RoadVitals

1997 Ford Ranger Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
14
Latest Jun 14, 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.
3%
of 411 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.
0
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 14 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 exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineExterior lighting
Filed Jun 14, 2017

THE DOME LIGHT STARTED TURNING ITSELF ON WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD TURN ITSELF BACK OFF. IT WOULD ALSO TURN ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. I COULDN'T GET THE LIGHT COVER OFF SO I PULLED THE FUSE WHICH LEAVES ME WITH NO WINDSHIELD WASHER SQUIRTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. NO MATER WHAT IS DONE OR FIXED, THE LIGHT STAYS ON WHICH IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE CARS WILL USUALLY AUTOMATICALLY FAIL INSPECTION WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET IT TO PASS INSPECTION IF ITS ON 90% OF THE TIME? I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 93 RANGER BUT OTHER PEOPLE WITH RANGERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES & THIS SITE SHOWS OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. WHY WON'T FORD RECALL & FIX IT WHEN ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM? THESE THINGS ARE SAFETY ISSUES!! I CAN'T ADD WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY ARE ONGOING ISSUES FOR THE LAST TENISH YEARS!

NHTSA ID
10995244
Incident
Jun 14, 2017
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Jul 28, 2015

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!!

NHTSA ID
10744089
Incident
Sep 20, 2007
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed May 10, 2010

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

NHTSA ID
10329668
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
70,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 9, 2004

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH 1997 FORD RANGER. *PH *CB

NHTSA ID
10066975
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningInterior & seats+4 more
Filed Mar 6, 2001

POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS MAKING A NOISE LIKE PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER PUMP REPLACED. RIGHT WINDOW IS LOOSE WHILE GOING DOWN. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OCCASIONALLY WHILE TAKING OFF. THERE ARE LOOSE BOLTS UNDERNEATH SEATS. FOG LIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER STATES OIL FROM MASTER CYLINDER DAMAGED HOOD. DOOR LOCK INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR NEVER WORKED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
882240
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Interior & seatsExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Feb 2, 2001

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN DOME LIGHT AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED A POSSIBLE SHORT IN SWITCH WAS CAUSING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
879706
Interior & seatsExterior lightingTransmission+1 more
Filed Dec 30, 2000

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTED AND DOOR CLOSED AND DOES NOT GO OFF. PROBLEM SEEING AT NIGHT... NO WAY TO TURN OFF WITHOUT REMOVING THE BULBS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT START WHEN TURNED ON THE DO NOT GO OFF WHEN SWITCHED OFF. HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ON THEN OFF AGAIN. SHIFT KNOB COMES OFF WHEN PULLING SHIFT LEVER FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 4TH. MAKES SHIFTING DIFFICULT WHILE STARTING UP A HILL AND MERGING ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THE KNOB SLIPS OFF COMPLETELY AND THE SHIFTER ENDS UP IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
738540
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Feb 24, 2000

THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. ALSO, SOMETIMES THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK. OWNER WAS SHOWN HOW TO REMOVE THE FUSE IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
857469
Incident
Feb 2, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 11, 2000

AT INTERMITTENT TIMES FOR A VARRYING LENGTH OF TIME HEADLIGHTS WILL CUT OFF. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND PUTS THE TRUCK BACK ON THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
718619
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Sep 22, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
711819
Incident
Jun 10, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 1, 1999

HEADLIGHT RELAY FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
606425
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 21, 1999

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER IS TOO LOW. WHEN TURNING SIGNAL ON, DRIVER'S KNEE HITS UP AGAINST THE TURN SIGNAL AND TURNS IT OFF. IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF OTHER DRIVERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE CONSUMERS ACTIONS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
832024
Incident
Oct 4, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 14, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHTTHE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR HEADLIGHTS. PROBLEM COULD NOT BE LOCATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
833583
Incident
Dec 14, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 13, 1998

HEADLIGHT WILL FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ID
532815
Incident
Dec 1, 1997

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 .