1995 Ford Ranger Steering Problems

THE RH. RADIUS ARM FRACTURED WITH SEVERE PULLING WITH NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON A COUNTRY ROAD. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INDICATED A 85 % RUST THROUGH OF FRAME NEAR COIL SPRING AND RADIUS ARM ATTACHMENT. ALSO THE RH REAR LEAF SPRING IS RUSTED 90% THROUGH, ANY ONE OF THESE FAILURES WOULD CAUSE A DEADLY CRASH. I WORKED AS A PARTS MANAGER FOR 23 YEARS FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NEVER WITNESSED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450432

Incident

Mar 5, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

COMPLETELY RUSTED FRONT RADIAL ARM BROKE IN HALF WHEN BREAKING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT; RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SWERVING COMPLETELY INTO THE ONCOMING LANE; FORTUNATELY NO ONE APPROACHING. I HAD TO CREEP HOME AT 10 MPH WITH TRUCK JERKING THIS WAY AND THAT AS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WENT HAYWIRE. IN THE PAST YEAR ALL FOUR LEAF SPRING SUPPORTS SEPARATELY GAVE WAY BECAUSE OF RUSTED SUPPORTING BRACKETS. IF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN LOADED IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE OVERTURNED OR MADE THE TRUCK GO OUT OF CONTROL! RUSTED FRONT AND REAR BRAKES LINES TWO YEARS AGO BLEW OUT AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS TRUCK NEVER PLOWED SNOW AND ONLY ONCE IN MANY YEARS WAS EVER FULLY LOADED. OTHER FRAME MEMBERS ARE OUTRAGEOUSLY RUSTED AND MIGHT BE DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

10391888

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

73,000 mi

I HAVE CONTACTED MULTIPLE FORD DEALERS TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT CORRECTIVE MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT SO FAR, THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS. THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IS: THE ENGINE HAS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS "PING" WHICH CAN BE HEARD MOSTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ON ANY SLIGHT INCLINE, OR SMALL LOAD ON THE ENGINE. THE "PING" IS VERY NOTICEABLE, AND LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, A BLOWN ENGINE ON A HIGHWAY SUCH AS THE PA TURNPIKE, OR I-95,COULD HAVE DEADLY RESULTS. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY, BUT I THOUGHT THAT YOU MAY WANT TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE THIS LOOKS LIKE A BIG PROBLEM WITH NO CURE. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

749680

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR BELIEVED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK

NHTSA ID

873733

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT CAUSING WHEEL TO DISCONNECT / FALL APART. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MANAGER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL BOX BROKE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BOLTS. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID

853518

Incident

Nov 25, 1999

VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE AND THE STEERING BOX BROKE. THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER SINCE THE STEERING BOX BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

807312

Incident

Dec 10, 1996

ENGINE MISFIRES UNDER ACCELERATION, ALSO STALLS OCCASIONALLY; ALSO POOR CONTROL OF STEERING AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID

513634

ABS: WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE VEERED TO LEFT; REPAIRED BY DEALER; NOW VEERS TO RIGHT; COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT; SO FAR, NO BRAKING PROBLEMS. TT

NHTSA ID

972522

Incident

Feb 20, 1995

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SHAFT BOLT FELL OUT, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID

966351

Incident

Jun 2, 1995