1995 FORD RANGER Electrical System Problems

I WAS PULLING A SMALL TRAILER GOING ABOUT 15MPH OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND FELT THE TRAILER DROP OFF OF THE VEHICLE I STOPPED AND GOT OUT AND NOTICED THAT THE LAST 2 FEET OF THE REAR FRAME RAILS FELL OUT TAKING THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS AND BUMPER WITH IT. AFTER I REALIZED THAT THE REAR FRAME RUSTED OUT, I INSPECTED THE WHOLE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE RADIUS ARM BRACKET HAS HOLES IN IT, I HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE SHACKLES, THE DRIVER SIDE CAB MOUNT RUSTED OUT AND NOW HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I ALSO HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A RATHER LARGE HOLE IN THE FRAME IN BETWEEN THE CAB AND THE BED OF THE TRUCK, MY GAS TANK STRAPS HAVE RUSTED OFF AND I NOW HAVE IT RATCHET STRAPPED IT IN BECAUSE THE MOUNT FOR THE STRAP RUSTED OUT OF THE FRAME. I BELIEVE THAT SINCE THE TRUCK IS STILL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER MINUS THE FRAME AND RUST ISSUES AND SINCE IT STILL HAS MODERATE TO LOW MILES I BELIEVE THAT THE FORD COMPANY SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT WITH THEIR VALUED CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE OR AT LEAST REPAIR IT TO WHERE IT IS STREET WORTHY. RANGERS ARE GREAT TRUCKS BUT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY MANUFACTURED WRONG. *TR

Mileage: 139,026

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHIME BOX IN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WOULD EMIT A VERY LOUD NOISE THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN OFF. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE CHIME BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH WIRING OR IMPROPER LOCATION. WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN MY VEHICLE THE SWITCH ACTIVATES AND SHUTS OFF FUEL. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE,SON, BROTHER, AND MYSELF. ON VERY BUSY HIGHWAYS, PARKING LOT ENTRANCE, AND INTERSECTIONS. HAD PART REPLACED ONCE AT QUITE AN EXPENSE STILL HAVE PROBLEM. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ALONE EVEN OFF ROAD WHEN I WOULD EXPECT AN OCCURRENCE. WIFE AND FRIEND ALMOST GOT REARENDED AT BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED CREATED A SERIOUS TRAFFIC PROBLEM. MY SON WAS IN AREA SHOPPING AND WENT TO ASSIST MOTHER HELD DOWN RED TOP OF INERTIA SWITCH. VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN TILL NEXT INCIDENT WHICH THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL EVEN AFTER REPLACED. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND NOT BE SUSPECTED AS CAUSE BECAUSE OF SWITCHES INTENDED USE. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 7/23/2010 AGAIN WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON HIGHWAY AT BUSY TIME OF DAY. *TR

Mileage: 50,734

PURCHASED RANGER SPLASH IN 2001 WITH 74,000 MILES. IT STARTED DINGING AS IF THE DOOR WAS OPEN WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION NON-STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH THE DOOR SHUT. THIS IS A LOUD, PIERCING DING. I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AND 75,000 MILES LATER IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. THE DOME LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS THE FUSE IS REMOVED. THE SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. THE WIPERS OCCASIONALLY COME ON AT FULL SPEED AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THE LIGHTS OCCASIONALLY STOP WORKING THEN START WORKING AGAIN ON THEIR OWN. THE PAINT PEELED OFF THE HOOD. THE OLD STARTERS WENT BAD CONSTANTLY. TRUCK WOULD START IN COLD WEATHER BUT NOT WARM WEATHER BECAUSE PIECES OF THE STARTER WOULD CHIP OFF. THE SWELLING IN THE HEAT MADE THESE CHIPS GET STUCK AND KEEP TRUCK FROM STARTING. AFTER SEVERAL STARTERS WERE REPLACED, THEY FINALLY DEVELOPED A NEW KIND. IT HAS SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE BUT IT HAS 180,000 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL RUNNING...WITH ITS OWN LITTLE PERSONALITY. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

I AM AN OWNER OF TWO FORD RANGER PICK UPS AND HAD OWNED ANOTHER RANGER IN THE PAST. ALL T HERE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DOOR CHIMES DINGING NON STOP, DOME LIGHT FAILURE, RADIO POWER FAILURE AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNING ON AND OFF ALL BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. I MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO FORD AND WAS TOLD TO STOP HARASSING THEM. MY DEALERSHIP SAID AND I QUOTE "YOU'RE JUST BEING A WOMAN." WELL THIS AFTER NOON THE PROBLEM TOOK A VERY SERIOUS TURN. RETURNING HOME FROM A VACATION MY 1995 FORD RANGER EX CAB XLT 2.3 LITER ENGINE. BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. IT STARTED WITH POWER LOSE TO THE RADIO THEN A POWER SURGE TO THE WIPERS, AND THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THOSE AREAS OF PERSISTENT CONCERNS. THEN THEY ALL STOPPED. I NOW HAVE A COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTS, SPEED CONTROL, ODOMETER (LET'S TRUST THAT READ OUT),INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO AND SEVERAL OTHER SYSTEMS. I ATTEMPTED TO FIND A FUSE OR RELAY TO REPAIRS THEM BUT ALL OF THOSE WERE INTACT AND REPLACEMENT MADE NO CHANGE. ESTIMATED DAMAGER AND REPAIR COST IS WELL ABOVE A GRAND. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 1996 AND HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY FORD. *LA

