1999 FORD RANGER Complaints

THE RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (VDHL1PY508) TIRE FAILED, THERE WAS A PROTRUSION OUTWARD FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD, LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER THE LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR BOTH TIRES BUT WAS DENIED FOR THE FIRST TIRE SAYING IT WAS NOT REPLACED AT AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE RETAILER. NLM

AIR BAGS DIPLOYED AT A SPEED OF LESS THAN 10 MPH AND THE FRONT BUMPER WAS NEVER TOUCHED. *AK

THE FRONT CENTER 2 POINT SEAT BELT WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE FULLY ADJUSTED POSITION DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. OUR GRANDCHILDREN (MOSTLY 4 AND 10 YEAR OLD BOYS) WILL SIT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEAT AND FASTEN THE 2 POINT SEAT BELT ABOUT THEM; ADJUST IT TO THE PROPER LENGTH; DURING TRAVEL THE CHILD MOVES ABOUT THE SEAT SLIGHTLY; DURING THIS NORMAL MOVEMENT THE SEATBELT ADJUSTMENT WILL LOOSEN ON ITS OWN. SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR, THE CHILD IS NOT RESTRAINED BY THE SEATBELT BECAUSE OF THE "SELF ADJUSTING EFFECT". THIS CONDITION WAS REPORTED TO THE CAR DEALER (DON VANCE), THEY REPLACED THE SEATBELT, AND THE NEW SEATBELT HAD THE SAME EFFECT. I REPORTED THIS CONDITION TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. A WOMAN CONTACTED ME ABOUT THIS. I EXPLAINED THE AFOREMENTIONED TO HER. NOTHING FURTHER WAS DONE. CHILDREN ARE IN JEOPARDY. *AK

ON OCTOBER 4, 2000 MY SON WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN HIS DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE ASSEMBLY CAME OFF SPINDLE CAUSING HIM TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A VAN AND A BOAT THAT WERE PARKED IN FRONT OF A RESIDENCE HERE IN MIDLAND, TEXAS. THE POLICE REPORT THAT WAS FILED BACKS UP THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: WHILE TRAVELING EAST ON STANOLIND STREET AT 30 MPH, IN THE 4400 BLOCK, THE 1999 FORD RANGER'S DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISENGAGED FROM THE SPINDLE CAUSING IT TO PULL LEFT AND ALONG SIDE A PARKED LATE MODEL CHEVY VAN. THE RANGER HAD NO BRAKES, AND SCRAPED ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE VAN, LEAVING SCRAPE MARKS AND AXLE GREASE, AND TIRE RUBBER RESIDUE ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE VAN. THE RANGER HIT THE FENDER OF THE VAN AND SINCE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO STEER AWAY FROM THE WRECK, THIS ALLOWED THE FRONT OF THE RANGER TO PULL TO THE RIGHT BACK TOWARDS THE STREET. AT THAT POINT THE ENTIRE "WHEEL ASSEMBLY" CAME OFF AND TRAVELED 4 HOUSES AHEAD OF THE NOW 3-WHEELED RANGER. AFTER THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY EXITED, THE KNUCKLE HIT THE PAVEMENT AND FORCED THE RANGER INTO THE BOAT WHICH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE VAN. THE BOAT TRAILER WHEELS WERE "CHOCKED" AND THE IMPACT OF THE RANGER LIFTED THE BOAT TRAILER INTO THE DRIVEWAY NEXT DOOR TO WHERE IT WAS PARKED. WHEN THE MIDLAND POLICE ARRIVED,WE ALL STARTED DISCOVERING THE PARTS LYING IN THE STREET WELL BEFORE THE CRASH SITE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HUB CAP CAME OFF FIRST AND ROLLED TO THE GRASS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE (4' NORTH) OF THE VAN. THE AXLE DUST COVER CAME OFF NEXT AND ROLLED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET ( SOUTH), EVEN WITH THE BOAT. THE AXLE BEARING AND SEAL WERE FOUND 20' IN FRONT OF THE VAN SO THEY PROBABLY CAME OUT NEXT. THE AXLE NUT AND KEEPER WERE FOUND BESIDE THE BOAT IN THE GRASS. THE "WHEEL ASSEMBLY" REFERRED EARLIER HAS EVERYTHING STILL ATTACHED ( BRAKE LINE, BRAKE SHOE, HUB, LUGS, CALIPER, EVERYTHING!). I HAVE KEPT THESE PARTS FOR YOUR INSPECTION IN MY HOME GARAGE.. *AK

TIRE SUDDENLY LOST AIR PRESSURE WITHOUT PUNCTURE THROUGH SIDEWALL BUBBLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P225/15R70)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/15R70 )

WHILE DRIVING 45-50 VEHICLE VIBRATES VERY HARD WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED PART OF TRANSMISSION/TIRES, BUT WON'T REPLACE WHEEL WHICH MAY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL THE AROUND A BIN THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P225/70R15 TIRE LOST PRESSURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND HIT A CURB. *MJS

CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RECALL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT FIRESTONE TIRES (00T-005), THE RECALL NOTIFICATION STATED $140 PER TIRE AND THE CONSUMER ONLY RECEIVED $100 PER TIRE. *MJS

2 OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) TIRES DOT VD SERIES, EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEELS, THE CONSUMER HAD THE OTHER TIRES REPLACED DUE TO THEM BEING INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T005, THE DEALER WILL NOT REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR DAMAGE OR REPLACEMENT TIRES, HE STATED THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERED CONSUMERS WHO EXCHANGED RECALLED TIRES BETWEEN 1-1-00 AND 8-8-00. *SLC

PE00 020; FIRESTORE WILDERNESS HT, P225/70R15, BULGE IN TIRE AND A CRACK. *AK *SLC