NHTSA Complaint #718918 — 1996 FORD RANGER

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE. DEALER IN YUBA CITY, CA AS WELL AS SPEEDOMETER SPECIALTY SHOP (SPEEDOMETER ELECTRIC IN YUBA CITY, (530) 742-2611) CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THE SAME FAILURE (WILD FLUCTUATION LEADING TO TOTAL FAILURE) IN NUMEROUS WINDSTARS AND OTHER FORD MODELS. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER GO OUT IN THIS VEHICLE. AFTER TALKING WITH THE DEALER, SPEEDOMETER ELECTRIC OWNER , AND FINALLY A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, I AM CONVINCED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN EITHER MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP. THE COST OF THE PART ALONE IS $333.33. INCLUDING LABOR, I PAID $417.49 FOR A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT, ESPECIALLY AT THE RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE ON THIS VAN. I SENT TWO LETTERS TO FORD (OCTOBER 22, 1999, AND NOVEMBER 19, 1999) AND ONLY GOT A GENERIC POST CARD IN RETURN SAYING THEY TRIED BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING ME (ALTHOUGH MY WIFE STAYS AT HOME AND WE HAVE AN ANSWERING MACHINE). THE DEALER I TOOK IT TO FOR INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS GEWEKE FORD IN YUBA CITY, CA (530) 821-2121. DATE: 23 AUGUST 1999. CUSTOMER # 971976. SERVICE ADVISOR SCOTT BABLER SAID IT WAS THE SPEEDOMETER, NOT THE CABLE BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLY RECALLING THIS VEHICLE AND OTHERS WITH THE SAME SPEEDOMETER UNIT. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU, ROBERT A. SCHOENBERG. *AK