1996 Ford Ranger electrical system problems
38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 1996 Ford Ranger — 9% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The control clusters on the steering wheel have been at a sufficiently high temperature that the plastic covering over the micro switches has deformed and on occasion it will stick to your fingers. The center button on the left side has disintegrated to the point that the actual micro button is now…”
filed Feb 2, 2015
“The two buttons on either side of the horn, on the steering wheel, that control the cruise control melt in the heat and expose the circuit boards. This has been going on for a few years and I finally need to report this. *tr”
filed Jun 3, 2013
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. *tt
03181 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 15, 2003
Electrical System problems in other Ranger years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ranger | 5 | 16% |
| 2024 Ranger | 16 | 25% |
| 2022 Ranger | 8 | 22% |
| 2021 Ranger | 8 | 7% |
| 2020 Ranger | 11 | 9% |
| 2019 Ranger | 39 | 15% |
| 2011 Ranger | 5 | 2% |
| 2010 Ranger | 2 | 1% |
| 2009 Ranger | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 Ranger | 7 | 2% |
| 2007 Ranger | 5 | 2% |
| 2006 Ranger | 11 | 4% |
Other reported problem areas on the 1996 Ford Ranger
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.