1996 Ford Ranger

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ENGINE IDLES HIGH.

• 12/30/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  UPON ENTERING THE VEH TO GO TO WORK WE FOUND THAT ONE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD MELTED AND A BURNT ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEH. THIS OCCURRED ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT THE CRUISE FEATURE IS LOCATED. WE TALKED WITH ANOTHER OWNER OF A RANGER AND HE ADVISED US THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE RANGER TRUCK. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION AS TO THE RECALL AND WE BOUGHT THE VEH NEW IN 1995. IT IS A 1996 MODEL. THIS VEH WAS IN GOOD CONDITION BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS CAN BE FIXED AND WHAT STEPS TO TAKE IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

• 12/30/1999· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMPUTER FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE GETTING REAR ENDED DUE TO FAILURES.

• 12/29/1999· VISIBILITY

  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

• 12/29/1998· SEAT BELTS

  SAFETY BELTS "ROLL" - WHEN USING THE SEAT BELTS IN MY RANGER, THE MATERIAL FOR THE BELTS IS SO SOFT THEY ROLL INSIDE THE GUIDE BY MY SHOULDER CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE TWISTED. IT TAKES ADJUSTMENT TO STRAIGHTEN THE BELT AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD OR WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS DURING AN ACCIDENT. IT SEEMS TO ME THE BELT SHOULD ALWAYS BE STRAIGHT FOR MAX SUPPORT DURING AN ACCIDENT.

• 12/29/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  LOOSE WIRE PREVENTED VEHICLE FROM STARTING.

• 12/28/2016· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED INTO LATCHING MECHANISM

• 12/28/1998· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS FAILED TO OPERATE, SOMETIMES OPERATED INVOLUNTARILY. FORD DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED GEM AND WIPER/WASHER SWITCH; PROBLEM IS RECURRING. NOW INVOLVES DOME LIGHT AND WARNING CHIME AS WELL.

• 12/27/2000· VISIBILITY,INTERIOR LIGHTING

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

• 12/27/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  ENGINE. KNOCKING ROD AT ONLY 56,000 MI. OVER $3,000 FOR NEW ENGINE. HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO TURN ON BEFORE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. CAME ON AFTER TURNING ON HIGH BEAMS AND TURN SIGNALS. ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I'M ABOUT TO DOWNSHIFT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. NO POWER STEERING, NEARLY LOST CONTROL.

• 12/23/2002· AIR BAGS

  VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND BURNT THE DRIVER FACE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

• 12/23/2000· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SWITCH. *AK

• 12/23/1997· PARKING BRAKE

  PARKING BRAKE WAS CHECKED TWICE AND DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL. PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED TO LAST CLICK (TO THE FLOOR) TO PREVENT VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS ON ANY GRADIENT, INCLUDING SLIGHT. DEALER ALSO STATES THAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE PARKED IN GEAR IN ORDER TO PREVENT ROLLING BACKWARDS.

• 12/22/2007· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVERS SEAT BELT WOULD LATCH AND LATER POP OUT OF BUCKLE. *TR

• 12/21/1999· VISIBILITY,INTERIOR LIGHTING

  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

• 12/20/2001· INTERIOR LIGHTING

  REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH DOME LIGHT ON ALWAYS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF, KEY IN IGNITION OR NOT; DOOR CHIME ALWAYS ON IF KEY IS IN IGNITION, VEHICLE ON OR OFF; BOTH CANNOT BE CORRECTED UNLESS FUSE IS REMOVED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR AT MINIMUM, FIXED FREE EACH TIME.*AK

• 12/15/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  GASOLINE LEAKS FROM THE FILLER HOSE AT THE TOP OF THE TANK WHEN VEHICLE IS FUELED. *NM

• 12/14/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2005 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY I EXPIRED A SUDDEN SPIKE IN TEMPERATURE ON MY 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT MY "PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY SORT OF CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION FROM FORD. I HEARD ABOUT THE MANIFOLD ISSUE FROM A FELLOW EMPLOYEE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS FAULTY MANIFOLD WAS $978.00. I FEEL IF THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO UPDATE IT WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD THAN THEY KNEW THE PLASTIC ONES WERE FAULTY.*JB

• 12/11/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.

• 12/10/1999· VISIBILITY,INTERIOR LIGHTING

  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

• 12/10/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  LEFT REAR BRAKES BIND/DRAG. *AK

• 12/07/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED A FAILURE IN THE AIR FLOW SENSOR (PART $330) THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLS, INCLUDING STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE REQUIRED REPAIRS EXCEEDED $500. I KNOW FORD HAS A SIMILAR RECALL OUT NOW FOR THE 1997-2003 (/) MODELS). *TR

• 12/07/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  1) ON THE EVENING OF 11/14/05 I STOP AT A GAS STATION TO FILL UP MY TANK. AFTER I FILLED UP THE TANK I COULD SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T SPILL ANY WHEN REMOVING THE NOZZLE. I LOOKED UNDER MY CAR AND I COULD SEE A GAS LEAK DRIPPING AT A MODERATE PACE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED A FRIEND WHO WORKS ON CARS AND HE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC TO AVOID CATCHING FIRE FROM THE FUMES. 2) THE VERY NEXT MORNING I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY A CRACK IN THE FILLER HOSE. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY FORD RANGERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. 3) MY MECHANIC WAS CORRECT ON DIAGNOSING THE LEAK AND I HAD TO HAVE A NEW GAS TANK FILLER HOSE INSTALLED. THE OVERALL COST WAS $458.60 AND I LOST A FULL DAY OF WORK. *JB

