BRAKES LOCK UP AND TRUCK WILL SKID NO MATTER WHAT SPEED, TRUCK BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND SPRAY DURING SOME LEFT TURNS, FOR NO APPARANT REASON. THIS CAUSES THE INABILITY TO SEE. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED(AND TRUCK GOES NUTS)THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT LAUNCHES FORWARD EVEN THOUGH IT IS LOCKED INTO POS…
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BRAKES LOCK UP AND TRUCK WILL SKID NO MATTER WHAT SPEED, TRUCK BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND SPRAY DURING SOME LEFT TURNS, FOR NO APPARANT REASON. THIS CAUSES THE INABILITY TO SEE. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED(AND TRUCK GOES NUTS)THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT LAUNCHES FORWARD EVEN THOUGH IT IS LOCKED INTO POSITION. ONE INCIDENT WAS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET WHEN MY WIPERS CAME ON AND SPRAYED FLUID ALL OVER, I TRIED TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND THE TIRES LOCKED UP AND TRUCK STARTED TO SKID, AND THE SEAT HOLDING MY INFANT SON'S CAR SEAT WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE DASH. I WAS TRAVELING MAYBE 4-6 MPH. SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IN THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAY I HAVE NO RECOURSE AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH THINGS HAPPENING WITH THIER VEHICLES. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND I AM TOLD THAT THEY LOOK FINE, AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ABS DUMMY LIGHT COMING ON IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE, PLEASE CAN YOU MAKE FORD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THIS TRUCK POSTED HERE ON NHTSA'S SITE. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #711140
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2000
Visibility
THE CONTROL SWITCH FOR HEAT/AIR HAS TO BE TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. IF NOT, THE HEAT IS UNCONTROLLABLE AND STIFLING
NHTSA ODI #720983
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2000
Visibility
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AUTOMATICALLY, DISBURSING WASHER FLUID ON A STARTLING THE DRIVER. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #858307
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2000
Interior LightingVisibility
DOME LIGHT COMES ON BY ITSELF AND FAILS TO TURN OFF. *ET
NHTSA ODI #784485
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1999
Visibility
WIPER OPERATION ERRATIC. OPERATE BY THEMSELVES, OR WILL NOT OPERATED WHEN TURNED ON.
NHTSA ODI #715310
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE STOPPING WHILE IN OPERATING MODE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY AND CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE COLLISION.; MFR. NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #849344
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAS OPERATE ERRATICALLY. THEY COME ON AND G OFF WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #848923
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES COME ON BY THEMSELVES. WHILE TAKING VEHICLE TO INSPECTION, WIPERS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WHEN SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. BECAME MORE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AFTER SEEING A REPORT ON LOCAL NEWS STATION.
NHTSA ODI #712347
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1999
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT MANUAL OPERATION AND WILL NOT TURN OFF CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #846504
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 1999
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS & WASHER COME ON WITHOUT TOUCHING SWITCH. HAVE TO TURN ON THEN OFF. SOMETIMES IT WASHES OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT.VEHICLE CAN BE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR GOING DOWN FREEWAY WHEN WIPERS COME ON.ALWAYS HAVE WORKED WHEN TURNED ON.
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
DP00005 · Front Seat Belt
Opened Oct 2, 2000 · Closed May 15, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations
Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
1997 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year