general problems of the 1998 Ford Ranger

My fuse #27 for backup lights and the o/d keeps blowing out and now the o/d light flashes sometimes I pulled the cover off of the steering column but the o/d cord wasn't pinched or damaged also no appearance of any wire touching anything.

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph the accelerator pedal fractured and detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the rivets attached to the accelerator pedal and brackets were corroded. As a result, the mechanic had to reattach the pedal with new bolts. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Parked out on the street in front of my house, caught on fire around 9 pm. Fire trucks came and put it out and knocked on the door around 9:25 pm.

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Ranger. After the vehicle had been parked for 13 hours, it caught fire. The contact filed a report with the police department. A recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 07v336000 (vehicle speed control) was received prior to the failure and the vehicle was taken to the dealer on October 10, 2008 for the recall repair. The vehicle was repaired at that time; therefore, the contact does not understand how his vehicle still caught fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that he would receive a call back within 14 business days by their legal department. The failure mileage was 136,000.

I had driven my 98 Ford Ranger for a distance of about 10 miles prior to the incident. 2 hours after I got home my truck burst into flames. The truck is totaled now. I did nothing to remedy the situation because I was unaware of the problem. Thank you for your time.

Engine surges when foot is off accelerator. Engine goes to high rpm and must be turned off with ignition key to keep it from exceeding rpm limits. This is an intermittent problem with no firm parameters for occurrence. This has happened even though there are no mats in the drivers side of the truck and drivers feet are flat on the floor not in contact with the accelerator, brake, or clutch. Dealer has replaced throttle body twice but that does not solve the problem. The dealer has no idea what is causing the problem. Problem has been in existence for at least 18 months.

Recall # 05s28 - Ford has not made available to the dealer the necessary part (wiring with a fuse) to repair a defect (speed control switch)that I was notified about in a letter dated August of 2007. Now Ford tells me that the necessary part will not be available before June of 2008!.

When coming to a stop and with no warning engine surges, and could cause an accident. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.

After approximately 10 -15 minutes after a cold start and running in city traffic, the engine speed increases to 2500 - 3000 rpm with the clutch depressed. This occurs when I am slowing to stop at a traffic signal. While my foot is on the brake, the engine rpm remains close to 1000 - 1200 rpm, about what your would expect. As soon as I depress the clutch, the engine rpm rapidly increases to nearly 3000. When the problem occurs, the engine rpm will remain high for about 10 seconds or until I release the clutch or turn off the engine. As soon as the engine has stopped, I restart the engine the engine. It starts normally without incident and continues usually without incident although if the traffic is exceptionally heavy, the problem may reoccur in approximately 30 minutes. This is sort of like rebooting a computer. Both team Ford and the Ford motor company tell me that this is normal for this type of vehicle and not to worry about it. I consider it to be a significant safety hazard because I must stop and restart the engine in heavy traffic. According to the Ford motor company, all Ford Rangers (1998 - 2000) with manual transmission and 3. 0liter engine experience this problem. The problem never occurred until I had driven the truck for over 45k miles.

Vehicle has been experiencing intermittent problem with engine acceleration while in stop / go traffic. Vehicle been in /out of dealer shop, and consumer was informed that nothing can be founed. Dealer wants consumer to take vehicle back.

No summary listed for this vehicle.

My complaint is against NHTSA counsel. I wrote by email the NHTSA counsel on 2 may 1999 detailing my problem. I received no answer. I wrote again on 7 Jul 1999, and received no answer. I would like to know if NHTSA really does answer consumer complaints. I would be happy to fax you copies of my original emails to NHTSA counsel if you so desire. No safety defect listed in summary.

Consumer had trouble with dealership during the recall repair (99v-062). Mjs.

When the accelerator is released the engine does not necessarily slow down and so the vehicle does not slow. In fact if back shifting to slow down, the vehicle will sometimes gain speed.

While pulling into garage the vehicle started to accelerate at high speed, resulting in a collision. Caused extensive damages to garage and vehicle. Also, consumer sustained major injuries.

When driving at low and coming to a stop, vehicle will accelerate at high speed. Consumer has to shut the key off in order to bring the vehicle to a stop.

Vehicle maintained a constant speed after releasing pressure from gas pedal. Another example: vehicle was at 58 mph @2000rpm, foot taken off gas, vehicle put in neutral, vehicle coasted to stop, but rpms had increased to 2500rpm and stayed there for over . 4 miles. At worst time vehicle rpms had increased to 3650rpm. Occurs when placed in neutral or clutch is depressed at any speed, any time, but not consistent and quite random. Vehicle has been in to two different Ford dealerships, 3 times. Both dealerships claimed there was nothing to fix, as they do not know what to fix. Ford tech line states there is nothing to fix. Current dealership (where purchased) has had vehicle for over four weeks, which does not include the first time it was taken in.

While driving the truck 35 mph, the engine revved high, jumped gears and the truck accelerated to a very high speed. At that point the back end of the truck shifted to the right. When driver tried to turn the steering wheel, the steering wheel would not move, causing driver to hit a parked vehicle. The entire front end of the truck was pushed in. The truck has been towed to an auto body shop.

Vehicle will not decelerate after driving on freeway for 40+ minutes, no problem can be found to cause condition.

1998 Ford Ranger speed control recall. Consumer stated that he called the dealer when the recall was received and was told the parts would not be available until the new year.

While applying the clutch the vehicle would accelerate without indications. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further information.

Truck won't decelerate after removing foot from accelerator. Continues to travel 25-30 mph in second gear. Sunday April 18, 1999, I was traveling on us 30 west came to intersection of us 30 and us 39 at traffic light at 50 mph on wet rainy roads, and took foot off accelerator and truck wouldn't slow down. Very hazardous. They are being very slow at resolving this matter, approaching 1 yr anniversery of first complaint.

Vehicle will randomly idle at a high rpm. This will cause my vehicle to travel at approximately 20 mph at an idle speed. While driving vehicle and taking foot off of the accelerator to begin slowing, my vehicle will continue traveling at the same speed. Also, as I downshifted vehicle to slowdown in traffic,vehicle will sometimes remain or increase in speed that vehicle is currently traveling.

2 wheel drive switch jumped into four wheel drive, causing vehicle to accelerate out of control.

While waiting at either at stop light or sign vehicle would start to rev up, and later stalled out completely. Sometimes it felt as if engine was going to blow up because of the revving. Have taken vehicle to dealership & mechanic indicated that it was normal.