RoadVitals

1989 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.
13
Latest May 18, 2017
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.
18%
of 73 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.
8
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 1989 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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

ElectricalEngine
Filed May 18, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING SECONDARY IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID
10986335
Incident
Apr 20, 2016
Mileage
64,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 28, 2008
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER HOOD RIGHT SIDE RANDOMLY BURST INTO FLAMES IN MY GARAGE.....= = ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOAST...FAN BLADE IN A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR ALONG WITH MOST OF THE GRILLE AND HEAD LAMP.=.GARAGE----SMOKE DAMAGED,,,,,PUSHED IT OUT WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FIRE DEPT PUT IT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10225977
Incident
Apr 27, 2008
Electrical
Filed Aug 31, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TRANSPORTED TO A DEALER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NO CURRENT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10201603
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
82,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL DIE. WHEN IT DIES IT'S HARD TO STEER. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT COULD BE THE IGNITION MODULE.*AK THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN TURNING SHARP CURVE AND WHEN STOPPING AT LIGHT. *YH

NHTSA ID
874365
Incident
Oct 1, 1990
Electrical
Filed Sep 12, 2000

THE IGNITION FAILED ON A COUNTRY ROAD GOING UPHILL AND AROUND A BEND IN THE ROAD. SEVERAL VEHICLES STOPPED BEHIND ME, INCLUDING A SCHOOL BUS, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME AND WOULD NOT PASS ME BECAUSE OF LIMITED VISABILITY. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO SART MY PICKUP THREE MEN CAME BY IN A OFFERRED TO PUSH ME OFF OF THE ROADWAY SO THAT I NO LONGER IMPEDED TRAFFIC. I REPLACE THE INGNITION MODULE MYSELF WITH AN AFTER MARKET UNIT AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS TO DATE.*AK

NHTSA ID
731178
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jan 21, 2000
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION, TURNED OFF FOR AROUND OR ABOUT TWO HOURS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN WIRE WHICH SHORTED OUT. CONSUMER ALSO VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. 8AK

NHTSA ID
855289
Electrical
Filed Nov 30, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH DRIVER SMELLED GAS, PULLED OVER AND WITHIN 1 MINUTE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES WHICH STARTED UNDERNEATH HOOD. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID
853498
Incident
Oct 22, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 29, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ,STARTED SMELLING GAS AND PULLED OVER, WITHIN 1 MINUTE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHICH STARTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
852216
Incident
Oct 22, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 1999

ENGINE DIED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, BROKEN CRIMP HOOKS THAT HOLD THE PLASTIC HALF OF THE SWITCH TO THE METAL HALF. MJS

NHTSA ID
549033
Incident
Aug 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Mar 31, 1998
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN DEC. OF 96. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
821762
Incident
Feb 27, 1998
Electrical
Filed Aug 20, 1996

DIFFICULTY IN STARTING VEHICLE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH CONTINUING TO TURN OVER WHILE IN POSTION.*AK

NHTSA ID
801103
Incident
Apr 20, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 21, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, WIRING AROUND THE BATTERY, VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID
985992
Incident
Jun 18, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 29, 1996
Fire reported

DRIVING VEHICLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES, ENGULFED THE ENTIRE FRONT SECTION OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984933
Incident
Jul 8, 1993

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .