1988 Ford Ranger Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 32about this part
- Share
- 36%of 89 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 154,331miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the electrical system of the 1988 Ford Ranger, 36% of the 89 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 154,331 miles. 14 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought a 1988 Ford Ranger tan gold in color love the truck, but I went to indiana to pick my son up everything was fine but on the way back that's when everything started to fall apart here. Ok, starter wouldn't restart had to pop clutch it, an then the clutch pedal itself gave away from the fire wall on the way home to savanna il. Ok, it was dark out so the next day went to look and my son and I saw there was a crack there so we tried to fix this an see why it wasn't starting up. I called midas to see if they would weld this up for me. …”
NHTSA complaint #10328338, filed 2010-05, 51,000 miles“Failure in the ignition system (third time with this vehicle) 2-12-97 was the first time I replaced the ignition module, then on 10-01-01 the ignition module needed to replaced a second time. This is quite a concern to me because the vehicle completely stalls out. I lose all power, including steering. The most recent failure was when I was driving home on the 55 freeway doing about 60 MPH. This failure also damaged the distributor which also had to be replaced*ak.”
NHTSA complaint #10036905, filed 2003-08, 257,662 miles“Consumer states while driving the vehicle the ignition switch caught on fire, vehicle was pull out the road. Dealer has been notified. If you have any additional information feel free to add. Nlm”
NHTSA complaint #8018601, filed 2002-09“Vehicle was parked, key was not in ignition and it was in gear , it caught fire and rolled about 50 ft where it hit a building. $ amount of damge not known at this time.”
NHTSA complaint #879360, filed 2001-01“While consumer's wife was driving home automobile began to act up. After driving approx 2 miles she smelled smoke, and she stopped and opened the hood and found the engine on fire. It spread to the dash, and burned the seats inside.”
NHTSA complaint #819140, filed 1997-11Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 22% |
| 2025 | 10 | 23% |
| 2024 | 30 | 31% |
| 2023 | 2 | 11% |
| 2022 | 9 | 24% |
| 2021 | 8 | 7% |
| 2020 | 11 | 8% |
| 2019 | 41 | 15% |
| 2011 | 5 | 2% |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 7 | 2% |
| 2007 | 5 | 2% |
| 2006 | 11 | 4% |
| 2005 | 21 | 7% |
| 2004 | 17 | 4% |
| 2003 | 17 | 7% |
| 2002 | 17 | 5% |
| 2001 | 22 | 4% |
| 2000 | 38 | 6% |
| 1999 | 39 | 5% |
| 1998 | 29 | 5% |
| 1997 | 28 | 7% |
| 1996 | 38 | 9% |
| 1995 | 29 | 9% |
| 1994 | 25 | 6% |
| 1993 | 18 | 8% |
| 1992 | 41 | 22% |
| 1991 | 20 | 15% |
| 1990 | 20 | 19% |
| 1989 | 15 | 21% |
| 1988 | 32 | 36% |
| 1987 | 14 | 28% |
| 1986 | 13 | 37% |
| 1985 | 12 | 44% |
| 1984 | 2 | 17% |
| 1983 | 3 | 27% |
Other parts of the 1988 Ford Ranger
13 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsSeat belts
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Ford Ranger
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology