1998 Ford Ranger Interior & seats Problems

1998 FORD RANGER HAS SECURITY ISSUE WHICH ALLOWS ANY INDIVIDUAL TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR STUFF MISSING. ALL IT TAKES IS A SCREW DRIVE UNDER THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON TO MOST ALL RANGERS AND IT IS HARD TO REPORT ANY LOSS WITHOUT PROOF THAT THERE WAS ILLEGAL ENTRY BECAUSE THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THIS MUST NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10406101

Incident

Jun 13, 2011

1998 FORD RANGER HAS SECURITY ISSUE WHICH ALLOWS ANY INDIVIDUAL TO USE A TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR STUFF MISSING. ALL IT TAKES IS A SCREW DRIVE UNDER THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON TO MOST ALL RANGERS AND IT IS HARD TO REPORT ANY LOSS WITHOUT PROOF THAT THERE WAS ILLEGAL ENTRY BECAUSE THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THIS MUST NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10406099

Incident

Jun 13, 2011

THE 1998 FORD RANGER WAS PART OF AN AUGUST 2007 RECALL BECAUSE OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD SINCE THEN, THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, DON'T PARK VEHICLE NEAR A STRUCTURE, BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED, AND PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY. WELL, IT'S NEARLY GROUND HOG'S DAY, AND GUESS WHAT? NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO SUPPLY PARTS. FORD NO DOUBT IS STILL BUILDING NEW VEHICLES AND PUTTING WIRING HARNESSES IN THEM, BUT THEY DON'T TAKE THE RECALL SERIOUSLY. NO WONDER THEY'RE NOT A VIABLE AUTOMOBILE ENTITY ANY MORE. BRING ON THE EUROPEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10216625

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 FORD RANGER THE INTERIOR DOOM LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10180631

Incident

Oct 16, 2002

1998 FORD RANGER HAD THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH REPLACED 3 OR 4 TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS. THE DOOR AJAR IS LINKED TO THE DOME LIGHT. IF THE DOOR AJAR SWITCHES BECOME CORRUPTED OR MALFUNCTION, THE DOME LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON. THE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE DOME LIGHT OFF WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE FIRMLY CLOSED AND LOCKED. THE GLARE FROM THE DOME LIGHTS MAKE DRIVING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH NO REPAIR FACILITY CLOSE BY.*JB

NHTSA ID

10141807

Incident

Nov 4, 2005

DOOR AJAR LIGHT REMAINS ON AND THE VEHICLE THINKS THE DOOR IS OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT IS LATCHED SECURELY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068200

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

27,000 mi

I HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR DOOR JAM SWITCHES DUE TO SWITCHES GETTING GUMMED UP AND FAILING. ALSO LATCHES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR DOORS WHERE THE SWITCH IS MOUNTED HAD ALOT OF COROSION ON THEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068134

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT STAY ON AFTER YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. FROM POSTINGS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON FORD PROBLEM THAT THEY IGNORE. DRIVING FORWARD (REVERSE WON'T DO IT) WILL RESET THE LIGHT MOST OF THE TIME AND MAKE THEM GO OUT. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PULL THE FUSE. WD-40 SEEMS TO BE A SHORT TERM FIX BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE DOOR SWITCH JAMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10058596

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

DOOR WAS AJAR AND LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE, BUT HAS RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055617

Mileage

32,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ASHTRAY BECAUSE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A LIGHT NEAR THE ASHTRAY. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP.*AK THE DEALERSHIP HAD NO OPTION TO ADD A LIGHT TO THE ASHTRAY. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED LED LIGHTS AND INSTALLED THEM HIMSELF. CONSUMER FEELS ANY VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH AN ASHTRAY SHOULD HAVE LIGHTING TO MAKE IT VISIBLE. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10042520

Incident

Mar 12, 2001

Mileage

65,000 mi

WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT STAYING ON, PLUS THE WIPERS ARE IRRADIC AND THE WINDOWS WILL SOMETIMES GO DOWN ON THEIR OWN. IT WAS FIXED ONCE AND NOW IT'S HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OUT THERE ON THIS VERY SAME ITEM AND I FEEL FORD SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. I CALLED THEM AND ASKED IF THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD FIX SEEING AS IT'S ONE OF THEIR MECHANICAL DEFECTS AND THEY REPLIED WITH A 'NO'. I AM TO THE POINT THAT I JUST WANT TO GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE. I ALSO NOTED THEY HAVE A MENTION OF HOW THIS VEHICLES LEANS. THAT IS ALSO TRUE. MY RANGER LEANS. I THINK THIS TRUCK IS A TRUE LEMON.

