Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
FORD RANGER 4X4 XLT 4.0L HAS HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING FRONT TIRES TWO OUT , FOG LIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONING, TRANSMISSION SHIFT POINTS , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN NEW AND TO THIS DAY GAS MILEAGE NOT AS STATED ON WINDOW STICKER ,ALSO WINDOWS MOTOR AND CONTROLS
GUY NEXT DOOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR LATE ONE NIGHT TO TELL ME THAT MY DOME LIGHT WAS ON. I LOOKED & IT WASN'T. HE SAID THAT WAS ODD BECAUSE HE EVEN WALKED BY IT & COULD SEE INSIDE. A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEN WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHT CAME ON BY ITSELF. FROM THAT POINT ON IT WOULD RANDOMLY TURN ITSELF ON. NATURALLY FORD TOLD ME THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP IT WITHOUT PAYING A TON OF MONEY TO A GARAGE WAS TO PULL THE FUSE & I'VE HAD TO USE A FLASHLIGHT IF I NEED A LIGHT AT NIGHT EVER SINCE. MY TRUCK ALSO HAS A THEFT LIGHT BECAUSE A FACTORY ALARM WAS AN OPTION FOR MY TRUCK. I DO NOT HAVE AN ALARM BUT THE WORD ALARM IS STILL ON THE PANEL. THAT LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON & SAY THEFT. I DO NOT HAVE AN ALARM! I TOLD FORD & THAT TOLD ME THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE I DON'T HAVE AN ALARM. I SAID THAT MAYBE A WIRE WAS CROSSED SOMEWHERE BUT FORD TOLD ME," NO! ". TALKING TO OTHER RANGER OWNERS HERE & THERE I'VE FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY ARE THERE OTHERS DOING THE EXACT SAME THINGS BUT IT IS ALSO OTHER YEARS BESIDES 1997. I LIKE THE TRUCK JUST TIRED OF FORD & TIRED OF THE BS!!
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: 1. INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL WIPE 2, 3, 4, 5 TIMES AT RANDOM IN A ROW ALWAYS AND NOT IN THAT ORDER. 2. BACKUP LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BLOW FUSE AFTER REPLACING ALL LIGHTING PARTS 3. HORN WORKS 1% OF THE TIME, UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE. 4. AC BLOWS HOT AIR INTERMITTENTLY EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BLOWER BLEND DOOR. 5. GAS: WHEN BELOW 1/4 TANK AND MAKING RIGHT TURN TRUCK WILL STALL, EVEN AFTER WORK ON TANK. *TR
WITH ALL CONTROLS IN OFF POSITION, VERY HOT AIR STARTS COMING FROM FLOOR VENT (97 FORD RANGER) ALSO WHEN A/C IS TURNED ON,,HOT AIR COMES OUT. REPLACED SWITCH FOR HEAT/AIR CONTROL. *TR
I CAME OUTSIDE TO MY 1997 FORD RANGER XLT AND IT WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AN IN THE CAB ALREADY. THEN IT EXPLODED! *TR
DT: CALLER HAD AN ENGINE FIRE. CALLER'S SON WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED SMOKE, PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SON SAID VEHICLE MADE A POPPING SOUND AND HE COULD NOT GET AWAY FROM IT FAST ENOUGH BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THERE WAS A REPORT FILED. DEALER SAID SHE DID NOT MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE BUT THE CALLER STATED SHE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THIS BECAUSE SHE DID NOT TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT MAINTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT KNOW HOW THE FIRE STARTED.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *AK
NORMAL DRIVING, FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, SYSTEM NOT YET REPLACED BECUASE OF LOW FUNDS. *AK
THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHT BURNED OUT. THE DOOR AJAR WARNING CHIME SOUNDED FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WHILE DRIVING, ALTHOUGH ALL THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. THE WIPERS CAME ON ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT TURNED ON. . *AK *NM
A FEW THINGS HERE, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT RANDOM. HAD IT CHECKED A FEW TIMES. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. DOME LIGHT/DOOR CHIME WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN DOOR IS SHUT AND/OR CAR IS TURNED ON. LEFT HAND BLINKER WENT NUTS A FEW TIME, BASICLY IT WAS BLINKING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. A FEW SECOND 'POWER LOSS' HAPPEND A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING, LOST POWER TO RAIDO, AND LIGHTS. THE REAR END BOUNCES WAY TOO MUCH WHEN I HIT A BUMP, CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
