1998 Ford Ranger Interior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 3%of 576 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 48,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the interior lighting of the 1998 Ford Ranger, 3% of the 576 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 48,500 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving at night, the driver was unable to see the ashtray because vehicle did not have a light near the ashtray. Owner has contacted the dealership. The dealership had no option to add a light to the ashtray. The consumer purchased LED lights and installed them himself. Consumer feels any vehicle equipped with an ashtray should have lighting to make it visible.”
NHTSA complaint #10042520, filed 2003-11, 65,000 miles“The dome light has failed within a year of the original repair, shop claimed it was a common defect. Have an e-mail from Ford's customer service urging me to have the problem fixed for my own safety among other reasons.”
NHTSA complaint #719071, filed 2000-02“We have had nothing but problems with the door ajar light and dome light staying on, plus the wipers are irradic and the windows will sometimes go down on their own. It was fixed once and now it's has started doing the same thing again. It seems to me there are an awful lot of similar complaints out there on this very same item and I feel Ford should have to recall this vehicle to correct the situation. I called them and asked if this would be something they would fix seeing as it's one of their mechanical defects and they replied with a 'no'. …”
NHTSA complaint #761724, filed 2002-05“The information I have provided is in regard to the interior dome light of my vehicle. I drive mostly at night and in the early morning hours. The dome light will not turn off in a reasonable time frame. I have driven home from work on a few occassions with the dome light on the whole way. The light gets very hot and it makes seeing out of the rearview mirror difficult at best. I am concerned that this could lead to a vehicle accident or worse, a vehicle fire while I am driving down the freeway. This does not happen all the time, but often enough to cause concern. Thank you.”
NHTSA complaint #739695, filed 2001-01“Interior light will stay on even w/all doors closed, door ajar light shows on dash, did hear popping noise from under dash, when lights did go off after 10 minutes of driving, parked vehicle in p-lot at work with light still on, went to check an hour later the light was off, seems to happen randomly.”
NHTSA complaint #753899, filed 2001-10Interior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 Ford Ranger
136 complaintsVehicle speed control
71 complaintsBrakes
60 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
60 complaintsSuspension
52 complaintsEngine cooling
51 complaintsBody and structure
45 complaintsAir bags
32 complaintsElectrical system
29 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsFuel system
18 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford Ranger
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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