NHTSA ID

761724

DRIVER SEAT SUPPORT IS DEFECTIVE. AT LEAST TWO WIRE SUPPORTS (DIAMETER OF A CLOTHES HANGER) IN THE DRIVER CHAIR (BACK REST) HAVE SNAPPED AND ARE PIERCING THROUGH THE BACK OF THE CHAIR. POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE METAL. IF MORE WIRES SUPPORTS BREAK THIS MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO FALL THROUGHT THE SEAT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I WEIGH 155 POUNDS AND THE FIRST BREAK MAY HAVE HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO WITH A POPPING NOISE (WHICH UNKNOWINGLY WAS INSIDE THE CHAIR). ONE SUPPORT WIRE HAS COMPLETELY BROKE AND FELL OUT OF THE BACK OF THE CHAIR, THE OTHER IS PIECING THE BACK OF THE CHAIR. FORD WAS CONTACTED TODAY AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS NO FURTHER ACTION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE PART. *AK

NHTSA ID

760870

Incident

Apr 18, 2002

INTERIOR LIGHT WILL STAY ON EVEN W/ALL DOORS CLOSED, DOOR AJAR LIGHT SHOWS ON DASH, DID HEAR POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER DASH, WHEN LIGHTS DID GO OFF AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING, PARKED VEHICLE IN P-LOT AT WORK WITH LIGHT STILL ON, WENT TO CHECK AN HOUR LATER THE LIGHT WAS OFF, SEEMS TO HAPPEN RANDOMLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

753899

Incident

Oct 30, 2001

INTERIOR DOME LIGHT FAILS TO TURN OFF WHEN DOOR SHUT/"DOOR AJAR" LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DOOR IS SHUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

748092

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

DOOR WILL NOT REGISTER AS BEING CLOSED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. DASH SENSOR STATES THAT "DOOR IS AJAR" WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. ALSO, DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF WHILE GOING AROUND TURNS. *AK THE DOOR IS AJAR STAYS ON SOMETIME AND GOES OFF IN A WHILE AT OTHER TIME. *YH

NHTSA ID

883258

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

DOME LIGHT STAYS WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. THEN, IT MAY GO OFF AFTER AN HOUR. DEALER CAN'T FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

882253

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

CONSUMER'S SECOND VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND COURTESTY LIGHT STAYING ON, *AK

NHTSA ID

880446

Incident

Jan 28, 2001

DOOR AJAR AND LIGHT STAYING ON FOR 45 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE SHUTING OFF. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK A SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LEAKING AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, PLACE WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED IS GOING TO REPLACE VEHICLE BECAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER CHIP, AND DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

880149

Incident

Jan 6, 2001

THE INFORMATION I HAVE PROVIDED IS IN REGARD TO THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT OF MY VEHICLE. I DRIVE MOSTLY AT NIGHT AND IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. THE DOME LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. I HAVE DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK ON A FEW OCCASSIONS WITH THE DOME LIGHT ON THE WHOLE WAY. THE LIGHT GETS VERY HOT AND IT MAKES SEEING OUT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR DIFFICULT AT BEST. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR WORSE, A VEHICLE FIRE WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT OFTEN ENOUGH TO CAUSE CONCERN. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

739695

Incident

Dec 20, 2000

DOOR AJAR - FALSE READING. DOME LIGHT STAYS ON WITH DOOR CLOSED.

NHTSA ID

739294

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

THE DASH SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING, DOOR AJAR ALARM ALL WAYS STAY ON AND DOME LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT FOR HOURS AT A TIME DASH GETS HOT, LAST TIME TOOK IT INTO BE FIX CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND WILL NOT GO OUT AT ALL ANY MORE WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT UNTIL ENGINE BLOUS UP, SPEED DOARMERE LIGHT AND FUEL LIGHT ON DASH HAS WENT OUT WILL NOT COME BACK ON AT ALL. THE DASH IS ALL WAYS HOT AND SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO FORD AND THE DEALER AND NO ONE WILL DO ANY THING ABOUT IT AND WHEN I HAVE THEY ALL WAYS SAY TO MANY MILES AND WHEN THERE WAS NOT TO MANY MILES ON IT THEY WILL NOT EVERN FIX IT AND I HAVE TOOK IT BACK SO MANY TIMES I GOT SICK OF IT. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN FIX FROM THE DAY I HAVE BOUGHT IT FROM AJ MOTORS OR FORD. WHEN I CALLED FOR THEY WORD HANG UP ON ME OR GIVE ME A RUN AROUND EVEN TO THIS DAY. "" ( NO HELP AT ALL FROM FORD AND STILL MY TRUCK IS NOT FIXED) ""*AK

NHTSA ID

732827

Incident

Jul 21, 1998

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON ALL TIME. A COUPLE OF TIMES SMOKE CAME FROM DOME. TRUCK HAS BEEN SEEN BY DEALERSHIP ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES. LIGHT STAYS OFF FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND COMES RIGHT BACK ON. PLEASE LIST ANY OTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

867845

Incident

Jul 15, 2000

THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH HAD TP BE LUBRICATED EVERY TIME. YH

NHTSA ID

552362

DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON WHICH CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ON AND UP TO 40 MINUTES. CONTACTED DEALER. THEY HAVE CLEANED THE SWITCH AND REPLACED INTERIOR LIGHTS. BUT, VEHICLE STILL HAS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

858249

CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER BOLTS CAME OUT KNOCKING HOLE THROUGH TRANSMITION CASE.TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER HAD TO BE CUT OUT AFTER SPEED NUTS BROKE LOOSE.HEATER FAILED THREE TIMES.THERMOSTAT REPLACED TWICE DIDN'T HELP.BOLTS HOLDING COOLING FAN ON CAME OUT.SWITCH FOR DOME LIGHT FAILED, AND BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.*AK

NHTSA ID

719838

Incident

Dec 1, 1999