THE LOCATION AND CONNECTION OF THE FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM CAUSED THE RELAY SWITCH UNDER THE DASH TO OVERHEAT AND THE BATTERY DRAINED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF.*JB ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON 1997 FORD RANGER IS MALFUNCTIONING. ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS ILLUMINATES WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED. THE FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERATIVE, RELAYS UNDER THE DASHBOARD STARTED HEATING UP. CONSUMER CONCERED THAT AIR BAGS MAY FAIL IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*MR
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AND STAY ON. ALSO, ALARM WILL COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE DOOR SWITCHES WILL NOT ALLOW THE INTERIOR LIGHT TO GO OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS IN FULL MOTION WITH THE CLUTCH LET ALL THE WAY OUT. WHEN BACKING UP IN THE DARK IT IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE INTERIOR LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. *JG
AT THE SPEED OF 25MPH SUDDENLY HEARD A NOISE AND LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL. MANAGED TO MERGE SUDDENLY TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. BATTERY, ENGINE, AND POWER STEERING LIGHT WENT ON. WHILE LOOKING AT VEHICLE NOTICED THAT BELT BROKE AND DOLLEY FELL OFF. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DRAINING BATTERY.*AK
FOG LENSES ARE MADE OF GLASS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF MAKING IT NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. A FRIEND IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAYING ON IN HIS 1998 NASCAR SERIES F150.*AK
FAILURE FOR BRAKE LIGHTS TO FUNCTION AFTER HARD BRAKING SITUATION. THE HARNESS ROUTING FOR THE BRAKE SWITCH CONNECTOR IS TIED TOO CLOSE TO THE CONNECTOR . APPLYING THE BRAKE CAUSED THE WIRE TO STRETCH AND PULL OUT OF THE CONNECTOR PIN. WITH THE WIRE BROKEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON
THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT AND IGNITION ALARM WILL NOT STOP/TURN OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THE IGNITION ALARM STOPS ONLY WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED, THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON FOR EXTREME EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIRED ONCE IN 1998 OR 99. VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO CORRECT THEIR DEFECT (12,000 MILE/12MO PERIOD IS UP) EVEN THOUGH IT IS RECURRING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CAN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT, BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE OUT OF MY WINDOWS.
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON FOLLOWED BY SQUEELING SOUND (BELT). ENGINE POWER EFFECTED, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE ISSUES. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE CONTROLLED SAFELY AND DRIVER MUST PULL OVER. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN EVEN IN SMALL PUDDLES! I HAVE A TRCUK THAT CANNOT OPERATE SAFELY IN RAIN! I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES NOW WITH THE SAME RESULTS. IF THE BELT GETS WET THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO. WHAT GOOD IS A TRUCK THAT CAN'T BE OPERATED IN BAD WEATHER OR DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE THAT A MAZDA MIATA CAN EASILY HANDLE?
INTERMITTENTLY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF RUNNING LIGHTS. DEALER HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK
DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL WIRING IS CAUSING THE TURN SIGNALS TO TURN ON AND OFF, EVEN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. ALSO, DASHLIGHTS/HAZARD LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ACTING IN THIS FORM.DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS DEFECT. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WILL SHORT CIRCUIT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
GAS PEDAL FELL OFF, LEAVING CONSUMER STRANDED. COMPUTER PROGRAM IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE. DEALER HAD TO REPROGRAM COMPUTER. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER COME ON ALL BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT TURN OFF, COMES ON A HIGH SPEED, SOMETIMES WASHER COMES ON ALSO, INCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. PROCESS DEVELOPED WHERE THE TILT STEERING CANNOT BE ADJUSTED OR MOVED EXCEPT WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A N ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
Data on this page last refreshed .