RoadVitals

1999 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.
11
Latest Jul 6, 2016
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.
1%
of 755 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 1999 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 6, 2016

TAIL LIGHTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT, THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITION. SPOT CHECKS BY ME SHOW THAT SOMETIMES THEY ARE WORKING AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT. SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10882935
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
78,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 11, 2006

SMOKE FROM STEERING COLUMN, WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALER STATES ITS COMING FROM THE HAZARD SWITCH, AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10165262
Incident
Aug 10, 2006
Mileage
888,766 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Nov 26, 2003

TURN SIGNAL/WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH DEFECTIVE. WIPERS TURN ON INTERMITTENTLY. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047594
Incident
Nov 25, 2003
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Nov 26, 2003

TURN SIGNAL/WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH DEFECTIVE. WIPERS TURN ON INTERMITTENTLY. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047592
Incident
Nov 25, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 16, 2003

SOMETIMES WHEN I USE MY TURN SIGNAL TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IT STOPS WORKING AND SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS LOCATED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10039000
Incident
Aug 19, 2003
BrakesExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Apr 7, 2000

SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT--DEALER HAS MADE TWO ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT CONSTANT WANDERING OF VEHICLE TOWARD LOW SIDE OF ROAD. UNABLE TO CORRECT, VEHICLE DRIFTS UNLESS CONSTANTLY CORRECTED. BRAKE SYSTEM--FIRST REPORTED TO DEALER AS SEVERE GRABBING/PULLING TO RIGHT (VEHICLE WILL ALMOST CHANGE LANES). ROTORS MACHINED, THEN PULLED LEFT. DEALER TRIED SAME REMEDY AGAIN, RETURNED TO PULLING RIGHT. LAST ATTEMPT, TRIED TO CORRECT SUSPENSION/FRONT-END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS TO ALLEVIATE BRAKING PROBLEMS. HEAD LIGHTS--FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT INTERSTATE SPEED. RUNNING LIGHTS CONTINUED TO OPERATE. SPONTANEOUSLY TURNED ON AGAIN AFTER ABOUT THREE MINUTES. DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE/CORRECT FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
711182
Incident
Jul 6, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 15, 2000

DEFECTIVE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. CAUSES BEAM TO FLUCUATE ERRATICALLY WHEN DRIVING , SPECIFICALLY OVER ROUGH AREAS OF ROAD. HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH NO SATISFACTION. DEALER PROPOSED REPAIR THAT I WILL NOT AGREE TO BECAUSE A) IT IS HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY FORD MOTOR CO B) IT WILL NEGATE THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD THE NEED ARISE. *AK

NHTSA ID
717367
Incident
Nov 26, 1999
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)Steering+1 more
Filed Dec 15, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH INOPERATIVE. YH

NHTSA ID
550009
Incident
Sep 13, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 20, 1999

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS APPLIED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE. WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON HIGH, THE OPERATE IN THE INTERMITTENT MODE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
848123
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 2, 1999

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH CONTROL FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. MJS

NHTSA ID
545899
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Body & structureInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Apr 19, 1999

I HAD MADE MY FIRST APPOINTMENT AFTER SIGNING THE PAPERS, PURCHASING THE 99 FORD RANGER. I THOUGHT THESE THINGS CAN BE TAKEN CARE AFTER THE FIRST APPOINTMENT. I HAD GONE BY THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, AND CAN'T GET ANY OF THESE TAKEN CARE OFF. 5800 MILES LATER, I STILL HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. THE BODY SHOP MANAGER SAID HE ISN'T SET UP LIKE THE MANUFATURER, AND THE SERVICE MANAGER IS FULL OF I'M SORRIES. LARRY KRAMER IS THE ENGINEER REPRESENTATIVE WITH FORD. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE , THEY SAID I AM SORRY WE ALREADY GOT YOUR CHECK FROM THE BANK, AND WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPLACE THIS TRUCK. LARRY KRAMER WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY STRAIGHT ANSWERS. HE WAS READY TO FIGHT, I DO'NT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS TRUCK . I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY! *AK

NHTSA ID
705754
Incident
Jan 12, 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 .