1990 Ford Ranger Electrical System

OUR 1990 FORD RANGER WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 5. ON SATURDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 6TH, WE DISCOVERED THE INTERIOR OF THE TRUCK DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE CLUSTER OF GAUGES WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND GONE. THE DASH SUNK IN OVER THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHERE THE FLAME APPARENTLY VENTED THROUGH THE DEFROSTER VENT ON THE DASH. THE HEADLINER IS BLACK. THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL PELTED WITH DROPS OF HARDENED PLASTIC. POLICE CAME TO INVESTIGATE AND SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ALTERED IN ANY WAY. NO AFTER MARKET RADIO OR CD PLAYER OR ANY ELECTRICAL DEVISE HAS EVER BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. IT SIMPLY CAUGHT ON FIRE ON ITS OWN WHICH IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WE IN NO WAY CAUSED. WE HAVE NOT TRIED TO REPLACE ANYTHING AT THIS POINT. WE WERE ALSO NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL TO CORRECT WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EXPERIENCE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE ENDURED BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. THE TRUCK IS SITTING IN OUR GARAGE AWAITING ANY POSSIBLE ACTION AS A RESULT OF THIS COMPLAINT. *JB

PICK-UP GAUGE SHOWED HOT. GOT HELP AT NEAREST STATION AND REPLACED LOST COOLENT. SEEMED TO HAVE COOLED DOWN. DROVE ABOUT FOUR (4) MILES AND NOTICED SMOKE COMMING INTO CAB DOWN BY THE GEAR SHIFT IN FLOOR BOARD. IMMEDDIATELY PULLED IN TO A SCHOOL PARKING LOT AWAY FROM OTHER CARS. GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE PICKUP. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT BY THEN. WITHIN ABOUT 5 MIN. AT THE MOST A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH AND WITHIN MIN. THE WHOLE TRUCK WENT UP IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ONLY 6 MILES AT THE MOST TO TRAVEL AND RESPONDED QICKLY BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY LOST BY THEN. WHAT COULD HAVE MADE IT DO THIS JUST BY GETTING HOT? HAS ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE ON L990 FORD RANGER PICKUPS? I WAS TRAVELING ALONE AND GOT OUT SAFELY BUT I WAS VERY SCARED AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT COULD HAVE BURNT UP SO FAST. AND GOT OUT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM DASH. HE PULLED OVER AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT FIRE. *AK *YH

VEHICLE STALLED AT ANYTIME AND INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO GET REARENDED TWICE. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

WHILE PARKED FOR 10 TO 15 MINUTES CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS BURNING AFTER 15 MINUTES. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME. STEERING COLUMN WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF 15MINUTES NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER HOOD.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

WOULD NOT START. ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. NEED INFORMATION.

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.

WIRING HARNESS FAILURE, CAUSING FIRE.

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

OWNER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE BURNED DOWN DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. HE FURTHER NOTES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FELL APART INSIDE, PREVENTING KEY FROM ENTERING SWITCH. *DSH

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BURN THE WIRING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELL A BURNING SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH IS STICKING, WHEN TRYING TO START HAVE TO TURN THE KEY REAL HARD. TT

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERHOOD AFTER PARKED 12 HOURS IN FRONT OF OWNER'S HOUSE; CAUSE UNKNOWN. TT

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. TT