This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The control clusters on the steering wheel have been at a sufficiently high temperature that the plastic covering over the micro switches has deformed and on occasion it will stick to your fingers. The center button on the left side has disintegrated to the point that the actual micro button is now operated directly through the missing portion of the original covering. One of the micro buttons on the right side is in the same condition and both control clusters have broken loose from the steering wheel. With the problems Ford has had with fires I thought they would offer some assistance in repairing this defect but both the local dealers I have taken it to have indicated no assistance is available, I guess we will wait for the fire that spreads through the garage and takes down the whole house. Dealers that turned me down are blue bonnet in new braunfels, tx and griffith in the kyle, tx area. The control still actually functions if you can hold it all together long enough to activate the micro switches and you don't mind getting sticky black goop on your fingers.
The contact owns a 1996 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, smoke was emitted from under the hood. The vehicle was merged onto the shoulder of the road and as the hood was raised flames started to rise. The contact extinguished the flames and noticed that the wires from the vehicle speed control started the fire. As a result, the wires for the master cylinder switch melted and all of the brake fluid leaked out. The fire department was not notified and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed home. The dealer was not notified and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.
The contact owns a 1996 Ford Ranger. When he entered his vehicle he found that the cruise control off and on switch melted. The dealer stated they have never seen this occur. Recall 09V399000 repair was performed; however, they did not repair the switch. The failure mileage was 97,000.
The contact owns a 1996 Ford Ranger. While activating the right turn signal, the contact heard an electrical crackling sound in the dashboard. The failure has been occurring daily for the last nine months. The failure mileage was 130,000 and current mileage was 164,000. Updated 04/08/08. The right turn signals and emergency flashers did not work. The consumer also stated the cruise control was a problem as well. Updated
- Franklin, TN, USA
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I was driving a Ford Ranger VIN [xxx] at around 40 miles/hour in a regular street, the truck suddenly start to speed up. It did not stop even when I braked very hard. Finally I put the vehicle in neutral to be able to stop. I was almost killed or very bad injured. I contacted the manufacturer but they do not what to take actions with this problem. Please before some one gets killed. Take the appropriate actions. Updated 07/25/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving on a narrow two-lane road, I proceeded to pass another vehicle. I accelerated and kicked the truck into passing gear. The throttle went to the wide open position and would not release. I used the brakes to fight the out of control engine and vehicle. I proceeded down the curvy for 3 to four miles until I got to a pullout place where I applied the brakes so hard that it killed the engine. The brakes were down to no pads, were very hot, and cooked out grease that caught on fire. I restarted the engine at which time the throttle was no longer stuck in the wide open position.
Engine idles, rpms run at approximately 1100 at all times. Also, without hitting accelerator vehicle can accelerate up to 40 mph. Has been at dealer for 3 months and they cannot fix it.
Failure of the cruise control, while driving the cruise control was engaged and applied the brakes to disengage and would not release, off button would not function, to stop vehicle ignition was turned off.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Buda, TX, USA