2001 FORD RANGER Complaints

FRONT WHEEL DRIVER'S SIDE JUST FELL OFF THE FRAME DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST. WHEEL IS HANGING BY THE SPRING ONLY. INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE FRAME SHOWS VERY EXTENSIVE RUST AND IT LOOKS LIKE SWISS CHEESE. *TR

MY FRAME HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MOSTLY ALL OF MY UNDERCARRIAGE BOLTS AND SUPPORTS HAVE ROTTED THROUGH THE FRAME THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FRAME METAL TO MAKE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS> INCLUDING GAS TANK FILLER PIPE, GAS TANK SUPPORT STRAPS, SHOCK SUPPORTS,MUFFLER MOUNTS,SIDE STEP UPS, AND SIDE PANEL: BRACKETS. THIS TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AND I FEEL A FRAME SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 13 YEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH COOPER COBRA RADIAL G/T TIRES, SIZE P225/60R15. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY AND THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL IN CIRCLES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE POLICE OFFICER NOTICED THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06T016000 (TIRES). THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,405.

I WENT TO A AUTO BODY SHOP TO GET A ESTIMATE ON SOME MINOR BODY WORK, DURING THE INSPECTION PROCESS THE AUTO BODY REP FOUND THE FRAME TO THE REAR OF THE REAR TIRES WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TO THE POINT THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE WAS THE ONLY ITEM HOLDING THE AXLE IN PLACE. UPON CHECKING THE COMPLETE FRAME HE DETERMINED THE COMPLETE FRAME WAS RUSTED AWAY TO THE POINT HE RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN. FORD ALSO DISCONTINUED THIS FRAME SO I CAN NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FRAME AND REBUILD THE TRUCK ON A NEW FRAME. NOTE THIS TRUCK WAS RARELY USED IN THE WINTER AND WAS WASHED OFTEN. PREVIOUSLY A FUEL LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUSTING IN 2004, WHICH I REPORTED TO THE NHTSA AND NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK REGARDING THAT COMPLAINT. *TR

FRAME IN REAR OF TRUCK RUSTED BADLY, REAR SHACKLE MOUNT O PASS SIDE EXTREMELY BAD WITH HOLES COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME IN MULTIPLE PLACES. REAR TIRE CARRIER COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUB FRAME BEHIND THE FRONT BRACKET OF THE LEAF SPRING WAS CRACKED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. DJR

CONSTANT PASSENGER AIRBAG ISSUES SINCE PURCHASE. AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON AND DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT ISSUE. CONCERNED DUE TO RECENT ISSUES WITH AIRBAGS ON PREVIOUS FORD RANGERS. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE REAR SPRING SHACKLE BRACKET RUSTED AND BROKE OFF OF FRAME. FRAME, ESPECIALLY NEAR REAR OF TRUCK, IS BADLY RUSTED. *TR

REAR FRAME RAILS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE AREAS. RIGHT REAR SHOCK MOUNT TO FRAME HAS BROKEN OFF AND LEFT A LARGE HOLE IN THE FRAME RAIL. RIGHT SIDE REAR FRAME RAIL HAS A LARGE CRACK COMPLETELY THROUGH IT. *TR

WHEN GOING TO INSTALL TRAILER HITCH I FOUND THAT SPRING AND SHACKLE BRACKETS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF DUE TO SEVERE RUST PERFORATION. ALSO BUMPER BRACKETS ARE COMPROMISED BY SEVERE RUST PERFORATION AS WELL AS ENTIRE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE THE SAME COMPLAINT HAS BEEN REPORTED AND I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO MANUFACTURE OF THE FRAME METAL.I AM CONCERNED THAT MY BUMPER IS GOING TO COME OFF WHILE DRIVING OR SPARE TIRE OR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SURFACE RUST IS EXPECTED BUT TOTAL PERFORATION OF METAL FROM RUST ON VEHICLE THIS OLD IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IS A DEFECT IN THE METAL. *TR