1996 FORD RANGER Complaints

TRUCK WAS PARKED ON THE GARAGE PAD FOR A WEEK. I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS, AND FOUND THE BRAKE FLUID A LITTLE LOW. TOPPED OFF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK. STARTED ENGINE, AND PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND HEARD FLUID DRIPPING. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID NEAR THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. I ASKED MY WIFE TO PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN AND I SAW BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING FROM THE MAIN STEEL BRAKE LINE. COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS THE TRUCK WAS USED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT TO HAUL A FULL LOAD OF FIRE WOOD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PERMANENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILALBE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE.

EXTENSIVE RUST DETERIORATION ON STRUCTURAL FRAME MEMBERS WHICH IS SPREADING RAPIDLY. VARIOUS LOCATIONS. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RIGHT SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNT BREAKING LOOSE WHILE IN MOTION. THE REMAINDER OF THE TRUCK IS IN GENERALLY GOOD CONDITION. WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER 7/11, SOME FRAME BRACKETS HAD BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE FRAME APPEARED SOUND. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

THE FRAME HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION INCLUDING THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT, CROSS MEMBERS, REAR BUMPER, LEAF SPRING SHACKLES, AND PERFORATIONS/RUST THROUGH OF THE MAIN FRAME RAILS.

THE REAR BUMPER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO RUSTED FRAME RAILS THAT IT WAS ATTACHED TO.

I HAVE A 1996 FORD RANGER AND WHEN I WAS FILLING UP THE GAS TANK I STARTED NOTICING A STRONG SMELL OF GAS THEN LATER CAME TO FIND OUT IT WAS LEAKING GAS. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECTED WITH THESE VEHICLES. I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF SOMEONE HAS NOT GOTTEN KILLED YET. *TR

THE CONTROL CLUSTERS ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAVE BEEN AT A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TEMPERATURE THAT THE PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE MICRO SWITCHES HAS DEFORMED AND ON OCCASION IT WILL STICK TO YOUR FINGERS. THE CENTER BUTTON ON THE LEFT SIDE HAS DISINTEGRATED TO THE POINT THAT THE ACTUAL MICRO BUTTON IS NOW OPERATED DIRECTLY THROUGH THE MISSING PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL COVERING. ONE OF THE MICRO BUTTONS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS IN THE SAME CONDITION AND BOTH CONTROL CLUSTERS HAVE BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. WITH THE PROBLEMS FORD HAS HAD WITH FIRES I THOUGHT THEY WOULD OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THIS DEFECT BUT BOTH THE LOCAL DEALERS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE INDICATED NO ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE, I GUESS WE WILL WAIT FOR THE FIRE THAT SPREADS THROUGH THE GARAGE AND TAKES DOWN THE WHOLE HOUSE. DEALERS THAT TURNED ME DOWN ARE BLUE BONNET IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TX AND GRIFFITH IN THE KYLE, TX AREA. THE CONTROL STILL ACTUALLY FUNCTIONS IF YOU CAN HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER LONG ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE MICRO SWITCHES AND YOU DON'T MIND GETTING STICKY BLACK GOOP ON YOUR FINGERS. *TR

IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT TO LATCH. SHORTLY AFTER THE SEAT BELT CAME UNLATCHED AS I WAS DRIVING. AFTER THAT THE BELT WON'T STAY LATCHED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN GOODRICH RADIAL TIRES, SIZE P225/70/R14. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ROTATING THE TIRES, A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

RUBBER FUEL VAPOR HOSE BETWEEN FUEL VAPOR PURGE VALVE AND CHARCOAL CANISTER CAN'T BE REPAIRED BECAUSE FORD HAS MADE PART OBSOLETE. THIS HOSE IS NOT A NORMAL OFF THE SHELF BULK HOSE. IT IS RUBBER PERFORMED WITH A DIFFERENT INSIDE DIAMETER ON BOTH ENDS. FORD WON'T EVEN GIVE ME PART NUMBER! THREE PARTS VENDORS WERE RECOMMENDED TO MAYBE FIND PART. THE VENDORS ALL WANT PART NUMBER THOUGH-SO THAT DOESN'T HELP ME. THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY LEAKS GASOLINE FUMES. I'M NOT EXPECTING FORD TO FIX IT BECAUSE OF AGE OF TRUCK. SOMETHING OUGHT TO DONE BY FORD TO MAKE PART AVAILABLE TO CONSUMER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRUCK COULD EASILY CATCH ON FIRE! *TR