RoadVitals

1996 Ford Ranger Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
52
Latest Feb 24, 2011
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.
13%
of 413 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 52 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 52, in the owner's own words

ElectricalVisibility
Filed 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.

NHTSA ID
10384411
Incident
Aug 1, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 21, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10043300
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
135,000 mi
Visibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
10036677
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
Mileage
98,600 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 8, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010171
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Mileage
96,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
8014982
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Visibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
8005184
Incident
Jul 23, 2001
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jan 10, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
756672
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
750711
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Visibility
Filed Mar 3, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
741850
Incident
Feb 20, 2001
Driver assistanceInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
740161
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
BrakesVisibility
Filed Jan 29, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
740085
Incident
Apr 20, 2000
Visibility
Filed Jan 25, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
559186
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Dec 27, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
738367
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Visibility
Filed Dec 23, 2000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
738173
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Visibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
735518
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed 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.

NHTSA ID
718351
Incident
Jun 22, 1998
Visibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
716630
Incident
Jul 15, 1999
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
854266
Incident
Sep 15, 1998
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
715898
Incident
Sep 15, 1998
Visibility
Filed Oct 22, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
713687
Visibility
Filed Oct 18, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
851046
Incident
Dec 15, 1998
BrakesVisibility
Filed Oct 11, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
713113
Visibility
Filed 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.

NHTSA ID
712673
Visibility
Filed 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

NHTSA ID
849563
Visibility
Filed Sep 29, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
849113
Incident
Jun 1, 1999

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 .