• 12/06/2022· UNKNOWN OR OTHERFire

  heading back from picking up meal at pizza hut when "POP" sound from front of truck and then cabin filled with smoke. within 20-30 seconds of exiting the car it was in flames (See attached photos) recall notification was never sent to current owner and current owner didnt own in 2009 when it was first recalled. Ford customer service informed that auto insurnace would be required to handle loss of vehicle, but current owner doesnt have comprehensive coverage so insurance company is unable to payout for loss due to fire. This recall should have been communicated to titled owner after purchase.

• 12/06/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/05/2002· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

• 12/04/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/04/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  LOCATION OF AIR HANDLER INTAKE ALLOWS WATER TO BE SUCKED UP BY HANDLER WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, BLOWING ENGINE.

• 12/02/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN FORD OFF ROAD, HIT CONSTRUCTION SIGN, GOING ABOUT 25 MPH, AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND FILLED VEHICLE WITH CHEMICALS WHICH BURNED HANDS & PART OF NECK, PLASTIC PIECE CUT HANDS WEDGED BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL AND HORN WENT OFF. *AK

• 12/01/2005· SEAT BELTS

  WHEN I PUT MY DRIVERSIDE SEAT BELT INTO THE BUCKLE IT WILL NOT LATCH. I WENT TO CLASSIC FORD AT 7799 MENTOR AVE, MENTOR, OH AND THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME TO REPLACE IT. APPROX. $100. I CURRENTLY USE THE FEMALE END OF THE MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT. *NM

• 12/01/2000· SUSPENSION

  LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF EXTERIOR DAMAGE. LOOKS LIKE METAL DEFECT. *AK

• 11/30/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS/STALLS.

• 11/29/2001· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DIMMER SWITCH CAUSES LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. *AK

• 11/29/2001· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN THE DARK, LIGHTS WILL GO OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CONSUMER HAD TO TOUCH DIMMER SWITCH SO THAT LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON. SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE UNDER WARRANTY. BUT, CURRENTLY WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN, CONSUMER FEES IF IT GETS FIXED AGAIN, IT WILL NOT WORK AGAIN LATER ON. *AK *YD

• 11/28/2000· TIRES

  FIRESTONE ATX TIRES (P235 75 R15) WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE FIRST TIME 2" WORE OFF AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE EXPOSED, THE SECOND TIME THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

• 11/27/2000· TIRES

  TIRE SEPARATED AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS USE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: CHK6 TIRESIZE: 27/8.50R14)

• 11/27/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS.

• 11/27/1996· STEERING

  THE INTERNAL STEERING SHAFT BROKE, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE DISCONNECTED AND COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. *AK

• 11/26/1999· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSFER CASE WOULD NOT ENGAGE 4WD IN SNOWY CONDITIONS

• 11/26/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

• 11/23/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN / UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION; WHENEVER GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED IN A SPEEDY WAY, IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OPEN UP AND TAKE OFF. THIS OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUNED. *AK

• 11/23/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED RESULTING IN JUMPING.

• 11/21/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH IS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY, COMES TO0 CLOSE TO PASSENGER'S SEAT AND IF BUMPED, IT SHUTS OFF THE FUEL. *AK

• 11/19/1997· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE IN PARK GEAR, SUDDENLY STARTED RUNNING IN REVERSE.

• 11/17/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. AFTER PUTTING THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. *AK

• 11/17/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH & WAS ENTERING INTERSECTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE RED LIGHT. RANGER "T" BONED THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC VEHICLE DID NOT HIT THE RIGHT AREA. MECHANIC WOULD CHECK THE AIR BAG SENSORS. *AK

• 11/16/2005· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  DT: THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA CONCERNING ODI 10139675. HE FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE LIGHT THAT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION BECAUSE THIS WOULD DECREASE REAR END COLLISIONS AT NIGHT. ALSO, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PUT A SENSOR ON THE SPEEDOMETER AND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SO THAT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ ZERO MPH, AND IN COMBINATION WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL LIGHT UP AND SIGNAL TO OTHER MOTORIST THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED. IF A MOTORIST HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL POSITION OTHER MOTORIST COULD IDENTIFY THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE USED ON ALL VEHICLES WHETHER THEY WERE AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.*AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

• 11/15/2002· SEAT BELTS

  CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BUCKLES WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY CAUSING THE CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

• 11/15/1996· PARKING BRAKE

  THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE LINE IS RUBBING AGAINST THE REAR SHOCK, IT MAKES A HOLE . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

• 11/13/1996· POWER TRAIN

  MANUAL 5-SPD TRANSMISSION LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, ESPECIALLY DURING HOT WEATHER AND SLIGHTLY MORE SO ON HILLY AREAS. *AK