ONE OF THEIR MECHANICAL DEFECTS AND THEY REPLIED WITH A 'NO'. I AM TO THE POINT THAT I JUST WANT TO GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO NOTED THEY HAVE A MENTION OF HOW THIS VEHICLES LEANS. THAT IS ALSO TRUE. MY RANGER LEANS. I THINK THIS TRUCK IS A TRUE LEMON.

NHTSA complaint #761724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Advance, IN

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT STAYING ON, PLUS THE WIPERS ARE IRRADIC AND THE WINDOWS WILL SOMETIMES GO DOWN ON THEIR OWN. IT WAS FIXED ONCE AND NOW IT'S HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ON THIS VERY SAME ITEM AND I FEEL FORD SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I CALLED THEM AND ASKED IF THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD FIX SEEING AS IT'S ONE OF THEIR MECHANICAL DEFECTS AND THEY REPLIED WITH A 'NO'. I AM TO THE POINT THAT I JUST WANT TO GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO NOTED THEY HAVE A MENTION OF HOW THIS VEHICLES LEANS. THAT IS ALSO TRUE. MY RANGER LEANS. I THINK THIS TRUCK IS A TRUE LEMON.

NHTSA complaint #761724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ladysmith, WI

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS VIBRATE QUITE BADLY; IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING AT TWO OR MORE VEHICLES AT THE SAME TIME. THE MIRRORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY, BUT WE HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY IMPROVEMENT WITH THE NEW MIRRORS, THEY VIBRATE ALMOST AS BAD AS THE OTHERS AND WILL GET JUST AS BAD SHORTLY!!!!!!!!! ALSO, WE BROUGHT THE '98 RANGER IN FOR THE PROBLEM OF WE HAD A LIST OF 14 THINGS THAT WERE WRONG, (ONE OF WHICH WAS THE MIRRORS). THEY FIXED MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WERE WRONG WITH THE TRUCK, THEY ALSO CHANGED THE MIRRORS, BUT, THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE NEW MIRRORS, THEY VIBRATE ALSO!!!!!!!! I WILL TELL THE REST OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE WRONG WITH THE TRUCK WHEN I DO TALK TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE OR HOWEVER IT IS TAKEN CARE OF.

NHTSA complaint #741341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

VEHICLE IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. THEN IDLE WILL GO AWAY FOR AWHILE. VEHICLE TURNED OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER ROUGH IDLE GOES AWAY, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE OR STALL, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM WAS LOOSE. PWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO WHEN TURNING WHEEL IT WOULD MAKE ANOISE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #880587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santee, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #736366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santee, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #736366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middlesex, NC

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ANDTAILGATE DOOR JUST OPENED ON ITS ON. THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #865246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wynne, AR

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WHEN EXITING VEHICLE AND SHUTTING DOOR HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE GROUND. CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS KEYS. NEXT MORNING, DRIVER'S SIDE SUPER CAB WINDOW BUSTED FROM THE INSIDE. CONSUMER DID NOT SLAM DOOR, AND NO ONE BUSTED IT. IT BROKE FROM INSIDE. CONSUMER FELT WINDOW SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THAT EASILY.

NHTSA complaint #860783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER BOLTS CAME OUT KNOCKING HOLE THROUGH TRANSMITION CASE.TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER HAD TO BE CUT OUT AFTER SPEED NUTS BROKE LOOSE.HEATER FAILED THREE TIMES.THERMOSTAT REPLACED TWICE DIDN'T HELP.BOLTS HOLDING COOLING FAN ON CAME OUT.SWITCH FOR DOME LIGHT FAILED, AND BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.

NHTSA complaint #719838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDOW WASHER TANK DEFECTIVE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #545721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WINDOW BINDS AND MAKES NOISE GOING UP, ALIGNED WINDOW AND LUBRICATED HOWEVER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM AGAIN. MJS

NHTSA complaint #999999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hampton, GA 1 injured

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

REAR VIEW MIRRORS ON THE EXTERIOR ARE DESIGNED WITH SHARP EDGE, CONSUMER CUT HANDS WHEN WASHING VEHICLE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #545815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angele, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WINDOWS MAKE RATTLING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #607726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glen ST. Mary, FL 1 injured

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED.MIKE SHAD FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. RICK PALMAN IS THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR MIKE SHAD. AND CHRIS @ FORD, REP # 2752 ON 9/28/98 @12:28PM VIA PHONE SAID HE WOULD HAVE MIKE SHAD FORD CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE IT AS IT WOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM. WHEN AT MIKE SHAD FORD, MR. PALMAN REFUSED TO REAIR THE MISSING WINDOW UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #700132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

COMPLAINT#1: GAS TANK LEAKED AFTER VEHICLE WAS ONLY ONE WEEK OLD. DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A NEW TANK. COMPLAINT#2: POWER WINDOWS ARE 'JERKY' AND THEY CHATTER WHEN GOING DOWN. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED IT YET. COMPLAINT#3: PASSENGER SEAT VIBRATES ANY TIME TRUCK DRIVES OVER ANY BUMPS, LARGE OR SMALL. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED IT AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #700768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Ford Ranger problems

← Full 1998 Ford Ranger report