1996 FORD RANGER Visibility Problems

54 complaints about Visibility

54
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Visibility Complaints (54)

Feb 24, 2011

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

Oct 21, 2003

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES OR WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. HOW DO YOU DRIVE SAFELY IN THE RAIN? *LA

Mileage: 135,000

Aug 27, 2003

BLEND AIR DOOR FAILED AND WILL NOT OPERATE ON 1996 FORD RANGER RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE DEFROSTERS. FORD WANTS $700 TO REPAIR PROBLEM. NUMBEROUS WEB SITE FORUMS REPORT THIS TO BE A CHRONIC AND FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH 93-96 FORD RANGER/EXPLORER AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES.*AK

Mileage: 98,600

Mar 8, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. *NLM

Mileage: 96,000

Jul 29, 2002

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

Mar 8, 2002

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPER AND WASHER COMES ON BY THEMSELVES. HAS TO PLAY WITH SWITCH TO TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

Jan 10, 2002

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

Aug 18, 2001

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON THE END OF THE TURN SIGNAL ARM HAS FAILED. WASHER SWITCH ON ARM STILL WORKS, BUT WIPERS DO NOT WORK IN ANY MODE. I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WILL ONLY OFFER TO REPLACE AGAIN FOR AROUND $300.00

Mar 3, 2001

ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON DOME LIGHT DOESNT GO OFF WINDSHIELD WIPERS DONT GO OFF. *AK

Jan 30, 2001

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON FOR NO REASON, WON'T COME ON SOMETIMES, DOME LIGHT AND DOOR BEEP STAYS ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, ACCELERATOR STICKS OFTEN.*AK

Jan 29, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Jan 25, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, THIS FAILURE HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. *SLC

Dec 27, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, DOME STAYS ON, DOOR CHIME STAYS ON. *AK

Dec 23, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SWITCH. *AK

Oct 31, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,SOMETIMES WASHERS ACTIATE AT SAME TIME.I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NEW. ORIGINALY IT WAS ONLY ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS OR SO BUT NOW IT IS NEARLY DAILY AND MANY TIMES DURING THE DAY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMERO. *AK

Feb 5, 2000

THE DOME LIGHTS AND DOOR AJAR BUZZER COME OFF AND ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. IF THE SUN IS SHINNING IN THE WINDOW IT MY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS I CAN'T SEE. I ALSO HAD TO PULL THE FUSE ON THE DOME LIGHT AS IT WAS ON SO MUCH IT WAS RES HOT AND RUNNING MY BATTERY DOWN.

Dec 29, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER OPERATE UNPREDICTABLY WHILE THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS IS VERY DANGEOUS SINCE THE WINDSHIELD GETS SMEARED WHEN DIRTY, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS IN SWITCH. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROBLEM ACCOSS THE FORD LINE UP, SINCE MY SON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 1997 F-150 AND THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENT ON A RENTED 1999 WINDSTAR. IN ADDITION THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. I THINK IT IS RECALL TIME. *AK

Dec 21, 1999

EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING DURING OPERATION OR ARE NOT OPERATING AT ALL. ALSO, DOME LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING WITH SWITCH IN THE OFF MODE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Dec 10, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AT HIGH SPEED WITHOUT EVER BEING TURNED ON BY THE SWITCH. SOMETIMES WIPERS FAIL TO COME ON WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED ON. DOME LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON BY THE SWITCH. *AK

Oct 22, 1999

HEATER TAKES 20 MINS. TO WARM UP/SOMETIMES VOLTAGE DROPS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD

Oct 18, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY.PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Oct 11, 1999

NO SUMMARY

Oct 2, 1999

WASHER AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES OR DO NOT WORK AT ALL. OTHERS WITH THE SAME TRUCK ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT FORD WILL NOT FIX.

Oct 2, 1999

WASHER AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES OR DO NOT WORK AT ALL. OTHERS WITH THE SAME TRUCK ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT FORD WILL NOT FIX.

