vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Ford RANGER steering problems

308 complaint narratives mention steering terms.

Key facts

7,355 owner complaints analyzed

101 distinct recall campaigns

72,350 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1979 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,633 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Steering behavior evidence

308 of 7,355 complaints match this topic (4.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.

Owner report 983799 · 1996-04-30 (April 30, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH,CAUSING SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983799 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983575 · 1996-04-26 (April 26, 1996)

WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDERHOOD; INSURANCE CO. TRACED FIRE BACK TO STEERING COLUMN AREA; ALL WIRES BURNED UP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983575 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983882 · 1996-05-01 (May 1, 1996)

BACKING VEHICLE UP, FRIEND STOPPED BY, SMELLED WIRING BURNING, SOON SMOKE APPEARED IN STEERING COLUMN, SOON AFTER FIRE ENGULFED THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 987001 · 1996-07-17 (July 17, 1996)

OUTER STEERING RING IS COMING APART, WOBBLING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. AREA DEALERS ARE AWARE OF SAME FAILURES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987001 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983987 · 1996-05-01 (May 1, 1996)

AFTER PARKING, SHORT WHILE LATER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, THEN FLAMES SHOT OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH WHILE PUSHING DOWN DRIVE WAY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983987 at NHTSA ↗