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.
I have a 2001 Ford Ranger 4X4. The frame is rusted and has rot all over it. The truck was just sitting in my driveway over night, I came out to go clean my truck and the spare tire was on the ground. I take such good care of my truck, but the rear end is just killing me. Please help if you can. -thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. After servicing the vehicle, the contact discovered that the rear driver side frame was rusted and cracked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,389. Updated 6/8/15
My 2001 Ford Ranger XLT displays a rusting frame that is not in line with the mileage or condition of the vehicle. The bracket holding the rear leaf spring has rusted and broken loose, allowing the spring to rest against the bottom of the bed of the truck. This is the 2nd bracket to rust completely thru, and again, as stated, the frame shows signs of severe degradation.
While driving along the interstate I-65 my rear frame fell off along with the spare tire it was due to rust on the frame it also took the rear leaf spring shackles on both sides causing the springs to penetrate through the floor of the pick up bed I hear tell this american made truck has a frame that was made in Japan. Knowingly if the frame was made in the usa it would of had copper in the blend of steel which slows the problem of decay by rust. It would be unheard of if Ford declines to recall these defected frames for who does clean the pockets of the frames on their personal vehicles?
- Hobart, IN, USA
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The rear leaf spring mounts, shackles and frame where it mounts have rotted through resulting in the leaf spring breaking loose from the frame. Also, the front cross member of the frame is disintegrating and shows signs of imminent failure.
I took my truck in for tire repair and service technician found severe rotting where leaf springs are supposed to be connected to the frame. There was a total disconnect at this location which explains the loud banging that I've been hearing. This is on the drivers side. He advised me that on the passenger side, it was the same situation but it wasn't disconnected yet. He advised me Ford Ranger have a problem with this. I went online and discovered a huge volume of complaints regarding this same issue. Some complaints said that they were driving when their truck bed gave way and collapsed while in the truck was in motion. This truck was handed down with low mileage and little reason for all that rust/rotting in the frame of the truck. I was advised that had I been carrying a medium or heavy load the bed could have given way, and that could have been in motion.
This vehicle has less than 100K miles on it and I've already had to repair the frame multiple times. The first incident was the cross members in the rear rusting off. The next incident was the frame breaking behind the drivers side bed between the shackles. I could literally flex the frame 4 inches up and down at the pivot point. I found this break while parked but had to miss class because of the severity of the frame. My trip to school has many sharp off ramps where high speed traffic and braking occurs. I'm certain if I had driven to school that day I could have been killed. While repairing this break I found where previous owners had fixed the rear bumper mounts and rear cross member. After taking my truck in to replace the tires, I was informed of yet another major frame issue. Underneath the drivers seat on the frame is a huge rusted hole with a crack starting to form down the center of the rail. This will need repairing immediately. This being my first Ford vehicle, I am extremely reluctant to buy a Ford ever again. I could understand if the truck had 150K+ miles but it still has less than 100K miles. I owned a 1992 Chevy S10 five years ago and it had almost no rust on the frame even though it was an out door truck. Ford needs to do something about this before someone is killed.
Failed component 2: frame ahead of leaf spring shackles on both sides. Left was completely fractured and right was 1/2 fractured. Right shock strut mount broken. Driving around town hit several bumps in road due to road construction. When I parked the truck I noticed the truck bed was leaning to the right. Further inspection revealed a cracked frame. Took it to the shop and they said it wasn't safe to drive. They removed the bed and noticed extreme rust and a 'paper thin' frame.. said it would be difficult to find good metal to weld to. I noticed that Ford had a recall on the 2004 Ranger frame.
Severely rusted frame rails, rear bumper in danger of falling off of vehicle!! I just arrived back in massachussetts from winter in South Carolina, started to prepare my Ford Ranger to go back on the road, observed that the rear bumper appeared to be hanging lower than normal. I tugged on the rear bumper and found that I could easily move it up or down, crawled under the vehicle and observed that the rear frame rails were so rusted that the bumper is in danger of falling off of the vehicle, spare wheel well and lifting mechanism are severely rusted as well.
Went to rear of truck and found bumper had broken free on the drivers side. Looked under the tuck and found that the entire frame in the rear is rotted and the leaf springs are in danger of coming completely off. The bumper is entirely free from the truck. The passenger side of the frame directly over the tire is cracked completely through. This is the worst frame I have ever seen and have lived through the 70's american car manufacturers mess.
I attached a yard trailer to the receiver hitch and as I pulled out of the yard the hitch pulled right off the back of the truck. I looked under the truck and saw about a foot of the rear frame rails were completely rusted away on both sides. Both rear leaf spring mounts were broken away and the springs were pushed up onto the bed of the truck. This truck has less than 60,000 miles on it and no apparent rust. If this had happened on the highway the trailer would have gone sailing down the highway possibly causing an accident. Both rear springs detached from the frame and if I had been on the highway, there is a good chance I would have lost control of the truck.
2001 Ford Ranger was taken into auto shop for routine maintenance. The mechanic inspected the vehicle and found the rear spring shackles and the frame rotted and about ready to fail completely. The springs were found to be pressing up on the bottom of the frame. Also noted bumper was about ready to fall off. All of this due to severe corrosion of the frame. No maintenance was performed on the vehicle and a recommendation from the mechanic to remove the vehicle from the road was advised.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Worcester, MA, USA