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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2004 Ford Ranger suspension problems

suspension problem

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2004 Ford Ranger Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Jul 092020

Ranger

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Thefront subframe that holds all the suspension components has broken due to rust.

- Blue Ridge, GA, USA

problem #23

Jul 092020

Ranger

  • 110,000 miles
Front subframe crossmember that holds suspension components has broken due to rust.

- Blue Ridge, GA, USA

problem #22

Aug 022020

Ranger

  • 110,000 miles
The front subframe where the lower control attaches has separated or broken due to rust. I was headed home from work, under normal driving conditions, with no extra load on vehicle. I hit a bump going thru parking lot N heard a pop. I had stopped at gas station N seen that driver side wheel N tire were not straight up N down, it was at a degree or angle. Got underneath N seen that subframe was rusted all the way thru where lower control arm was attached

- Blue Ridge, GA, USA

problem #21

Jul 162002

Ranger

  • 83,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Incredible amounts of premature rust on frame and suspension parts, shackle brackets rusted away completely and had to be replaced. Frame is rusting at an unprecedented pace!?

- Ashville, OH, USA

problem #20

Oct 012019

Ranger

  • 246,000 miles
Frame rusted out on passenger side behind front leaf sprinf mount. Also the cross member holding fuel tank where it connects to the frame is rusted out. Its only the back half of the truck rusting out this bad. Where the spare tire goes is also completly rusted out and fell off. This happened while driving on smoothly paved roads to and from work

- Hartford City, IN, USA

problem #19

Oct 122018

Ranger

  • 180,000 miles
While driving, the spare tire started to fall off due to rusting away of the mounting apparatus. Luckily I noticed it when I stopped for gas (it was hanging by only a bit of still attached rusted metal below the truck) so I cut the cable with some bolt cutters to remove the spare and prevent an accident while driving. Driver's side cab mount separated due to excessive rust. Driver's side floor board fell out due to excessive rust - my foot went through the floor. Frame cracked near rear shackle due to excessive rust. Frame cracked near driver's side rear shock mount due to excessive rust - excessive play and noises caused be to discover this. Bed rusted completely out - above wheel wells on both sides, center of bed, front corners. It came off the truck in several pieces after I put my foot right through the center. The frame rust issues and spare tire falling off could be serious safety problems. I have driven a number of vehicles for many years and never experienced rust issues like on this truck. Way beyond what is reasonable and expected.

- Gregory, MI, USA

problem #18

Aug 022019

Ranger

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Rear end of frame completely rusted out. Leaf springs broken. Spring shackle broke off. Brought the truck in for service unaware there was so much irreparable damage. Damages occurred while driving on a city street. Pieces of the body were missing. Exact date damages occurred is unknown.

- Middleboro, MA, USA

problem #17

Apr 032019

Ranger

  • 170,000 miles
Frame rail not formed correctly defective.

- Princeton Ma, MA, USA

problem #16

Feb 192018

Ranger

  • 146,900 miles
The passenger side frame rail rusted out.

- Raceland, KY, USA

problem #15

Aug 272018

Ranger

  • 72,000 miles
As I was driving, the bumper and spare tire came off almost causing an accident.

- Dry Ridge, KY, USA

problem #14

Aug 012018

Ranger

  • 91,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The rear bumper frame has rusted out and detached from vehicle. Loading brush into truck bed, stepped on bumper, and it collapsed. Checking the rear frame, springs, and suspension shows extended rust, making the vehicle unsafe to drive.

- Lanesborough, MA, USA

problem #13

Jan 202018

Ranger

  • 78,511 miles
The rear spring shackle, bracket rusting and falling off. The gas tank brackets rusted and causiing tank too fall off the rear frame rotted making truck unsafe for driving on the road the front frame of truck is ok no problem.it is just the rear frame rusted thru.the truck was makeing a thumping noise and when I stoped I had noticed that the springs had broke thru bed of truck prompting me too inspect further why this happened and that is when I found all the other issues with the frame.and the tank.

- Bethlehem, CT, USA

problem #12

May 152016

Ranger

  • miles
Excessive rust on frame, spindles, rack and pinion, differential and wheel rims. Vehicle has 48K on odometer. Cause:(unknown)

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #11

Jul 122017

Ranger

  • miles
The frame, underbody, shocks, axels have rusted. The frame has almost completely rusted through. The upper body has been well maintained and is in great condition.this vehicle only has 84,000 miles on it.

- Jasonville, IN, USA

problem #10

Jun 012016

Ranger

  • miles
The frame and all associated components rotted away. This left the spare tire dangling dangerously unsupported. This also left the fuel tank unsupported and at risk of falling at any moment. All drive train components and suspension are no longer stable and the vehicle is no longer safe to operate. The vehicle has only 52,000 miles.

- Freeland, PA, USA

problem #9

Nov 082014

Ranger

  • 140,000 miles
Spring shackle fell off, frame is rusted, ready to break, cross member is rusted off.

- Meyersdale, , PA, USA

problem #8

Aug 042014

Ranger

  • 145,000 miles
The right rear frame is badly rotted to the point where the leaf spring broke off the frame. That allowed the body to come in contact with the gas tank and shorted out one of the transmission wires. The front bumper is rusted out on the passenger side corner. The rusted frame is the big issue.

- Middleborough, MA, USA

problem #7

Mar 082015

Ranger 4WD 6-cyl

  • 35,800 miles
Tranny dropped down causing vibration and vehicle pulled off road and towed. Found 2 cross supports rotted and separated also.body of truck is like new. Frame unsafe. Toyota recalled for this same reason. Ford needs to be held responsible also.

- Coventry, CT, USA

problem #6

Mar 182014

Ranger

  • miles
I own a 2004 Ford Ranger. The frame is two parts front and back held together by rivets. The front half of the frame looks in good shape, normal wear and tare for a 2004 truck but the back section of the frame including shock mounts and gas tank mounts are a rusty rotting mess. Its like perfect line. If the hole frame was like this I would say ok its a 2004 truck but its not. Seems to me this is a manufacturer flaw.

- Green Lane, PA, USA

problem #5

Jan 152014

Ranger 6-cyl

  • 61,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the rear shackles failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was advised that there was corrosion around the control arm where it was mounted to the frame. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000. Updated 06/18/14 updated 06/24/2014 the consumer stated the repair technician advised the steel rim was leaking at the weld seam where the two halves joined. The spare tire rim and holding device were rusted and rendered the tire could unable to be removed. The vehicle was repaired. Updated 06/24/2014

- Cotuit , MA, USA

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