1996 FORD RANGER Electrical System Problems

THE CONTROL CLUSTERS ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAVE BEEN AT A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TEMPERATURE THAT THE PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE MICRO SWITCHES HAS DEFORMED AND ON OCCASION IT WILL STICK TO YOUR FINGERS. THE CENTER BUTTON ON THE LEFT SIDE HAS DISINTEGRATED TO THE POINT THAT THE ACTUAL MICRO BUTTON IS NOW OPERATED DIRECTLY THROUGH THE MISSING PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL COVERING. ONE OF THE MICRO BUTTONS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS IN THE SAME CONDITION AND BOTH CONTROL CLUSTERS HAVE BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. WITH THE PROBLEMS FORD HAS HAD WITH FIRES I THOUGHT THEY WOULD OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THIS DEFECT BUT BOTH THE LOCAL DEALERS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE INDICATED NO ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE, I GUESS WE WILL WAIT FOR THE FIRE THAT SPREADS THROUGH THE GARAGE AND TAKES DOWN THE WHOLE HOUSE. DEALERS THAT TURNED ME DOWN ARE BLUE BONNET IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TX AND GRIFFITH IN THE KYLE, TX AREA. THE CONTROL STILL ACTUALLY FUNCTIONS IF YOU CAN HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER LONG ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE MICRO SWITCHES AND YOU DON'T MIND GETTING STICKY BLACK GOOP ON YOUR FINGERS. *TR

Mileage: 146,000

TURNS OVER BUT WON'T START. *TR

Mileage: 265,000

THE TWO BUTTONS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HORN, ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THAT CONTROL THE CRUISE CONTROL MELT IN THE HEAT AND EXPOSE THE CIRCUIT BOARDS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS AND I FINALLY NEED TO REPORT THIS. *TR

OVERNIGHT THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO UNDER THE DASH THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AS WELL AS DUCTWORK. IT RE-IGNITED AND BURNED AFTER BEING PUT OUT ONCE THEN AFTER THE BATTERY WAS SUCCESSFULLY DISCONNECTED, DID NOT CATCH FIRE AGAIN. *KB

Mileage: 201,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OBSTRUCTING HIS VIEW. ALSO, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT DOOR AJAR ALARM WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE DOOR WAS BEEN CLOSED INTERMITTENTLY. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRONIC OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. ALL THREE ELECTRICAL FAILURES BEGAN SEPTEMBER 2010. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

UPON ENTERING THE VEH TO GO TO WORK WE FOUND THAT ONE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD MELTED AND A BURNT ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEH. THIS OCCURRED ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT THE CRUISE FEATURE IS LOCATED. WE TALKED WITH ANOTHER OWNER OF A RANGER AND HE ADVISED US THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE RANGER TRUCK. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION AS TO THE RECALL AND WE BOUGHT THE VEH NEW IN 1995. IT IS A 1996 MODEL. THIS VEH WAS IN GOOD CONDITION BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS CAN BE FIXED AND WHAT STEPS TO TAKE IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 13,300

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE ACTIVATING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ELECTRICAL CRACKLING SOUND IN THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING DAILY FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. UPDATED 04/08/08. *LJ THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS A PROBLEM AS WELL. UPDATED

Mileage: 130,000

DT: ON 7/8/05 AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES , VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN OWNER NOTICED THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT, AND A BOOM WAS HEARD. THE OWNER RAN OUTSIDE AND VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE FLAMES WERE NOTICED UNDER HOOD OF TRUCK. THE FLAMES WENT INTO CAB. THE FIRE LASTED ABOUT 30 OR 35 MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS PUT OUT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEVER GAVE INDICATION OF WHAT CAUSED FIRE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. NO INDICATION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL ON 1996 EXTENDED CAB RANGER REGARDING THE PRESSURE BREAK SWITCH. BUT OWNER DOESN'T HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. WORK TOOLS WERE INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BURNED. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR WARNINGS OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO INSURANCE COMPANY. *NM

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 1 HOURR A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 15,000

AN UNDERHOOD ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED AT OR NEAR THE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.*AK

Mileage: 112,620

DASHLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SEES SOOT ON THE DASH SOMETIMES AND SMELLS SOMETHING BURNING. DEALER DETERMINED AMPS ON FACTORY INSTALLED FUSES ARE TOO HIGH. CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUSES SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 30 AMP. *SCC

