1996 Ford Ranger Electrical 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

NHTSA ID

10680744

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

146,000 mi

TURNS OVER BUT WON'T START. *TR

NHTSA ID

10608274

Incident

Jun 10, 2014

Mileage

265,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10514863

Incident

Jun 3, 2013

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

NHTSA ID

10419871

Incident

Aug 6, 2011

Mileage

201,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10384411

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10253276

Incident

Sep 23, 2008

Mileage

13,300 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10220783

Incident

May 11, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10128257

Incident

Jul 8, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10117179

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

Mileage

15,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10068311

Incident

Apr 17, 2004

Mileage

112,620 mi

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

NHTSA ID

8014982

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

8014980

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

764178

Incident

Jul 13, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

8011420

Incident

Jun 15, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

756672

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.

NHTSA ID

738332

Incident

Sep 9, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

720411

Incident

Mar 20, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

855805

Incident

Jan 31, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

854648

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LOSE SPEED WHEN GOING UP HILL. WITH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR, THE SPEED DECREASES AND THE ENGINE AND OVER DRIVE LIGHTS BLINK.

NHTSA ID

511946

STEERING COLUMN WIRING SHORTED OUT RESULTING IN BURNING. MJS

NHTSA ID

548765

Incident

Jul 29, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

836202

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

NHTSA ID

830332

Incident

Jul 6, 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.

NHTSA ID

830100

Incident

May 1, 1998

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

NHTSA ID

825283

Incident

Jul 8, 1998