This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Rear frame on Ranger is rusting. The slot where the gas tank strap hooks on to the frame has rusted away this caused the gas tank to drop the whole back frame looks bad.
Noticed my truck was sitting crooked. Took it to repair shop to have repaired. About 2 hours after I dropped it off the repair shop called my phone and asked me to come to their shop. The mechanic showed me the rusted spring shackles and rusted spring hangers and the rusted frame. This shop would not put my trailer hitch back on because he said my rusty frame would not hold it up. I took my truck back to a Ford dealer for them to look at. They told me that the truck was paid for, warranty was out and as far as they were concerned the problem was mine. I tried to tell the dealer that this didn, T happen overnight. He didn, T care. I have had parts of the frame plated so it wouldn, T break into. Gas tank brackets have rusted off. Main front crossmember has rust holes in it. This truck was only 7 years old and its junk. Tried to trade it off at a dealer first thing they look at is the frame. The dealers know there is a problem with the frames rusting. And mine is not the only one in the area with rusted frame problems. My son has a 2004 Ford thats almost as bad as mine. I have a 1955 Ford truck that has a better frame under it than my 2001. Sad but true. I took excellent care of my truck for those first 7 years but who crawls under their car or truck to check for rust. You expect some but not to this extent.
Rear leaf spring hangers failed & separated from the frame due to corrosion causing the leaf spring to damage the bed of the truck as the leaf spring drove through the skin of the truck bed.
I brought my 2001 Ford Ranger in for it's annual New York inspection. The inspector pointed out that the frame was dangerously weak due to rust by the rear shackle brackets which the leaf spring is attached to. I had these brackets replaced a few years early because one rusted out and broke. I would hat to think what would have happened if my frame failed while on a interstate at 65 mph. I am 63 years old and never did I have a frame rust out. I took the car to a shop which welded new steel on the frame both sides.
The caller said both front ball joints were defective. The vehicle was making noises in the front end. This was the only indication that something was wrong. The dealer told the consumer that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. An independent mechanic told the consumer that the ball joints were bad. The mechanic told him that the ball joints should not go bad at that mileage. The manufacturer offered no help. The consumer did not know if the problem was with the lower joints. (11/15/05) the noise was coming from the drivers side front tire. The consumer was informed that the noise was coming from both ball joints and the cv joint.
- Rosholt, WI, USA
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After 15,000 miles on good year tires I had strange wear of all 4 tires. I went to the Ford dealership burt Ford 303-643-9020 and approved through Ford all tires had been replaced. (this was bought new off of Ford lot with Goodyear tires) they stated the tires had coupled? bad tires and replace. 20,000 miles later the same thing happened all 4 tires and I was told by Ford customer care, 1-800-241- Ford, and burt Ford that again it was the tires and again the new tires have started coupling. I feel this is the Ford Ranger 2001, 4 wheel drive, build defect that is making this happen. I at this time fear the vehicle has a major defect and this will make the truck unsafe and possibly cause loss of life. Ford stated they checked front end only. They are not taking this as a real issue and have now placed me and my family in danger.
At 6K mi while making right turns at speeds 30 mph and lower, there was a distinct vibration in the front end. Ford replaced the steering rack. Now at 23K mi same exact problem is back.
Date of purchase smelled rubber on the drivers front wheel. Truck bounces all over continues to do so, this causes poor steering control as well. Brakes alternates from grabbing or slow in working, PCM has been reprogrammed, yet the whinning in the engine or drive train continue. Suspension very weak, vehicle leans to the right on the curves and steering control is dangerous.
While driving 57-67 mph there is a constant vibration. Engineer from Ford stated it was a characteristic of the truck. Ford recommended and installed new Goodyear Wrangler tires on vehicle.
The problem is a non-compliance of the installed springs and shocks assembly. The whole truck bounces over a bump instead of the suspension compressing and absorbing the shock. The results are that the back end of the truck bounces to the right or left and makes me almost lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle ended up on two wheels on one occasion and almost rolled over. The vehicle finally settled back down on all four wheels and I was able to continue on my way.
Whenever vehicle runs over a bump or a pothole it causes rear end to kick to the right or to the left. Dealer replaced front and rear shock, some improvements were made, but the problem still occurs. Consumer states that the vehicle oversteers when pressure is applied like during a turn, the problem seems to only occur when the left side of the vehicle hits a bump. Engine light illuminated.
While driving vehicle would start to vibrate/ shimmy, higher the speed shimmying would be worse, consumer would grip steering wheel, and would be hard to maintain control, had taken vehicle to two different dealerships, each mechanic just rotated the tires, this failed to correct the problem. Goodyear replaced all four tires. Rts Wrangler P235/75R15)
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Denville, NJ, USA