NHTSA Complaint #722634 — 1995 FORD RANGER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS -- BEGINNING SUMMER 1998 I EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPER, DOME LIGHT, AND DOOR CHIME COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. IN DECEMBER 1998 THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING SO I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MAGUIRE FORD FOR REPAIR. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED (OBVIOUSLY THIS INTERMITTENT ON/OFF CYCLE BURNT IT OUT), AS WAS A SWITCH FOR THE DOOR. THE FEATURES WERE TROUBLE FREE (THOUGH THE DOME LIGHT STILL HAS PROBLEMS) UNTIL 5/10/2000. ON THAT DAY I STARTED THE VEHICLE DURING A RAIN STORM, AND THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO MAGUIRE FORD FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BUT WHEN I STARTED IT THE WIPERS STILL WOULD NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND REQUIRES A PART (COSTING ~$150). THE MECHANICS AT FORD KEPT REFERRING TO "INTERMITTENT WIPER" PROBLEMS ON OTHER FORD'S, PROMPTING ME TO CHECK THE "CAR TALK" WEB SITE, WHICH HAD A LINK TO THE NHTSA SITE. ON THIS SITE I SAW THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING SIMILAR WIPER/DOOR CHIME/DOME LIGHT PROBLEMS. WHILE ON THIS SITE I NOTICED NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ABS SYSTEMS. ON 11/28/99 WHILE DRIVING ON I-81 JUST NORTH OF BINGHAMTON, NY I HAD A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WITH MY BRAKES. A CAR CUT CLOSELY IN FRONT OF ME, PROMPTING ME TO APPLY MY BRAKES WITH FORCE, IN ORDER TO PREVENT A COLLISION. THE BRAKE ON THE FRONT RIGHT-HAND SIDE LOCK, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO JERK TO THE RIGHT. I SURPRISINGLY WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, BUT AFTER ANOTHER 30 MILES OF DRIVING I BEGAN NOTICING A GRINDING SOUND IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MIDAS AND WAS TOLD THE THE CALIPER ON THE FRONT RIGHT BRAKE BROKE AND THAT SOMETHING (THE BRAKE?) HAD SEIZED. I PAID FOR REPAIRS AND DISMISSED THIS INCIDENT UNTIL READING ON THE "CAR TALK - NHTSA" LINK THAT MANY OTHER HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR EVENTS WITH THEIR BRAKES. THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS, IS WORTHY OF A RECALL. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *AK