1992 Ford Ranger Suspension Problems

I HAVE A 1992 FORD RANGER THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING TOWER MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE FRONT SHOCK AND SPRING HAVE DROPPED MAKING THE TRUCK UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE BRAKE LINE WAS SMASHED WHEN IT GAVE WAY. MY BOYFRIEND ALSO HAD A 1992 FORD RANGER THAT THIS HAPPENED TO CAUSING HIM TO WRECK AND TOTAL THE TRUCK SO WE HAD TO JUNK IT. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS A COMMON THING FOR THE 1992'S ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT MUST BE PRETTY COMMON AS FORD HAS MADE A REPLACEMENT PART!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10354046

Incident

Sep 2, 2010

Mileage

118,000 mi

OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT TWO DAYS, I NOTICED A SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. ON THE SECOND DAY, I NOTICED UPON APPROACHING THE TRUCK THAT THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER WAS ALMOST TOUCHING THE TIRE. REMOVING THE WHEEL, I DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER SPRING SEAT HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS THIRTY DEGREES FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THE SHEET METAL IN THE SEAT CRUMBLED IN MY HAND WHEN I TOOK HOLD OF IT, AND THE HOUSING WAS TORN 75% OF THE WAY THROUGH FROM FRONT TO BACK. AT HIGH SPEED, THIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEATH TRAP. I NOTE 15 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN YOUR DATABASE. LEFT SIDE SPRING SEAT IS PERFECT AND INTACT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10191991

Incident

May 29, 2007

Mileage

81,000 mi

I OWN 92 FORD RANGER. LAST THURSDAY,5/15/2003, WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I NOTICED MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER THAN THE REST OF THE TRUCK. AFTER I PARKED AT WORK I INVESTIGATED AND NOTICED THAT THE SHOCK/SPRING TOWER WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT WAS ALMOST READY TO FALL OFF. THE SPRING WAS BENT BACKWARDS AND THE SHOCK WAS BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM. AT THE FORD DEALER, THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY ONLY MAKE THAT PART FOR THE RIGHT SIDE? THE LEFT SIDE LOOKS LIKE BRAND NEW. APPARENTLY ONLY THE RIGHT ( PASSENGER ) SIDE RUSTS OUT AND NOT THE LEFT. IT SEEMS THAT METAL IS INFERIOR AND CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FORD MUST KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY ONLY MAKE THE PART FOR ONE SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER. I CAN'T FIND ANY RECALL INFO ON THIS. BESIDES THE $800.00 COST TO REPAIR, THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018966

Incident

May 14, 2003

Mileage

102,680 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT LEAF SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER FELL APART DUE TO RUSTED MOUNT ATTACHMENTS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020107

Incident

May 19, 2003

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUCK DROPPED DOWN. ON HER WAY HOME, THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. BY THAT TIME SHE WAS HOME AND TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED. I CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS EMPTY. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW THE BRACKET HOLDING THE RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD RUSTED AWAY. THE BRACKET ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS OK. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE REPAIR SHOP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10013960

Incident

Mar 25, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

SUSPENSION FAILURE. RIGHT FRONT SPRING SEAT ON MY 1992 FORD RANGER HAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. COIL SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER HAVE BROKEN THROUGH FAILED SPRING SEAT CAUSING VEHICLE TO SAG CONSIDERABLY ON THE RIGHT AND PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRAME ARM WHERE THE SPRING SEAT IS RIVETED HAS ALSO CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE FORD REFUSES TO ATTEMPT A REPAIR DUE TO FEAR OF LIABILITY. FORD DEALER CONFIRMS THAT THE LEFT SPRING SEAT IS NOT CORRODED AND APPEARS NORMAL IN APPEARANCE AND FUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

10007698

Incident

Feb 17, 2003

Mileage

101,700 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER THE NOISE THE BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS AS A RESULT OF THE FRONT COIL SPRING UPPER MOUNT RUSTING AND BREAKING OFF WHICH CAUSE THE BRAKE LINE TO BRAKE ALSO. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID

8023131

Incident

Nov 14, 2002

FAILURE OF THE RIGHT SUSPENSION, COLLAPSED. UPPER SPRING SEAT AND SHOCK MOUNTING BRACKET RUSTED OUT AND BROKE OFF. DEALER ASSESSED THE FAILURE ALONG WITH A FORD FIELD ENGINEER. CONCLUSION WAS THAT THERE IS NO HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN FORD'S RECORDS AND NO RECALLS. BLAMED THE FAILURE ON ACCIDENT DAMAGE THAT WAS EVIDENT BY NEW FENDER ON THE TRUCK. DEALER WAS ADVISED THAT NO SUSPENSION OR FRAME DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE REPAIRING SHOP COULD BE CONTACTED FOR THAT ASSESSMENT. DEALER ADVISED THAT INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULD BE CONTACTED FOR POSSIBLE COVERAGE.

