1995 Ford Ranger

WINDSHIELD WIPERS -- BEGINNING SUMMER 1998 I EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPER, DOME LIGHT, AND DOOR CHIME COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. IN DECEMBER 1998 THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING SO I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MAGUIRE FORD FOR REPAIR. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED (OBVIOUSLY THIS INTERMITTENT ON/OFF CYCLE BURNT IT OUT), AS WAS A SWITCH FOR THE DOOR. THE FEATURES WERE TROUBLE FREE (THOUGH THE DOME LIGHT STILL HAS PROBLEMS) UNTIL 5/10/2000. ON THAT DAY I STARTED THE VEHICLE DURING A RAIN STORM, AND THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO MAGUIRE FORD FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BUT WHEN I STARTED IT THE WIPERS STILL WOULD NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND REQUIRES A PART (COSTING ~$150). THE MECHANICS AT FORD KEPT REFERRING TO "INTERMITTENT WIPER" PROBLEMS ON OTHER FORD'S, PROMPTING ME TO CHECK THE "CAR TALK" WEB SITE, WHICH HAD A LINK TO THE NHTSA SITE. ON THIS SITE I SAW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR WIPER/DOOR CHIME/DOME LIGHT PROBLEMS. WHILE ON THIS SITE I NOTICED NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ABS SYSTEMS. ON 11/28/99 WHILE DRIVING ON I-81 JUST NORTH OF BINGHAMTON, NY I HAD A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WITH MY BRAKES. A CAR CUT CLOSELY IN FRONT OF ME, PROMPTING ME TO APPLY MY BRAKES WITH FORCE, IN ORDER TO PREVENT A COLLISION. THE BRAKE ON THE FRONT RIGHT-HAND SIDE LOCK, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO JERK TO THE RIGHT. I SURPRISINGLY WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, BUT AFTER ANOTHER 30 MILES OF DRIVING I BEGAN NOTICING A GRINDING SOUND IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MIDAS AND WAS TOLD THE THE CALIPER ON THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE BROKE AND THAT SOMETHING (THE BRAKE?) HAD SEIZED. I PAID FOR REPAIRS AND DISMISSED THIS INCIDENT UNTIL READING ON THE "CAR TALK - NHTSA" LINK THAT MANY OTHER HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR EVENTS WITH THEIR BRAKES. THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS, IS WORTHY OF A RECALL. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODE, THE BACK BRAKES SEEM TO GRAB QUICKER CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK ON ALL 4 WHEELS. THIS CAUSES THE VEHIVCLE TO GO IN TO A UNCONTROLLED SLIDE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES ON HILLS OR EVEN LEVEL GROUND IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE, THE BRAKES APPEAR TO ACT NORMAL. BUT WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE THE BRAKES LOCK AND PULSE, THERE IS NO CONTROLLED DEPLOYMENT OF THE PADS. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE THE SIZE THAT THE MANUFACTURER CALLS FOR, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT I USE STUDDED TIRES ON THE REAR. AS I STATED THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205,70R-15 )

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OUT OFF A LOT IN POURING RAIN BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. IF CONSUMER DRIVE OVER SLICK SURFACE AND ATTEMPTS TO APPLY BRAKES ,THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY RELEASE AND DRIVER IS FORCED TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE PUMP THAT DISTRIBUTES THE BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN TURNED ON TO INTERMITTENT SETTING STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WILL NOT CONTINUE. THIS CAUSES A VISION PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING WHEN THE WIPER BLADE IS IN THE PATH OF THE DRIVERS VISION. MUST TURN WIPERS ON TO EITHER LOW OR HIGH SPEED (NON-INTERMITTENT SETTING) TO GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY. BRAKES: ROTORS CRACKED AND CAUSED HEAVY VIBRATION AND TROUBLE BRAKING. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AT RANDOM,STAY ON WHEN TURNED OFF, OPERATE AT DIFFERENT SPEED THAN WANTED, DOOR CHIME STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, INTERIOR LIGHT ON CEILING STAYS ON AT RANDOM; REGARDING BRAKES: DURING WET WEATHER THE FIRST 2 OR 3 TIMES BRAKE IS APPLIED SEVERE "GRABBING" OCCURS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT;ON WHEN TURNED OFF. *AK