2004 FORD RANGER Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE FRONT LEFT SEAT WAS RECLINED TO THE FULL EXTENT; THE BACK OF THE SEAT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE REAR WINDOW, POPPING THE GLASS OUT OF THE SEALS. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR (INSIDE EDGE) ON FRONT TIRES AT LOW MILEAGE (5,000+) AND CONTINUING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED BY THE DEALER TWICE SINCE PURCHASE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LATCH FOR THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE LATCH WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE. IT USED TO LOCK, BUT HAS BECOME INOPERABLE. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY THE HOOD DETACHED AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THE DEFECT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED DUE TO THE HOOD AND THE HOOD ALSO BECAME DENTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN IDLE, THE ENGINE REVVED AND LURCHED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 6-15-06 THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ON. DEALER LUBED THE LOCKS AND LATCHES. *TT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. THE DIFFERENTIAL UNLOCKED AFTER ROCKING THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS.

ON MARCH 06,06. EXACTLY 2 MONTHS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF A "QUALITY CHECKED PREOWNED " 2004 FORD RANGER PICKUP FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT 4:30 AM S/B ON THE I 15 SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE VEERED HARD LEFT SLAMMED INTO THE CENTER GAURDRAIL THEN FLIPPED AND ROLLED CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE A CLASSIFIED AS A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE CO. AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE I WAS DRAWN TO THE FACT THAT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING BRAKE ROTOR AND HUB WERE DETACHED FROM VEHICLE AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION IT APPEARS THAT THE WHEEL BEARING RETAINING ASSEMBLY IS AT FAULT. THE SPINDLE IS FLAT ON BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE THREADED TIP WHERE THE WHERE THE AXLE NUT THREADS SHOULD MESH AND HOLD, BUT THE THREADS OF THE NUT ARE DESIGNED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO NOT BE CONTINUOUS,BUT INSTEAD THEY ARE SEPARATED TO WHERE 2/4 S OF THE INSIDE AREA IS THREADED AND THE OTHER 2/4 S HAS NO THREADS AND ARE STAGGERED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ALLOW THE AXLE NUT IF ALLOWED TO SPIN AT ALL EVEN JUST 1/8 OF A TURN TO POP OFF WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE EXCEPT FOR THE SMALL LOOKING COTTER PIN WHICH CAME OUT IN PIECES MAYBE BECAUSE THE PRESSED METAL CASTLE NUT WANNA BE WHICH IS OF A LOOSE FITTING STYLE COULD EASILY HAVE WORN THE COTTER PIN WITH ITS RATHER SHARP EDGES SEEMINGLY FROM JUST NORMAL USE AND EVEN MORE SO IF THE WHEEL WAS NOT ADJUST PERFECTLY OR IF THE WHEEL SEAL WAS NOT SEATED PERFECTLY WHICH AFTER SOME TIME WOULD CAUSE A MORE PRONOUNCED LOOSENESS IN THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY THUS CAUSING THE AFOREMENTIONED DANGEROUS RESULTS. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW THE SYSTEM USED AND I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME WHICH I AM LUCKY TO STILL HAVE UNDERSTAND HOW THAT DESIGN COULD BE CONSIDERED SAFE ABOVE OTHER DESIGNS THAT ARE OF SOLID MATERIALS WITH CONSTANT THREADS THAT WOULD HAVE TO SPIN COMPLETELY OFF MANY COMPLETE TURNS RATER TAN JUS 1/8 TO 1/4 OF ONE TURN. PLEASE WOULD YOU LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE OTHER TRUCKS MAKE UNANNOUNCED TURNS FOR THE WORSE. THANK YOU.

WHILE COMING TO A STOP (TWICE) THE FORD RANGER ENGINE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY TO A POINT IT COULD NOT BE COMPLETELY STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HAD ANY TRAFFIC BEEN COMING I WOULD BE A DEAD MAN. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON ACCELERATOR NOR ARE THERE ANY FLOOR MATS IN THIS TRUCK TO GET STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR. I'M SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND I KNOW THAT IF I BRING IT TO THE FORD GARAGE THAT ITS GOING TO COST TONS OF MONEY AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH A CONTROL MECHANISM SOMEWHERE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. ONCE AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT A MILE. THE SECOND TIME (TODAY) AFTER DRIVING FOR HOURS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT I REALLY AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THIS OCCURRED 4-5 TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO GAIN SPEED EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT WAS APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL AND IT BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.

2004 RANGER MADE A SCRAPING NOISE WHEN IN 2ND GEAR. WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED TO DISENGAGE GEARS OR SHIFT, THE ENGINE IDLE SPEED INCREASES. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE IDLE HAD BEEN RESET, HOWEVER THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE NOISE BECAME WORSE OVER TIME AND EVENTUALLY IT STARTED TO AFFECT THE 4TH AND 5TH GEARS. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS REPLACED AND THE SHIFT PATTERN HAD A LOT OF PLAY. *JB

FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSES SHIMS NEEDED IN FRONT END ALIGNMENT TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND CAUSE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR INCORRECTLY ON INSIDE OF FRONT TIRES. NEEDED TO GET FRONT END ALIGNMENT. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND DOES WARRANTY THESE PART FOR 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. SPOKE WITH FORD TECH AND AGREED WITH ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICEABLE UNTIL WELL AFTER THAT TIME FRAME. *NM