Sep 30, 1999

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPEREATE ERRATICALLY. THEY ACTIVATE AUTOMATICALLY, AND WHEN THEY ARE ACTIVATED IT'S HARD TO SHUT THEM DOWN. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

Sep 29, 1999

DUE TO DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULATOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. *AK

Sep 28, 1999

WIPERS TURN ON WITHOUT MANUALLY BEING SWITCHED ON, RUN CONTINUOUSLY, VERY RAPIDLY, AND THEN TURN OFF AFTER A FEW MOMENTS.

Sep 28, 1999

WIPERS TURN ON WITHOUT MANUALLY BEING SWITCHED ON, RUN CONTINUOUSLY, VERY RAPIDLY, AND THEN TURN OFF AFTER A FEW MOMENTS.

Sep 21, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. *YC

Sep 17, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP OR AT ANY TIME, WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON. *AK

Sep 13, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT APPLICATION WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Sep 8, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD OPERATE WHILE SWITCH IS IN A OFF POSITION. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NO CORRECTION CAN BE MADE AT THIS TIME. CAN NHTSA HELP IN MATTER. *AK

Sep 8, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER TURNS ON INTERMITTENLY WHILE DRIVING.

Sep 7, 1999

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS INADVERTENTLY COME ON, AND SOMETIMES DON'T COME ON AT ALL. *AK

Aug 25, 1999

WHILE TURNING THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS OFF WIPERS CONTINUE TO TRAVEL, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO TURN THE WIPERS ON/OFF TO STOP THE TRAVELING . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Jul 14, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW JUST EXPLODED OUTWARD, AND HIT VEHICLE IN THE NEXT LANE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Mar 27, 1999 Crash

AT LEAST 12 SETS OF BRAKES PUT ON VEHICLE"4 IN UDER 9000 MILES, RESULTING IN 2 ACCIDENTS" 3 TIMES AT TURNING ROTORS/ENGINE REBUILT AT 52000 MILES STILL WITH LOSS OF PORWER. 2 EGR VALVES/2 WIPER SWITCHES/SYNCRONIZERS/2 SLAVE CYLINDERS ON TRANSMISSION AND OIL LEAK. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. ENGINE IDLES HIGH ENOUGH THAT THE USE OF THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT NEEDED FOR INTOWN DRIVING. SPEEDS OF 45MPH CAN BE OBTAINED BEFORE HITTING PEDAL.

Jan 11, 1999

VERY RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL KICK ON TO FULL SPEED WITHOUT APPLICATION. DRIVER HAS TO TURN THE WIPER SWITCH ON AND OFF TO GET THE WIPERS TO GO OFF. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Dec 28, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS FAILED TO OPERATE, SOMETIMES OPERATED INVOLUNTARILY. FORD DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED GEM AND WIPER/WASHER SWITCH; PROBLEM IS RECURRING. NOW INVOLVES DOME LIGHT AND WARNING CHIME AS WELL.

Nov 23, 1998

HEATER SWITCH FAILED.

Nov 4, 1998

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.

Oct 1, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. HEADLIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES. A/C WOULD NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. DEALER BEING CONTACTED. *AK

Aug 17, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN. WIPERS ALSO STOP WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN USE.

Jun 16, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND GO OFF WITHOUT REASON, ONCE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ALSO.

Mar 12, 1998

FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS BUBBLES IN THE INNER LAMINATE THAT CAUSES OBSCURED VISION WHEN THE SUN STRIKES THE WINDOW AT A LOW ANGLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE GLASS IS SOFT AND HAS STAINED FROM THE FOG IN THE COSTAL AREA. WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.

Nov 5, 1997

REAR WINDOW LEAKING.

Oct 27, 1997

WIPER MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTANTLY.

Sep 10, 1997

HEATER FAN FAILED.

Aug 29, 1997

REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT LOCK OPEN .

Aug 1, 1997

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS ACTIVATE THEMSELVES SPORATICALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

Jun 27, 1997

SLIDING REAR WINDOW GLASS IS REFLECTIVE AND DECREASES VISIBILITY.

May 28, 1997

DRIVER' S LEG HITS POWER WINDOW CONTROL DURING TURNS.

Apr 10, 1997

TURN SIGNAL GLARES IN WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

Mar 21, 1997

WHEN TURNING ON EITHER AIR CONDITIONER OR DEFROSTER THE GAS SURGES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES FORWARD. TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. TO SURGE.