41 of the
966 complaints about the 1999 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
78,000 miles.
TAIL LIGHTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT, THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITION. SPOT CHECKS BY ME SHOW THAT SOMETIMES THEY ARE WORKING AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT. SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10882935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesTucson, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE - GAUGE INDICATED ALMOST 1/2 TANK OF GAS WHEN TRUCK RAN OUT OF GAS.
NHTSA complaint #10712721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fostoria, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVEN AND GOING ABOUT 20MPH. AND COME TO A STOP LIGHT I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKES THEY WORKED A LITTLE THEN I COULDN'T PRESS DOWN ANYMORE ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. I CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THE TECH. SAID THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE HE TOLD ME THIS ITEM SHOULD NEVER WENT BAD. I ASKED A COUPLE OF FRIENDS ABOUT THIS THEY TOLD ME PARTS LIKE THIS SHOULD NEVER GO BAD? I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!
NHTSA complaint #10426704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Keokuk, IA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONYTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD SPORTS (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A BAD CONNECTION THAT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE , BUT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED AND PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10335828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 94,000 milesBerea, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1999 FORD RANGER. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON AND MADE SHORTING SOUND WHEN TURN SIGNAL LEVER WAS USED. 2 DAYS LATER WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM PA. REAR OF TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE AND IN A MATTER OF 3-4 SECONDS WAS A TOTAL LOSS TRAVELING INTO THE CAB AREA. INTERIOR WAS SO BURNT EVEN THE METAL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DESTROYED.I BELIEVE THE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10264134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesButte, MTCrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTING IN 2007 MY 1999 FORD RANGER WOULD NOT GO INTO 4 WHEEL DR.. I WAS ALERTED BECAUSE THE 4-HIGH LIGHT STARTED BLINKING TO WARN OF A PROBLEM. AFTER 8 TRIPS TO3 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS, IT WILL GO INTO 4-HIGH BUT IT ALWAYS SLIPS OUT. IT APPEARS TO BE IRREPAIRABLE. ALSO THE 4-HIGH LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH IT HAS DROPPED BACK INTO 2 WHEEL DR.. AT 70 M.P.H., ON ICE AND SNOW THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!
NHTSA complaint #10256547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 190,962 milesAmelia Courthouse, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL *THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE STEREO WOULD ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IT ALSO GETS SO HOT THAT IT IS MELTING THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE STEREO. AS OF JULY 31, 2008 THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,962.
NHTSA complaint #10236484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warren, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED BY A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. HE STATED THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKS INTO THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER WITH THE NUMBERS 05S28. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE EXACT NHTSA RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,869.
NHTSA complaint #10199850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,920 milesLA Crosse, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVVED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION IN ORDER TO PREVENT FROM HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING CHAFING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10169416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Mateo, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DOME LIGHTS STAYS ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS SHUT. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, WOULD NOT REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE. STAYS ON EVEN WHILE DRIVING AND AT NIGHT THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS HAZARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I HAVE TO REMOVE THE FUSE IF I WANT TO DRIVE SAFELY.
NHTSA complaint #10140835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Garden Grove, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1) WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY START AND STOP 2) SMOKE PUFFS RISING FROM STEERING COLUMN OCCASIONALLY
NHTSA complaint #10114638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Girard, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELETRICAL SYSTEM. MY DOOR CONTACT PIN SWITCH SAYS MY DOORS ARE OPEN EVEN THOUGH I SHUT THE DOOR AND LOCK THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10104903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesMartinsburg, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DOORS ARE SHUT. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN THE DOORS ARE SHUT. THE PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. OF COURSE THAT WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10104907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canyon Country, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR SWITCHES WITH THIS VECHICLE. I HAD THE DOOR SWITCHES REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO BECAUSE THEY BOTH WERE SAYING THE THE DOOR WAS OPEN WHEN IN FACT THEY WERE CLOSED. A YEAR LATER THE CAR STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS. THEY SPONTAINSOULY TURN THEMSELVES ON FOR NO REASON AND AT TIMES WHEN I TRY TO TURN THEM ON IN THE RAIN THE DONT WORK PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10103070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesAshland, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED ON THEIR OWN. WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10083257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 34,000 milesGermanton, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DOME LIGHT/AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOCKING THE DOORS. STEERING COLUMN SMOKED, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10071689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10049013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TRUCK WAS STOPPED & LEFT RUNNING, DRIVER AND PASSENGER GOT OUT TO SEE IF ROAD TOO MUDDY TO DRIVE ON. WHEN OPENED DOOR LESS THAN 1 MINUTE LATER, TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRE SMELLED ELECTRICAL, BATTERY UNHOOKED, VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. APPARENTLY WIRE ON POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE TOUCHED METAL AND STARTED THE FIRE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND DOOR OR WINDOWS WORKED ON. WHAT WOULD MAKE IT SHORT OUT AND START FIRE IF NOT FACTORY DEFECT. DT
NHTSA complaint #768817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willow Grove, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CONSUMER STATES ALTERNATOR IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AT 45,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #565696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fayetteville, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I TURNED ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO CHANGE LANES. INITIALLY THE TURN SIGNAL WORKED NORMALLY. AFTER CHANGING LANES, A COLUMN OF SMOKE BEGAN RISING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD HAD GONE FROM BLINKING ON AND OFF TO A STEADY DIM GREEN AND THE TURN SIGNAL ARM HAD NOT FULLY MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION. I MOVED THE TURN SIGNAL ARM TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE SMOKE STOPPED SHORTLY AFTER THAT. AT A STOP SIGN, THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED. I DID NOT USE TURN SIGNAL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #764950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Evansville, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHEN TURNING ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN. SOMETIMES LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF. CONSUMER PLAYED TWICE WITH SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8010247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Appleton, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHEN TURNING ON DIRECTIONAL LIGHT, AND AT MAKING A TURN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL RELATED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8003799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highland, MICrashFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
SPEED 25 MPH TRAVELING DOWN ICY, DIRT ROAD, LOST CONTROL AND STRUCK TREE ON PASSENGER SIDE IN FRONT OF DOOR. APPROX. 10 MIN. LATER CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND IS NOW TOTAL DAMAGE, ALTHOUGH ORIGINAL DAMAGE WAS ONLY DENT TO FRONT QUARTER PANEL.
NHTSA complaint #756242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medville, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
HIGH BEAM FOG LIGHT WIRES ARE COMING OUT AND CAUSING FOG LIGHT TO BE INOPERATIVE. LICENSE PLATE SOCKET BULB HAD TURNED COPPER WIRES BLACK.
NHTSA complaint #898965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carol Stream, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
STOPPED AT RED LIGHT WITH LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON. TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR ON DASH WENT DIM, BUT NOT OUT COMPLETELY. A FEW SECONDS LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN AROUND THE OPENING FOR THE HAZARD LIGHT ACTIVATION SWITCH. SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, PUSHED TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE; WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES, STARTED BACK UP, NO FURTHER INDICATION OF PROBLEM (HOWEVER, DID NOT USE TURN SIGNALS AGAIN FOR REMAINDER OF TRIP: ~5 MILES).
NHTSA complaint #753119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bristol, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EMERGENCY BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE, AND THERE A SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO, DOME LIGHTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #877432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bellefonta, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNED BY THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING 4X4 SYSTEM, OVERDRIVE AND BACK LIGHTS NOT TO WORK, WIRE REPLACED NOW ALL SYSTEMS WORKING FINE.
NHTSA complaint #784517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Limerick, ME
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIDSHIELD WIPERS START UNEXPECTEDLY ,CYCLE BETWEEN 1 AND 3 TIMES CAN FIND NO PATTEREN AT THIS TIME I DO BELEIVE SOME ARE CAUSED BY TURNING ON DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS. SOME TIME JUST GOING DOWN SMOOTH STRIGHT ROAD THEY WILL START. WHEN THEY DO CYCLE IT IS NOT AT FAST RATE. CONCERNED IT COULD BE SHORT SOME PLACE IN STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #730348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Limerick, ME
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIDSHIELD WIPERS START UNEXPECTEDLY ,CYCLE BETWEEN 1 AND 3 TIMES CAN FIND NO PATTEREN AT THIS TIME I DO BELEIVE SOME ARE CAUSED BY TURNING ON DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS. SOME TIME JUST GOING DOWN SMOOTH STRIGHT ROAD THEY WILL START. WHEN THEY DO CYCLE IT IS NOT AT FAST RATE. CONCERNED IT COULD BE SHORT SOME PLACE IN STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #730348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wisconson Rapids, WIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
AFTER PARKING IN GARAGE TAIL LIGHT SHORT CIRCUITED, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE . FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #862092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.