I OWN A 1995 FORD RANGER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS COMING ON WITH OUT BEING TURNED ON. THE RESTRAINTS DON'T RETURN WHICH CAUSES THEM TO GET CAUGHT IN DOOR. THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE WENT OUT AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER GAUGE THAT YOU MOUNT UNDER THE DASH. THE LATCH ON THE TAILGATE WENT OUT. THE IGNITION HAS WENT OUT AND IS GOING OUT AGAIN. I HAVE READ ALOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT'S TIME THAT FORD OWNED UP TO THESE PROBLEMS AND FIX THESE TRUCKS.I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMASTAT TWICE. THERE IS DIFINATELY ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

IGNITION CHIMES WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MY PROBLEM IS WITH AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS THE DOOR CHIME, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHT. THESE THREE ITEMS WILL TURN ON INTERMITENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FOR NO APPARENT REASON BEGIN TO OPERATE. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT TURN OFF WHEN ENTERING OR LEAVING THE VEHICLE, AND SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON FOR HOURS DRAINING MY BATTERY AFTER I HAVE LEFT THE VEHICLE OR WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DOOR CHIME IS THE WORST; IT REFUSES TO STOP RINGING (ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS). THE FORD DEALER HERE HAS TOLD ME THAT IT IS A FAULTY CHIP IN A CONTROL MODULE LOCATED DEEP INSIDE THE DASH BOARD. THEY HAVE A TSB ON IT. OKAY, BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 450.00 TO REPAIR. I THINK THAT IS UNFAIR. IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT I SHOULD PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT COMPONENT INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY THAT IS NOW BECOMING FAULTY. I THINK FORD SHOULD ACCEPT SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSTALLING A FAULTY CHIP OR MODULE. I THINK IF THE CHIP WERE CONTROLLING OTHER IGNITION OR ELECTRICAL PARTS IT WOULD BE A HAZARD. RIGHT NOW THE DOOR CHIME IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR BELIEVED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK

OUR DOME AND CHIMES STAY ON ALL THE TIME EVEN AFTER YOU TAKE OUT THE FUSE THE DOME LIGHT GOES OUT BUT THE CHIMES STILL GOES OFF, THIS HAS BEEN FIX ED 5 TIMES BY THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AND NOW WE WILL BE CHARGE FOR THIS PROBLEM , WE HAVE SPOKEN TO MY OTHER WHO HAS THE SAME VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE, WE KNOW CAUSE OUR DOME LIGHT GOT REAL HOT AND STATED TO SMOKE. WE TOOK OUT OUR LIGHT BULB AND FUSE. PLESE CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, IT SEEMS FORD DOES NOT WANT TO RECONIZE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

THERE IS AN INTERMITENT SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WINDSHIELD WIPERS START WORKING BY THEMSELVES, AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF, AND FAULTY READINGS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL.

THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AFFECTS THREE AREAS OF OPERATION: THE WINDSHIELD WASHER, THE RADIO, AND THE DOME LIGHT AND CHIME. THE MOST DANGEROUS IS THE WINDSHIELD WASHER. WHILE DRIVING IT WILL TURN ITSELF ON AND BLIND MY VISION FOR 15 SECONDS WHILE IT SPRAYS WASHER FLUID ON THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN WIPES IT OFF. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS ONLY AN ANNOYANCE BUT IF I AM CHANGING LANES OR IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT OR ON CURVES IT BECOMES A POTENTIAL DISASTER. IT STARTED DOING IT THE FIRST MONTH I BOUGHT IT FROM A FRIEND (01/98) AND HAS LASTED TILL THE PRESENT DATE(06/00. THE PREVIOUS OWNER WARNED ME OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SO IT HAS BEEN AN ON GOING SITUATION. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE ALSO. IT INVOLVES THE FACTORY RADIO/ TAPE DECK. THE RADIO WORKS GREAT BUT THE TAPE DECK WONT WORK AFTER BEING REPACED ONCE AND WORKED ON BY FORD FOUR TIMES. THE LAST ISSUE IS WITH THE DOME LIGHT AND CHIME SOUND. THE LIGHT REMAINS ON AND THE CHIME CONTINUES TO SOUND FOR UP TO TWO MINUTES AFTER THE DOOR IS CLOSED AND ALL THE SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN FASTENED. I DONT KNOW IF THE THREE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE RELATED BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY ALL THREE ORIGINATE IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING BEHIND THE DASH BOARD. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE WIPER AND WASHER TURNING THEMSELVES ON WHILE I AM DRIVING . IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT SINCE IT HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. MY FRUSTRATION LIES IN THE FACT THAT NEARLY ALL 1995 RANGERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM (ACCORDING TO CONSUMER REPORTS AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL I MEET WHO OWNS THIS SAME YEAR OF TRUCK) AND YET FORD STILL HAS NOT ISSUED A STATEMENT OR A RECALL THAT I AM AWARE OF AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME . TONY FILLEY. (*AK

DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT AND/OR WARNING CHIME COMES ON RANDOMLY. ALSO, DOME LIGHT DOES NOT SHUT OFF AFTER SHUTDOWN, EXITING AND LOCKING VEHICLE. AS REPAIR, DEALER REPLACED DOOR SWITCHES ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT LAST. RECENT REPAIR BY ANOTHER DEALER CAME UP WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AS FAULTY. THIS WAS REPLACED BUT THIS REPAIR DID NOT EVN LAST 24 HOURS. I SUSPECT THE ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM), BUT THE DEALERS SEEM RELUCTANT TO TRY REMOVE & REPLACE OF IT. DO I JUST HAVE A LEMON, OR HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS AND.OR TSBS. I FOUND SOME IN THE DATA BASE; NHTSA ITEMS SB051878, SB051590 AND SB 051449; ALONG WITH ODI'S 852639,983634.*AK

THE DOOR AJAR CHIME AND DASH LIGHT STAYS ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME(AS LONG AS 90 MINUTES) AND THE DOME LIGHT WILL ALSO STAY ON FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AFTER THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WILL COME ON FOR NO REASON AND THEN GO OUT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL GO FROM INTERMITTENT TO FULL OPERATION WHILE IN INTERMITTENT MODE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DOME LIGHT AND THE DOOR LIGHT TO STAY ON, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ON THE DOOR. PROBLEM IS STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE WARNING CHIMES AND DOME LIGHTING STAYED ON CONTINOUSLY AFTER TURNING THE KEY ON EVEN BEFORE ACTUALLY CRANKING THE VEHICLE..ALSO THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS COME ON AND SOMETIMES GO OFF WITHOUT CONSUMER COMMAND...FORDS SERVICE BULLETIN #2526, BULLETIN SEQUENCE #357, DATE 9804, NHTSA ITEM #SB603550 DISCUSSES THIS PROBLEM...THIS APPARENTLY IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR MANY CONSUMERS PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AS I HAVE RESEARCHED SEVERAL AVAILABLE DATABASES AND HAVE VIEWED MANY CUSTOMER CONCERNS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM...THIS MAKES THE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE TOTALLY UNSAFE AS THE CHIMES DISTRACT THE DRIVER TO THE POINT OF UNSAFE OPERATION AND THE DOME LIGHT STAYING ON CONTINOUSLY CAUSES IMPOSSIBLE VISIBILITY WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE USE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO DEPENDABLE SEEMS TO WARRANT A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE...REPAIR COSTS QUOTED AT ANOTHER DEALER LOCATION WERE $275.00 WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE REPAIRS TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER REPAIR... THE ONLY NON-SHOP FIX IS THE REMOVAL OF THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THESE SYSTEMS WHICH ALSO CONTROLS THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER OF THE VEHICLE...WHICH DISABLES THE WIPERS AS WELL....TOTALLY UNSAFE CONDITIONS EXISTS AS A RESULT.

MY FORD RANGER HAS SOME MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE INTERIOR LIGHT JUST COMES ON SOMETIMES, AND THE DOOR BUZZER JUST DINGS ALL OF THE TIME, SOMETIMES THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL STAY ON AFTER I TURN THE LIGHTS AND IGNITION OFF, AND SOMETIMES I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND THEN STOP. I HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND THAT HAS A FORD RANGER TOO, AND HERS HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. COINCIDENCE??? I DONT THINK SO!!!

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE RADIO FAILED FIRST THEN BECAME PROGESSIVELY WORSE INCLUDING THE DOME LIGHT, EXTERIOR DOME LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS COMING ON WITHOUT PROMPT OR NOTICE, DOOR CHIME STAYING ON WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED AND ABS LOCKS UP, ETC.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, CAUSING LIGHTS TO COME ON/OFF, RADIO MALFUNCTIONING AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, AND INTERIOR LAMP TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK

DOME LIGHT/DOOR BUZZER FAILED/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKSINTERMITTENTLY/ CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.

DOME LIGHT/DOOR BUZZER FAILED/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKSINTERMITTENTLY/ CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.

INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO GROUNDED DOOR AJAR SWITHCES.

FAULTY SHOCK ABSORBERS, CAUSING FRONT END NOISE. ALSO, EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE THEN FLAMES UNDER DASH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE THEN FLAMES UNDER DASH. *AK

ELECTRICAL WIRING MALFUNCTIONED CAUSED FAILURE OF ALARM/POWER DOOR LOCKS. *SD

ELECTRICAL SHORT. *SD

FUSES BLOW FREQUENTLY. *SD

WHILE TRUCK WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH ENGINE ON TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

WHILE GOING UP HILL AT 50MPH VEHICLE DROPPED IN SPEED TO 35MPH, ALMOST RESULTING IN REAREND COLLISION. TT