1996 Ford Ranger complaints

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE FELL OFF CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *MR THE CONSUMER'S FATHER, A MECAHNIC, STATED THAT AT THE ARROW, THE PIN BROKE, ALLOWING THE SPIDER GEAR SHAFT TO TURN ABOUT 1/4 RD AND ALLOWING THE AXLE TO MOVE IN AND THE KEEPER TO FALL OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL AND 3 FT. AXEL TO COME OUT . *SCC

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 25MPH AND WITH NO WARNING CONSUMER CAN HEAR A POPPING NOISE. IT COULD CAUSE FUTURE STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

DASHLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SEES SOOT ON THE DASH SOMETIMES AND SMELLS SOMETHING BURNING. DEALER DETERMINED AMPS ON FACTORY INSTALLED FUSES ARE TOO HIGH. CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUSES SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 30 AMP. *SCC

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER.*AK THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OUT. CONSUMER FOUND SOOT EVERYWHERE. CONSUMERS HUSBAND CHECKED TO SEE IF A FUSE HAD BLOWN. THEY NOTICED THAT IN THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX THE FUSES USED WERE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE MANUAL STATED. THESE HAD 50 AMP FUSES. THE MANUAL CALLS FOR 30 AMPS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS OVERAGE IN POWER COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE TO THE VEHICLE AND THAT THIS MAY BE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *JG

WHILE MAKING A SLOW TURN STEERING WENT OUT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. DEALER DETERMINED TWO BOLTS IN STEERING BOX HAD BROKEN.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER 1 HOUR DRIVE, VEHICLE WAS 40% BURNED AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. FIRE ORIGINATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON DRIVERS SIDE.*AK

MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT LAST NIGHT ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ON THE I10. WHAT I FOUND STRANGE IS THAT THE TIRE CAME APART IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALL AND IS CUT IN A PERFECT CIRCLE. THE RUBBER LEFT ON THE RIM ON THE SIDE THAT CAME APART LOOKS TO BE ABOUT 2 INCHES OUT FROM THE RIM ALL THE WAY ROUND. WITH THE CURRENT TIRE RECALL I THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD REPORT THIS SENCE I SEE WEB SITES WITH OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS MODLE OF FIRESTONE TIRE THAT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. ANOTHER THING I FOUND INTERESTING IS THAT I CAN'T FIND WHAT I WOULD CALL A STANDARD SIZE ANYWHERE ON MY TIRE INSTEAD IT READS "27X8.50R14LT" SHOULDN'T IT START WITH A 2?? NUMBER. THANKS BRASS. *AK

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE COURTESY LIGHTS AND TRUNK CARGO LIGHTS STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING. BLOWER MOTOR WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE THE SWITCH ARE IN THE OFF MODE OR IN THE ON MODE. DEALER AND MANUFACTRER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE ABS BRAKES LOCK UP ON WET PAVEMENT. *YH

WHILE DRIVING, CHIME WOULD GO OFF. DRIVER WOULD JIGGLE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT TURNED OFF. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE KEY WILL ALSO COME OUT OF THE SWITCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. *SLC

TREAD OF FRONT LEFT TIRE PEELED OFF AT 65 MPH, FORCING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO PUNCTURE TO THE TIRE AND THE TIRE WAS STILL FULLY INFLATED AFTER TAKING THE TIRE OFF. I TOOK THE TIRE TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE STORE BUT THEY ONLY OFFERED A LIMITED REPLACEMENT DEAL. I HAVE SAVED THE TIRES AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED BY SOMEONE FROM YOUR AGENCY.*JB

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPER AND WASHER COMES ON BY THEMSELVES. HAS TO PLAY WITH SWITCH TO TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

ABS FAILED WHEN PEDAL HELD DOWN IN RAPID STOP. PULSES AND THEN DROPS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE REENGAGING. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES DURING ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED TRUCK. TECHNICIANS CAN FIND NO INFORMATION ON WHY THIS MIGHT OCCUR. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS WAS BROKE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE IS NO REASON FOR A SOLID PIECE OF STEEL TO JUST BREAK. *YH

CHIME AND LIGHT WON'T GO OUT, WIPERS HAVE SHORT. I FEAR A FIRE DUE TO OVERHEATED ELECTRICAL WIRING/COMPONENTS. *AK

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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

DIMMER SWITCH CAUSES LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. *AK

ENGINE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS / TEMPERATURES. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THERE WAS LOOSE GRAVEL ON ROAD AND PAVEMENT WAS WET AT THE INTERSECTION, WHEN ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN BRAKES LOCKED UP, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, COME BACK ON WITHIN TEN SECONDS. OCCURS ONLY ONCE OR TWICE IN 3 TO 4 MONTH TIME FRAME. FORD AND DEALER CAN NOT HELP. OIGINALLY TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR ON 5/16/97. COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NO INFO RELATED IN THEIR DATA BASE. VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVED TRIED TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM ON MY OWN (ELECTRICAL ENGINEER) BUT WIRING DIAGRAMS DO NOT EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. I BELEIVE THERE IS A CIRCUIT BREAKER INLINE THAT DOES NOT SHOW IN THE FORD WIRING DETAILS FOR THIS TRUCK. I CANNOT VERIFY THIS THRU FORD. WOULD HAVE TO TEAR TRUCK APPART TO FIND.*AK

TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED ON HIGHWAY. *AK (TIRESIZE: P22570R14)

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON THE END OF THE TURN SIGNAL ARM HAS FAILED. WASHER SWITCH ON ARM STILL WORKS, BUT WIPERS DO NOT WORK IN ANY MODE. I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WILL ONLY OFFER TO REPLACE AGAIN FOR AROUND $300.00

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH - ANOTHE VEHICLE PULLED INTO TRAFFIC LANE AND CAUSED A CRASH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED OTHER VEHICLE PULLING INTO LANE. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO HOLD PASSENGER AND RELEASED DURING IMPACT. PASSENGER EXPERIENCED RIB INJURIES, AND MULTIPLE BRUISES ON BODY AND FACE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THE TREAD ON THE TIRES PEELED OFF WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75MPH. THE BACK OF THE TRUCK STARTED TO SWING OUT OF CONTROL AND IT WENT INTO A SPIN. IT THROUGH HER AND THE TRUCK INTO TWO PINE TREES 15 FEET OFF I-75. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALLED AND SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH HEAD CONTUSIONS AND PAIN. IT WAS THE WORSE EXPERIENCE OF OUR LIFE. WE TOOK PICTURES AND WE HAVE SAVED THE DAMAGED TIRE AND PART OF THE MISSING TREAD. (THE DEALER SOLD THE TRUCK WITH 3 DIFFERENT NAME BRAND TIRES. ) ALTHOUGH, WE ARE EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THE CRASH, WE ARE THANKFUL THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT FATAL.*AK (DOT NUMBER: MAC322 TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)

I WENT IN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS ABOUT TO BLOW OUT. I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3000 MILES AGOE AND WENT ON A TRIP WHIT A NEW OIL CHANGE. I RETURNED HOME AND WENT TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THE OIL GASKET COMMING OUT. THANK GOD IT DID NOT BLOW WHILE I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME DURING THE LONG TRIP I HAD GONE ON. *AK

FIRESTONE, P225/70 R14. 60,000 MILES. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MOUNTED ON A FORD, RANGER 1996. WHILE TRAVLING AT ABOUT 50 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE SHREDDED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENTS.*AK YH

PE 00 020/TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE PARKED NOTICED LEFT REAR TIRE SHOW SIGN OF TREAD SEPARATION ON A 1996, FORD, RANGER; AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT, INSTALLED AT 25,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE P225/70R14, DOT# W2FC1PR038. FIRESTONE WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER REPORTED PROBLEM TO FIRESTONE ON 5-29-2001 THEY ADVISED CONSUMER TO CONTACT FORD, AND FORD TOLD CONSUMER TO CONTACT FIRESTONE, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES.*JB

I WAS RETURNING FROM THE STATE FAIR IN MILWAUKEE WI WITH MY SON. WHILE TRAVELING NORTH THUR FOND DU LAC, WI THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. ONLY THE SIDE WALLS OF THE TIRE REMAINED. I HAD CHECKED ALL FOUR TIRES BEFORE LEAVING THE CAMP GROUNDS IN THE HALF HOUR BEFORE THE TIRE FAILED. AS A OTR TRUCK DRIVER I'VE EXPERNCED SERVERAL TYPE'S OF TIRE FAILURE, RECAPS, HOT/COLD WEATHER, ETC. AFTER VEIWING THE TIRE, I WAS ALARMED BECAUSE THE TREND WAS TOTALY GONE. ALL THAT REMAINED WAS TWO SIDEWALLS AND A DENTED RIM.*AK (DOT NUMBER: DONT HAVE TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)

AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON 2/13/01 WITHOUT CAUSE AT VEHICLE SPEED OF EST. 10 MPH, TRUCK HIT LAND EMBANKMENT ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD.THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE WITH EXCEPTION OF AIRBAG. AIRBAG CAUSED CRITICAL INJURY TO 47 YR OLD DRIVER INCLUDING: CRUSHED STERNUM, CRACKED RIBS, DAMAGED LUNGS, BRUISED HEART, INJURY TO LIVER & KIDNEYS, EXTENSIVE INTERNAL BLEEDING, RUPTURED GALLBLADDER RESULTING IN PERITONITIS. DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 60 DAYS FOR A TOTAL INPATIENT ADMISSION OF 28 DAYS. EACH ADMISSION WAS LISTED AS CRITICAL WITH LAST ADMISSION OF 4/2/01 TO 4/13/01 RESULTING IN MAJOR SURGERY . PATIENT RECOVERY EXPECTED TO LAST 7 TO 12 MONTHS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD WE MUST PAY APPROXIMATELY $5000 FOR AN EXPERT TO EXAMINE THE FORD RANGER TRUCK TO DETERMINE IF THE BUMPER SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE CAUSING UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTING IN CRITICAL INJURY TO DRIVER.*AK

I EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION AT 70 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT ON A WARM DAY (90 DEGREES). *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDUTJAB146 TIRESIZE: P255/60R15)

TRUCK WAS TAKEN FOR EAST FORD (DEALER) FOR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE. THE OD LIGHT AND REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED FROM THAT POINT ON. TRUCK TAKEN BACK 4/16/2001 FOR SAME, DEALER SAYS WIRING IN STEERING/SHIFTER IS RUBBED AND REQUIRES SHIFTER REPLACMENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN LOW GEAR, IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLUTCH, AND HAS STATED THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK DEALER ALSO REPLACED FIRST GEAR SYNCRO, BLOCKER RING, AND THIRD GEAR BLOCKER RING. HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT. TAIL PIPE WAS HITTING SPARE TIRE CAUSING NOISE, DEALER REPOSITIONED TAIL PIPE. *SLC

BRAKES LOCK UP ONLY DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL GO INSIDE OF RETRACTOR, BUT SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE FRONT SUSPENSION DESIGN DEFECT PREVENTS THE CROSS CAMBER FROM BEING ADJUSTED WITHIN MANUFACTURERS SPECIFIED TOLERENCE DURING FRONT END ALIGNMENT RESULTING IN RAPID WEAR TO THE OUTSIDE EDGE AND SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT TIRES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING ROARING NOISE AND UNSTABLE STEERING WHEEL, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND A FRONT ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN PERFORMED BUT BOTH HAVE FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM

ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON DOME LIGHT DOESNT GO OFF WINDSHIELD WIPERS DONT GO OFF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAS HIGH ENGINE RPM BETWEEN 1600 TO 2200. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON ICY ROAD CONDITONS. CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT LONG TERM WEAR AND TEAR ON CLUTCH, TRANSMISSION AND REAR AXLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON FOR NO REASON, WON'T COME ON SOMETIMES, DOME LIGHT AND DOOR BEEP STAYS ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, ACCELERATOR STICKS OFTEN.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, THIS FAILURE HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. *SLC

CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT DEALER'S TO REPAIR COIL SPRING THAT HAD TO BE ALIGNED. BUT, COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WHERE CONSUMER HAD TO USE CUPS TO RAISE SPRING AND TRY TO FIX PROBLEM. *AK

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.

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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SWITCH. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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

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

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