2001 Ford Ranger EV

DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR ONE OR BOTH FRONT BUCKLES.SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECALL SERVICE ACTION, ODI RECEIVED 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT A PASSED INSPECTION BUCKLE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE.IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST.FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION).WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS.OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION.COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING.DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN (01V227), FORD RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE.APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION OWNERS RESPONDED BY TAKING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE BUCKLE USING A SPECIALIZED BUCKLE TEST TOOL.FORD REPORTED THAT 829,927 VEHICLES HAD BOTH BUCKLES PASS THE TOOL TEST AND ANOTHER 167,336 VEHICLES HAD ONE BUCKLE PASS.ODI AND FORD RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ALLEGING SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE ORIGINAL RECALL INSPECTION SERVICE.COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED THAT THE BUCKLE FAILED BY EITHER NOT LATCHING OR FALSE-LATCHING (PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE LATCH TO THE LATCH PLATE).A FALSE-LATCHED BUCKLE MAY RELEASE WITH MINOR MOVEMENT OR IMPACT AGAINST THE BUCKLE HOUSING INCLUDING INADVERTENT RELEASE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS RECALL QUERY TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-004) TO FURTHER ANALYZE THE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF THOSE VEHICLES THAT FORD DEALERS PASSED (ONE OR BOTH BUCKLES) USING FORD'S INSPECTION TEST (997,263 VEHICLES).

THE "PLASTIC" WHICH COVERS THE TWO "SPEED CONTROL SWITCHES," LOCATED ON EACH SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL, BADLY MELTED OVER TIME - APPARENTLY FROM HEAT OF THE LAMPS UNDER THE COVERS. IT HAS MADE ME AFRAID TO ATTEMPT TO USE THE SPEED CONTROLS FOR FEAR OF FURTHER HEAT PROBLEMS AND/OR IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE DAMAGED CONTROLS. PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGED PARTS ARE ATTACHED. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH THESE COMPLAINTS AND PHOTOS AND ALL I GOT WAS A "THANKS" FOR MAKING THIS KNOWN TO THEM - NOTHING MORE.

NHTSA ID

11193434

Incident

Feb 25, 2014

Mileage

45,000 mi

THIS 2001 FORD RANGER TRUCK'S BODY AND INTERIOR ARE PERFECT. THE FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED AND NO ONE WANTS TO PASS IT FOR INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF THE FRAME. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE TRUCK HAS 103,000 HIGHWAY MILES AND IS MECHANICALLY PERFECT. I FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD EITHER REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRAME OF THE TRUCK OR BUY IT BACK FROM ME. THIS TRUCK WAS MY SECOND VEHICLE AND I NEED SOMETHING DONE WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

10872712

Incident

Apr 22, 2014

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EV. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD ERRONEOUSLY UNLOCK. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V227001 (SEAT BELTS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10837229

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

RUSTED FRAME ON 01 4X4 RANGER . RUSTED REAR SPRING HANGERS& BRACKETS. RUSTED TAIL END OF LEFT & RIGHT FRAME . RUSTED TOP SECTION OF FUEL FILLER TUBE. RUSTED CROSS MEMBER BEHIND CAB. HAD TO REPLACE REAR BRAKE DRUM THAT RUSTED INTO (2) TWO PIECES. BOTTOM OF TRUCK BOX HAS BAD RUST HOLES. ONE AUTO TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE RUSTED IN 2 INCH AREA JUST BEFORE RADIATOR INLET. LEFT SIDE OF FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED TO MUCH TO SAFELY USE TK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436654

Incident

Nov 21, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EV. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT A NORMAL EXPECTANCY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE BODY TSB MODIFICATION AND SHIFT SOLENOID FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $612.38. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,980.

NHTSA ID

10261558

Incident

Nov 15, 2008

Mileage

55,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCK FROM A ONE-TIME OWNER THROUGH A DEALERSHIP ON JULY 23, 2005 WITH 30,000 MILES. ON AUGUST 29, 2005, THIS VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS I TRIED TO TURN THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD TO HAVE FRIENDS GIVE THE TRUCK A PUSH TO START. THIS DID GET THE TRUCK TO START, AND IT RAN FOR ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE DECELERATING AND STOPPING COMPLETELY. NOW, NOT EVEN WITH A PUSH FROM OTHERS WILL THIS TRUCK START. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE TRUCK HAS FAILED TO START. I PLAN TO TOW THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 31ST TO GET IT CHECKED OUT UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134828

Incident

Aug 29, 2005

Mileage

31,295 mi

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EDGE. HE BOUGHT IT NEW IN 8-2001. THE NEXT WEEK HE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. IT WOULD CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING INTERSTATE. HE LET IT SIT FOR 30 MINUTES -1 HOUR, AND IT WOULD START AGAIN. THE FRONT DOORS STARTED TO COME OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THEN IT FINALLY JUST QUIT RUNNING AT 10,800 MILES. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY 52 TIMES. THEY WOULD NOT CREATE ANY PAPER WORK AT THE DEALERSHIP;. THEY WOULD NOT MAKE A SERVICE ORDER ON THE TRUCK. FORD FINALLY AGREED TO LET AN AREA ENGINEER MEET WITH HIM AND LOOK AT THE TRUCK. THEY AGREED TO FIX THE TRUCK. HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THESE ISSUES RESOLVED. THE DAY HE MADE THIS APPOINTMENT IS THE DAY THAT THE DEALERSHIP GAVE HIM A MEMO STATING THAT FORD WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE TRUCK UNLESS THE CONSUMER SIGNED A DOCUMENT SAYING THAT HE WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR WORK. OTHERWISE, DEALER WOULD NOT WORK ON IT. HE TOOK IT TO FOUR DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. THEY TOLD HIM THE CAB WAS TWISTED SO BADLY THAT WAS WHY THE DOORS WERE FLYING OPEN. THE MANAGER OF THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED THE CAR ADMITTED FORD DROPPED IT FROM A TRAIN CAR AND REPLACED THE HOOD AT THE FACTORY, AND SENT IT TO RUSTY WALLACE TO LIQUIDATE. HE HAS LETTER FROM THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT STATING THE WARRANTY WAS CUT OFF AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10133720

Incident

Aug 22, 2005

Mileage

75 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND THE PULLEY IS COMPLETELY BROKEN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131901

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

Mileage

60,258 mi

ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) COLD WEATHER BATTERY PERFORMANCE. *TT