RoadVitals

1985 Ford Ranger Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Mar 20, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
41%
of 27 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1985 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2002

VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS CUTTING OFF BECAUSE IGNITION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005982
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed May 8, 2001

IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED TWICE. ONCE AT 80,000,AND AGAIN AT 200,000 MILES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
887701
Electrical
Filed Feb 8, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STALLED WHITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER WAS CRANKING ENGINE, BUT IT DID NOT START. CONSUMER REPLACED IGNITION MODULE. THEN,COULD START VEHICLE WITHOUT A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
880172
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PLROVIED FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
872874
Electrical
Filed Feb 13, 1997
Fire reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA ID
808883
Incident
Jan 8, 1997
Electrical
Filed Dec 16, 1996

OWNER STATES UPON TURNING HEATER ON THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND THERE IS FAULTY WIRING AND THIS COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
806384
Incident
Dec 16, 1996
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Aug 12, 1996

REAR AXLE FAILED. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601571) *DH

NHTSA ID
507266
Incident
Jan 1, 1985
Electrical
Filed May 30, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE ORIGINATING AT THE IGNITION HOT WIRE/SWITCH AREA. (PER ARSON INVESTIGATOR). *AK

NHTSA ID
985032
Electrical
Filed May 2, 1996
Fire reported

ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK, PARKED VEHICLE, WENT INSIDE OF HOUSE, HALF HOUR TO HOUR LATER VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
983954
Incident
Jun 16, 1991
Electrical
Filed May 1, 1996
Fire reported

BACKING VEHICLE UP, FRIEND STOPPED BY, SMELLED WIRING BURNING, SOON SMOKE APPEARED IN STEERING COLUMN, SOON AFTER FIRE ENGULFED THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. *AK

NHTSA ID
983882
Incident
Apr 30, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDERHOOD; INSURANCE CO. TRACED FIRE BACK TO STEERING COLUMN AREA; ALL WIRES BURNED UP. *AK

NHTSA ID
983575
Incident
Apr 15, 1986

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .