SOMETIMES THEY WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, OTHER TIMES THEY WOULD COME ON BY THEM SELVES, NOW THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL. ON THE NUMBER OF FAILURES I LOST COUNT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10046747
- Incident
- Oct 9, 1996
Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 63 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.
The 25 most recent of 63, in the owner's own words
SOMETIMES THEY WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, OTHER TIMES THEY WOULD COME ON BY THEM SELVES, NOW THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL. ON THE NUMBER OF FAILURES I LOST COUNT.
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
ISSUED AS A ADVISORY WHY NEVER RECALLED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
ELECTRICAL WIPERS AND OIL GAGE
WINDSHIELD WASHER/WINDSHIELD MOTOR OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OPERATES SPORADICALLY, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. SAFETY HAZARD IN WINTER. *AK
THE COMPONENT KEEPS COMING ON BY ITSELF.{ THE WIPERS THAT IS.} IT'S REALLY A DISTRACTION. THE LAST TIME I CALLD THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICAL IS OUT OF WRRRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. SINCE IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PART IT SEEMS TO ME THEY WOULD REPLACE IT AGAIN SINCE IT WAS A DEFECT AGAIN.*AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT THE SWITCH BEING ACTIVATED.SOMETIMES THE WASHER FLUID WILL SPRAY WHEN THEY COME ON - - THIS IS SCARY WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE.I DID TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY REPLACED A SWITCH SOMEWHERE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *AK
NO SUMMARY FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATING WHILE SWITCH IS IN OFF MODE OR WASHER OPERATING FOR UNKNOWN REASON AND STOPPED RUNNING DURING OPERATION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT RESPOND CORRECTLY TO SWITCH INPUT, THEY WILL STOP WHILE IN ON MODE OR WILL NOT RESPOND TO WASH WATER COMMAND. *SLC
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE CHIME STAYS ON, INTERIOR LIGHTS AS WELL AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS START. WHEN TAKING FUSE OUT TO STOP, SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT WORK.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND DOME LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOT COVER UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE WIPER AND DOME LIGHT PLUS WARNING SOUNDS HAD BEEN A SUBJECT OF RECALLS IN OTHER TYPE OF VEHICLES. *YH
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT TURNING THEM ON AND WON'T TURN OFF. SOMETIMES WIPERS DON'T COME ON WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED ON.*AK
DOOR AJAR CHIME CONTINUOUSLY RINGS AND DOME LIGHT REMAINS ON CREATING DISTRACTION DURING DRIVING, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY OPERATE AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK ON HIGH SPEED.*AK
I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ACTUALLY. THE TWO MORE SERIOUS IS, 1) THERE IS A CONSTANT DINGING WHILE IM DRIVING, AND THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, CAR ON OR OFF. THE SAFTEY ISSUE IS THAT, HOW AM I TO COCENTRATE ON DRIVING WHILE BOTH OF THESE TWO DEFECTS ARE CONSTANTLY OCCURING. 2) MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL RANDOMLY CUT ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS ANOTHER BIG DISTRACTION, EXPECIALLY WHILE TRYING TO CONCENTRATE. I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER FRIENDS WITH A RANGER "DIFFERENT YEAR" THAT THESE SAME DISTRACTING EVENTS OCCUR WITH THIER TRUCK. I HOPE YOU ISSUE A RECAL ON THESE TWO ITEMS BEFOR SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS. PLEASE WRITE BACK AND TELL ME PROGRESS WITH THIS SITUATION. LOOK FORWARF TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON. SHANNON WINBURN. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON BY THEMSELVES. *AK DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AND CHIME SOUNDS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES DUE TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR SWITCH FAILURES. *YH
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START UP ON THEIR OWN AND THE DOOR "AJAR" ALARM WILL RING CONTINUOUSLY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED EVERY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IT MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT IT SURE IS ANNOYING.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND SPRAYER COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES AND AT RANDOM SPEEDS WHEN OFF. SOMETIMES WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK AT THE CORRECT SPEED WHEN IT'S ON. *AK
CK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT WARNING WHICH OFTEN SCARES THE DRIVER, THE DOOR CHIME STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE SHUT AND IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BIG HEADACHE AND ROAD RAGE, AND THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AND HAS TO BE DISCONNECTED SO THAT IT DOES NOT RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. NOW, THESE COMPLAINTS APPEAR TO BE SEPARATE IN THEIR OWN PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE READ THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SAME PROBLEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WE HAVE RECENTLY PAID THE 700.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON BECAUSE THE CHIME GOT TO WHERE IT WOULD NEVER TURN OFF AT ALL. WE ARE MILITARY AND HAD TO RELY ON OUR PARENTS TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE PROBLEMS WERE ON GOING FOR A WHILE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO "LIVE" WITH IT RATHER THAN PAY THE HIGH COST REPAIR. NOW I HAVE FOUND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE A QUALITY ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. OUR TRUCK IS UPKEPT VERY WELL AND OTHER THAN THESE PROBLEMS IT HAS BEEN A GOOD TRUCK. FORD HAS MADE A FAULTY PRODUCT AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT ISNT CAUSE BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OR OWNER NEGLECT. I HAVE WENT IN CIRCLES WITH THE 1800-392-FORD REP AND THE DEALER AND BECAUSE WE HAVE OVER 65000 MILES THEY WONT EVEN ATTEMPT TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. I HAVE GATHER NUMEROUS COMPLAINT FROM THE INTERNET AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING A FORD REP LOOK INTO MY COMPLAINT, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES SUFFERING THE ILL EFFECTS OF A FAULTY PRODUCT.*AK
I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN WHILE UNDER WARRANTY TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH.WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AT RANDOM WITHOUT ACTIVATION. FORD ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ORDERING DEALER NOT TO REPAIR PENDING INVESTIGATION. RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION NEVER RELEASED. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER SENSOR MLFUNCTIONED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST COME ON ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. ALSO, SOMETIMES IT MAKES THE DOOR CHIMES RING, AND REGULATES THE REAR INTERIOR LIGHT. DEALER WILL REPLACE PARTS FOR FREE, BUT CONSUMER HAS TO PAY TO HAVE THE RIGHT SIDE DONE FIRST.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS -- BEGINNING SUMMER 1998 I EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPER, DOME LIGHT, AND DOOR CHIME COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. IN DECEMBER 1998 THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING SO I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MAGUIRE FORD FOR REPAIR. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED (OBVIOUSLY THIS INTERMITTENT ON/OFF CYCLE BURNT IT OUT), AS WAS A SWITCH FOR THE DOOR. THE FEATURES WERE TROUBLE FREE (THOUGH THE DOME LIGHT STILL HAS PROBLEMS) UNTIL 5/10/2000. ON THAT DAY I STARTED THE VEHICLE DURING A RAIN STORM, AND THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO MAGUIRE FORD FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BUT WHEN I STARTED IT THE WIPERS STILL WOULD NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND REQUIRES A PART (COSTING ~$150). THE MECHANICS AT FORD KEPT REFERRING TO "INTERMITTENT WIPER" PROBLEMS ON OTHER FORD'S, PROMPTING ME TO CHECK THE "CAR TALK" WEB SITE, WHICH HAD A LINK TO THE NHTSA SITE. ON THIS SITE I SAW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR WIPER/DOOR CHIME/DOME LIGHT PROBLEMS. WHILE ON THIS SITE I NOTICED NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ABS SYSTEMS. ON 11/28/99 WHILE DRIVING ON I-81 JUST NORTH OF BINGHAMTON, NY I HAD A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WITH MY BRAKES. A CAR CUT CLOSELY IN FRONT OF ME, PROMPTING ME TO APPLY MY BRAKES WITH FORCE, IN ORDER TO PREVENT A COLLISION. THE BRAKE ON THE FRONT RIGHT-HAND SIDE LOCK, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO JERK TO THE RIGHT. I SURPRISINGLY WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, BUT AFTER ANOTHER 30 MILES OF DRIVING I BEGAN NOTICING A GRINDING SOUND IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MIDAS AND WAS TOLD THE THE CALIPER ON THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE BROKE AND THAT SOMETHING (THE BRAKE?) HAD SEIZED. I PAID FOR REPAIRS AND DISMISSED THIS INCIDENT UNTIL READING ON THE "CAR TALK - NHTSA" LINK THAT MANY OTHER HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR EVENTS WITH THEIR BRAKES. THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS, IS WORTHY OF A RECALL. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *AK
DOOR CHIMES AND DOME LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO PULL THE FUSE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THE FUSE IS PULLED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NO WORK NOR DOES THE SPEEDOMETER. THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURRENCE. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM (AFTER 3 DAYS IN SHOP) IN 1997. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WASHER & WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT TOUCHING THE CONTROLS. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WHEN TURNED ON, ARE ERRATIC. THEY DO NOT HOLD A STEADY CADENCE. ALSO, DOMELIGHT STAYS ON AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR. IT WILL STAY ON FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WASHERS AND WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THEY COULD LIMIT VISIBILITY AT CRITICAL TIMES. *AK *ML
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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