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OUT. CONSUMER FOUND SOOT EVERYWHERE. CONSUMERS HUSBAND CHECKED TO SEE IF A FUSE HAD BLOWN. THEY NOTICED THAT IN THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX THE FUSES USED WERE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE MANUAL STATED. THESE HAD 50 AMP FUSES. THE MANUAL CALLS FOR 30 AMPS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS OVERAGE IN POWER COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE TO THE VEHICLE AND THAT THIS MAY BE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *JG

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER 1 HOUR DRIVE, VEHICLE WAS 40% BURNED AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. FIRE ORIGINATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON DRIVERS SIDE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, CHIME WOULD GO OFF. DRIVER WOULD JIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT TURNED OFF. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE KEY WILL ALSO COME OUT OF THE SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CHIME AND LIGHT WON'T GO OUT, WIPERS HAVE SHORT. I FEAR A FIRE DUE TO OVERHEATED ELECTRICAL WIRING/COMPONENTS. *AK

TRUCK WAS TAKEN FOR EAST FORD (DEALER) FOR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE. THE OD LIGHT AND REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED FROM THAT POINT ON. TRUCK TAKEN BACK 4/16/2001 FOR SAME, DEALER SAYS WIRING IN STEERING/SHIFTER IS RUBBED AND REQUIRES SHIFTER REPLACMENT.*AK

ENGINE. KNOCKING ROD AT ONLY 56,000 MI. OVER $3,000 FOR NEW ENGINE. HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO TURN ON BEFORE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. CAME ON AFTER TURNING ON HIGH BEAMS AND TURN SIGNALS. ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I'M ABOUT TO DOWNSHIFT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. NO POWER STEERING, NEARLY LOST CONTROL.

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE @ APPROX 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING, ACTTED LIKE A WIRE HAD BURNT INTO BECAUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED AND RAN INTERMITTENT ABOUT 3 TIMES. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DOME LIGHT TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY, ETC. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

UNDER DASH ELECTRICAL WIRING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS/ TAIL LIGHTS, AND DOME LIGHTS, ETC, TO FAIL. THIS MAY RESULT IN VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED DIMMER LIGHTS COME ON. ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE DOOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THE COMPUTER CHIP HAS GONE BAD. *AK *ML

STEERING COLUMN WIRING SHORTED OUT RESULTING IN BURNING. MJS

STEERING COLUMN WIRING SHORTED OUT RESULTING IN BURNING. MJS

NO SUMMARY

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE INSIDE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HAD NOTICED SMOKE FILLING GAUGES & THEN TURNED BLACK. HAD STOPPED VEHICLE & SMELLED SMOKE. CHECKED VEHICLE & DASHBOARD TWICE BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE OCCURRED FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL/DASHBOARD AREA. *AK

PART REPLACED WITH USED PARTS. TOTAL COST $379.18, TOOK 10 DAYS TO GET REPAIRED AT BAY FORD, PORT ORCHARD, WA, 98366. THIS FAILURE CAUSED A SMALL FIRE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN AND FILLED THE CAB WITH SMOKE. THIS INCIDENT ENDANGERED THE LIFE OF MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. NEITHER BAY FORD (REPAIR FACILITY ) NOR FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD HANDLE THIS UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD IT CHECKED & REPAIRED. HAD COMPUTER CHIP CHECKED ALSO. *AK

WHENEVER CONSUMER HITS A BUMP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON. ALSO EVERY TIME HE PUTS THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE FUSE, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH AND REVERSE LIGHTS, BLOWS OUT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM CONCERNING VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT RANDOM. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DEALER PUT MORE MILES ON VEHICLE THEN THE CONSUMER FOR TEST DRIVING. BUT YET THE CONDITION CANNOT BE CORRECTED. ALL COSTS STILL GO TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

IGNITION SPRING FAILED.

RPM GAUGE NOT WORKING . *AK

WIRING ASSEMBLY FAILED.

TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMPUTER FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE GETTING REAR ENDED DUE TO FAILURES.

HIGH SPEED ENGINE MISS DUE TO DEFECTIVE COMPUTER. *AK

WENT OVER A PUDDLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THE WATER GOT UP INTO THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES LATER. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL.

WHEN DRIVING TRUCK STALLS, DEALER SAID PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE A PART AND IT WOULD TAKE 3 MONTHS , NOW IT HAS ALREADY BEEN 9 MONTHS AND MANUFACTURER HASN'T MADE THE PART . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK