1) windshield wipers randomly start and stop 2) smoke puffs rising from steering column occasionally
1999 Ford Ranger electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 39 of 39, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have had numerous problems with the electrical system, the "door ajar" light stays on when doors are shut. Also the interior lights stay on when the doors are shut. The problems started about 3 months after I bought the truck. Of course that was after the warranty ran out.
Eletrical system. My door contact pin switch says my doors are open even though I shut the door and lock them.
There is a problem with the door switches with this vechicle. I had the door switches replaced 2 years ago because they both were saying the the door was open when in fact they were closed. A year later the car started doing it again. It has been an on going problem since I can not afford to have the problem repaired. There is also a problem with the wipers. They spontainsouly turn themselves on for no reason and at times when I try to turn them on in the rain the dont work properly.
Intermittently windshield wipers operated on their own. While driving windshield wipers malfunctioned. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the electrical relay switch needed to be replaced. *ak
Consumer complained about electrical problems. The dome light/ajar light stayed on after getting out of the vehicle and locking the doors. Steering column smoked, and windshield wipers came on intermittently.
Anti-theft system failed and needed to be replaced.
Truck was stopped & left running, driver and passenger got out to see if road too muddy to drive on. When opened door less than 1 minute later, truck filled with smoke. Fire smelled electrical, battery unhooked, vehicle towed to ford dealership. Apparently wire on power window on passenger side touched metal and started the fire. This vehicle has never been wrecked and door or windows worked on. What would make it short out and start fire if not factory defect. Dt
Smoke from the steering column with the left turn signal on. while driving on the freeway, I turned on the left turn signal to change lanes. Initially the turn signal worked normally. After changing lanes, a column of smoke began rising from the steering column. The turn signal light on the dash board had gone from blinking on and off to a steady dim green and the turn signal arm had not fully moved to the off position. I moved the turn signal arm to the off position and the turn signal light went out and the smoke stopped shortly after that. At a stop sign, the same situation occurred. I did not use turn signal for the remainder of the drive.
When turning on left turn signal smoke came from steering column. Sometimes light won't turn off. Consumer played twice with switch. Please provide any further information.
Within the first year of lease the front wheel drive hubs were found to be defective and needed to be replaced.
When turning on directional light, and at making a turn, windshield wipers will turn on by themselves. Consumer believed that it was electrical related. Please provide more information.
Speed 25 MPH traveling down icy, dirt road, lost control and struck tree on passenger side in front of door. Approx. 10 min. Later car burst into flames and is now total damage, although original damage was only dent to front quarter panel.
High beam fog light wires are coming out and causing fog light to be inoperative. License plate socket bulb had turned copper wires black.
Stopped at red light with left turn signal on. Turn signal indicator on dash went dim, but not out completely. A few seconds later smoke started coming out from the top of the steering column around the opening for the hazard light activation switch. Shut off the engine, pushed truck off to the side; waited about 15 minutes, started back up, no further indication of problem (however, did not use turn signals again for remainder of trip: ~5 miles).
Emergency brakes will not release, and there a short in electrical system. Also, dome lights do not work properly.
Widshield wipers start unexpectedly ,cycle between 1 and 3 times can find no patteren at this time I do beleive some are caused by turning on directional lights. Some time just going down smooth stright road they will start. When they do cycle it is not at fast rate. Concerned it could be short some place in steering column.
After parking in garage tail light short circuited, causing an electrical fire . Fire department put the fire out. The dealer has been contacted.
Consumer will complete form.
An electrical problem in the dash control module, causing windshield wipers to work intermittently/ headlights to flicker on/off, and vehicle does not idle properly. Dealer has been contacted.
While driving truck cuts off. After a few minutes, truck starts back up. Problem was reported to the dealership. A computer chip was ordered to correct the problem. *ak
Electrical wire burned by the transmission causing 4x4 system, overdrive and back lights not to work, wire replaced now all systems working fine.
Within a 2 month period I have experienced 3 separate electrical problems. 1st incident was a surging when defrost was on. Dealer replaced all spark plug wires and said that is was arcing and could have caused a fire or worse. 2nd was the gas gauge was not working. Dealer is replacing fuel sender. 3rd was 4x4 and overdrive not working. Dealer initially replaced blown fuse, but 2 days later was blown again and dealer is currently replacing "wiring" in steering column that was shorting. Truck is currently at the dealers. Very unsatisfied!!! Very nervous about the continuing electical problems and incomplete explanations from the dealer.
Engine knock during acceleration, took it to the dealer. Dealer replaced coil. Ran fine until used regular unleaded gas ignition knock came back
The brakes making lots of noise/the trany leakes fluid/ and ( the turn lights come on when they want to.)
After driving about 5 miles, vehicle was parked, and once consumer sat in vehicle for 2minutes before shutting the engine off, once off, ignition was turned to accessories, and there was a popping sound from under the hood. When vehicle was quickly exited, consumer noticed smoke from under the hood, and it suddenly burst into flames, burning the vehicle up, the fire department put the fire out. Dealer has been contacted.
When attempting to change the oil filter, I apparently bumped a wire on the starter causing it to engage. Lucky the parking brake held letting it move only a short distance before distroying the starter. I received several injuries while attempting to get free of the vehicle to disconnect the battery. In inspecting the incident afterwards I found that by moving the wire less than ten thousands of an inch the starter can be engaged with the ignition off. If oil had been present at the time, a major fire could have occurred to repair the damage was $240 for labor and new started. The dealer has agreed to contact the ford service agent, but no assurance that it would be covered under the warranty. If nothing else please warn other owners of this problem before someone get killed. Thank you.
The circuit breaker that controls the air flow into the engine has a malfunction which causes the engine to run prime, dumping gas onto the catalaytic converter. This is causing overheating of the converter, and could also lead to an fire. The dealer has been contacted.
Whenever consumer tries to get into the vehicle or touch the vehicle, he will get an electrical shock. Also, when driving can hear a knocking and clicking noise, and when putting the vehicle in reverse the noise gets very loud.
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