NHTSA ID

766307

Incident

Aug 23, 2002

FRONT COIL SPRINGS BRACKET BROKE AFTER CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WASAWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT HAD NOT REMEDY.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013006

Incident

Jun 28, 2002

SPRING TOWER DETERIORATED PREMATURELY AND COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE ALMOST LOSING CONTROL. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I EVEN HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED THE DAY BEFORE, AND NO APPEARENT DEFECT WAS DETECTED. WHEN I CONFRONED THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP ,HE TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS TRUCK. FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE CONDENSATION FROM THE AC DRIPS ON THIS PART CAUSING IT TO RUST AND FAIL SOONER. HE INFORMED ME THE PARTS WERE IN STOCK. THE PRICE WAS ABOUT $100. FOR THE PART AND APROX 200. FOR LABOR. HE ALSO RECOMENDED ANOTHER SHOP WHERE I COULD GO AND HAVE DONE A LITTLE CHEEPER. SO I CHECKED WITH THEM , THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. LATELY THE'VE DONE SEVERAL. I THINK THIS NEEDS SOME INVESTIGATION. I THINK I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE CRASHED. THIS ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF THIS VEHICLE ON THE STREETS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME (708) 417-8104 OR (708)422-1699 THANK YOU. AK

NHTSA ID

761477

Incident

Apr 30, 2002

WINDSHIELD LEAKS & FRAME RUSTING. SUSPENSION BOWED MAIN STRUCTOR ARMS. ENGINE PASSING OIL FROM DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP. INTERIOR DOOR PLASTIC FRAME CRACKING. DIMMER AND TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SHORTS.

NHTSA ID

9004672

Incident

Dec 11, 1991

TIE RODS ARE BENT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS OUT OF LINE, AND WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT ON ROAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

896291

Incident

Sep 13, 2001

HOUSING FOR SHOCK AND COIL SPRING BROKEN ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

751288

Incident

Aug 26, 2001

ABS COMPUTER FAILED AGAIN AFTER FORD DEALER REPLACED ORIGINAL. UPPER SHOCK/SPRING MOUNT COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND SUSPENSION. LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO REVIEW FOR POSSIBLE MANUFATURERS DEFECTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

745550

Incident

May 1, 2001

CONSUMER WAS PARKED AT HIS DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE TILTING OUT FROM VEHICLE, THE PART NUMBER IS E3TZ*5A306*B, CONSUMER STATES THIS PART WAS ALMOST TOTALLY BROKEN AND THE SHOCK WAS OPEN 3-4 INCHES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

887386

Incident

Mar 23, 2001

SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE MAKING NOISE. CONSUMER CHECKED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE AND FOUND RIGHT UPPER SPRING MOUNT HAD RUSTED *AK CONSUMER STATES THEY STARTED TO BEND AWAY FROM THE SPRING, THE SHOCK HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY FREE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

884659

Incident

Mar 10, 2001

I NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK WAS BEGINNING TO LEAD TOWARD THE RIGHT. AFTER CLOSE EXAMINATION , I DISCOVERED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING HOUSING ASSEMBLY WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND THE SPRING ITSELF WAS BENDING IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION. IF IT HAD LET GO COMPLETLY, IT COULD HAVE TAKEN BOTH MY FENDER AND BRAKE LINE. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PART EVER RUSTING AWAY ON ANY CAR OR TRUCK AND NEITHER HAS ANYONE ELSE I HAVE ASKED. THEY DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL REPAIR KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE STEEL ITSELF. IT IS ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND NOT THE LEFT. *AK

NHTSA ID

740902

Incident

Feb 1, 2001

RT FRONT UPPER SPRING /SHOCK MOUNT RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING SUSPENSION COLLAPSE AND SHOCK FAILURE - AT HIGHWAY SPEED - RUST WAS HIDDEN BY COATING ON PLATE - NO RUST ON BALANCE OF TRUCK. RUBBER BUMP STOP DESTROYED-NOT ABLE TO BE REPLACED, NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM FORD

NHTSA ID

732387

Incident

Sep 2, 2000

RIGHT UPPER SPRING SUPPORT RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING SPRING AND SHOCK TO SHIFT INWARD AND WADGE AGAINST FRAME AND INNER FENDER.

NHTSA ID

553887

FRONT SPRING UPPER SEAT RUSTED UNTIL FAILURE, NO OTHER RUST IN FRAME OR SUSPENSION PARTS. FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED DROPPING THE BODY NEARLY TO THE TIRE. LEFT SIDE IDENTICAL PARTS ARE FLAWLESS.

NHTSA ID

728197

Incident

Aug 15, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

724530

Incident

Jun 25, 2000

RIGHT FRONT SAGGED.PULLED OVER SAW FLUID LEAKING LOOK IN FENDER WELL SAW SPRING HANGER RUSTED OUT AND SPRING PUSH UP INTO INNER FENDER AND BRAKE LINE BROKE

NHTSA ID

723325

Incident

May 26, 2000

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE WENT DOWN. THEN, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. PULLED UP TO A LIGHT TO CHECK, AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT,. TRUCK WAS SITTING LOW BECAUSE THE SHOCKS HAD DROPPED DOWN ON THE BRAKE LINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

861165

Incident

Apr 27, 2000

TRANSMISSION MANUAL FAILED OUTPUT SHAFT AT 20 MPH REPLACED INTERNAL GEARS GAVE OUT AT 65 MPH.//ABS BRAKES BECAME SPONGY & LOCK IN REAR PULL TO RIGHT IN FRONT .//HEADLIGHTS BEGAN BLINKING OFF &ON AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING.//TRANSFER CASE SPLIT WHILE IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE AT 35 MPH.//FRONT SUSPENSION GIVING OUT CAN'T ALIGN FRONT END ,ERATIC STEERING & WORN TIRES.//REAR SPRINGS SLIPPED OUT ON LEFT SIDE AXLE SLID FORWARD TO BODY.//HEATER BEGAN RATTLIING ,MORE AS YOU TURN FAN UP.

NHTSA ID

719264

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

HAD WE BEEN GOING 60 MPH AND THE TIRE RUBBED WE SURLY WOULD BE DEAD. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE PART BEING COATED WITH PLASTIC HOLDING IN MOISTURE.

NHTSA ID

717690

Incident

Mar 1, 1999