1998 FORD RANGER HAS SECURITY ISSUE WHICH ALLOWS ANY INDIVIDUAL TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR STUFF MISSING. ALL IT TAKES IS A SCREW DRIVE UNDER THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON TO MOST ALL RANGERS AND IT IS HARD TO REPORT ANY LOSS WITHOUT PROOF THAT THERE W…
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1998 FORD RANGER HAS SECURITY ISSUE WHICH ALLOWS ANY INDIVIDUAL TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR STUFF MISSING. ALL IT TAKES IS A SCREW DRIVE UNDER THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON TO MOST ALL RANGERS AND IT IS HARD TO REPORT ANY LOSS WITHOUT PROOF THAT THERE WAS ILLEGAL ENTRY BECAUSE THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THIS MUST NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10406101
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2011
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1998 FORD RANGER HAS SECURITY ISSUE WHICH ALLOWS ANY INDIVIDUAL TO USE A TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR STUFF MISSING. ALL IT TAKES IS A SCREW DRIVE UNDER THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON TO MOST ALL RANGERS AND IT IS HARD TO REPORT ANY LOSS WITHOUT PROOF THA…
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1998 FORD RANGER HAS SECURITY ISSUE WHICH ALLOWS ANY INDIVIDUAL TO USE A TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR STUFF MISSING. ALL IT TAKES IS A SCREW DRIVE UNDER THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON TO MOST ALL RANGERS AND IT IS HARD TO REPORT ANY LOSS WITHOUT PROOF THAT THERE WAS ILLEGAL ENTRY BECAUSE THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THIS MUST NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10406099
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2005
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1998 FORD RANGER HAD THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH REPLACED 3 OR 4 TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS. THE DOOR AJAR IS LINKED TO THE DOME LIGHT. IF THE DOOR AJAR SWITCHES BECOME CORRUPTED OR MALFUNCTION, THE DOME LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON. THE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE DOME LIGHT OFF WHILE DR…
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1998 FORD RANGER HAD THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH REPLACED 3 OR 4 TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS. THE DOOR AJAR IS LINKED TO THE DOME LIGHT. IF THE DOOR AJAR SWITCHES BECOME CORRUPTED OR MALFUNCTION, THE DOME LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON. THE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE DOME LIGHT OFF WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE FIRMLY CLOSED AND LOCKED. THE GLARE FROM THE DOME LIGHTS MAKE DRIVING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH NO REPAIR FACILITY CLOSE BY.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10141807
27,000 miles · May 3, 2004
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DOOR AJAR LIGHT REMAINS ON AND THE VEHICLE THINKS THE DOOR IS OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT IS LATCHED SECURELY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10068200
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2004
Interior LightingLatches/locks/linkages
I HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR DOOR JAM SWITCHES DUE TO SWITCHES GETTING GUMMED UP AND FAILING. ALSO LATCHES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR DOORS WHERE THE SWITCH IS MOUNTED HAD ALOT OF COROSION ON THEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10068134
100,000 miles · Feb 20, 2004
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MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT STAY ON AFTER YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. FROM POSTINGS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON FORD PROBLEM THAT THEY IGNORE. DRIVING FORWARD (REVERSE WON'T DO IT) WILL RESET THE LIGHT MOST OF THE TIME AND MAKE THEM GO OUT. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PULL THE FUSE. WD-40 SEEMS TO BE A SHORT TE…
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MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT STAY ON AFTER YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. FROM POSTINGS, THIS IS A VERY COMMON FORD PROBLEM THAT THEY IGNORE. DRIVING FORWARD (REVERSE WON'T DO IT) WILL RESET THE LIGHT MOST OF THE TIME AND MAKE THEM GO OUT. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PULL THE FUSE. WD-40 SEEMS TO BE A SHORT TERM FIX BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE DOOR SWITCH JAMS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10058596
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2001
Interior LightingLatches/locks/linkages
INTERIOR LIGHT WILL STAY ON EVEN W/ALL DOORS CLOSED, DOOR AJAR LIGHT SHOWS ON DASH, DID HEAR POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER DASH, WHEN LIGHTS DID GO OFF AFTER 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING, PARKED VEHICLE IN P-LOT AT WORK WITH LIGHT STILL ON, WENT TO CHECK AN HOUR LATER THE LIGHT WAS OFF, SEEMS TO HAPPEN RANDOMLY.*AK
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE TRANSAXLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THE PARK DETENT SPRING MISALIGNED. IF THE SPRING IS MISALIGNED, THE PARK MECHANISM MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PARK MECHANISM DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATOR HAS NOT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE AS IF IN NEUTRAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSAXLE AND ANY WITH MISALIGNED PARK DETENT SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OFF-ROAD OPTION. THE TIRE AND RIM IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION IS INCORRECT ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE 16" TIRES COULD NOT BE INFLATED ON THE SPECIFIED 15X7.0J RIM.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A SAFETY CERTIFICAITON LABEL PARTIAL OVERLAY WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE CORRECT RIM SIZE, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIXING THIS LABEL TO THE VEHICLE. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR FORD DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES. THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTED FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LINE COULD CONTACT THE MANIFOLD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP TO HOLD THE FUEL LINE IN THE INTENDED DESIGN POSITION.
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
1
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
1998 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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