1996 Ford Ranger Brakes Problems

TRUCK WAS PARKED ON THE GARAGE PAD FOR A WEEK. I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS, AND FOUND THE BRAKE FLUID A LITTLE LOW. TOPPED OFF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK. STARTED ENGINE, AND PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND HEARD FLUID DRIPPING. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID NEAR THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. I ASKED MY WIFE TO PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN AND I SAW BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING FROM THE MAIN STEEL BRAKE LINE. COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS THE TRUCK WAS USED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT TO HAUL A FULL LOAD OF FIRE WOOD.

NHTSA ID

10875143

Incident

May 28, 2016

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PERMANENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILALBE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10872304

Incident

Jan 3, 1998

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ID

10426758

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

Mileage

161,200 mi

1. UNDERBODY CORROSION LEADING TO PERFORATION OF METAL BRAKE LINES 2. PARTIAL UP TO COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING FUNCTION. FIVE TIMES IN THREE YEARS. CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF BRAKING 3. REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LINES - OLD CORRODED LINES AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10383471

Incident

Nov 25, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY 1996 FORD RANGER HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM OF THE FRONT BRAKES STICKING. THIS OCCURS MOST OFTEN IN WET WEATHER BUT ISN'T STRICTLY LIMITED TO THAT. I NOTICED A FORD RANGER THAT HAD SLID INTO ANOTHER CAR ON A SANDED CORNER AND RECALLED THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO AS MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THE GRAVEL CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND I ONLY MISSED RUNNING INTO THE CAR IN THE OTHER LANE BY LETTING OFF THE BRAKE AND TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT POOR MAN PROBABLY GOT A TICKET FOR GOING TOO FAST BUT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, NOT A MATTER OF SPEED. I BELIEVE THE TRUCK IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANTILOCK BRAKES, BUT THAT IS NOT HOW ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO PERFORM. MECHANICS HAVE VERIFIED TO ME THIS BEHAVIOR PROBLEM FOR RANGER'S SO IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. HAD MY BRAKES REWORKED A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH NO CHANGE. YESTERDAY THEY LOCKED UP AGAIN AND SEEING AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT TOYOTA I FINALLY OUT WHO TO REPORT THIS TO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10305101

Incident

Feb 4, 2010

Mileage

188,000 mi

1996 FORD RANGER TRUCK HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT BERM AND GOT WEDGED BETWEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE BRIDGE WALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS BRAKES FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0535-91)*JB LETTER UPDATED 03/17/10*BF

NHTSA ID

10240463

Incident

Jun 21, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR PLACED INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. THE MOST RECENT CRASH OCCURRED IN MARCH OF 2008 AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/25/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A FEATURE TO KEEP THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL AND THE CLUTCH BRAKE IS NOT PRESSED.UPDATED 06/25/08

NHTSA ID

10230008

Incident

Mar 31, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

DT: ON JULY 10, 2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE BAKES WERE NOT PRESSED. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CONTACT FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE LIGHTS THAT SHOULD STAY ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT IN ALL MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND DECK. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE TWO VEHICLE OPERATORS ONLY EXCHANGED PHONE NUMBERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139675

Incident

Jul 11, 2005

Mileage

133,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKES BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE. THIS OCCURRED ON MAY 24, 2005. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAW THE BRAKE PEDAL HANGING DOWN. UPON INSPECTION, THEY NOTICED THAT THE MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE WHEN BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT. THE MOUNTING THIS WAS MADE OF POT METAL, AND IT HELD THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TOGETHER. THE WHOLE THING BROKE. THE ESTIMATED SPEED WAS ABOUT 30-35 MPH.*AK

NHTSA ID

10131457

Incident

May 24, 2005

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE COURTESY LIGHTS AND TRUNK CARGO LIGHTS STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING. BLOWER MOTOR WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE THE SWITCH ARE IN THE OFF MODE OR IN THE ON MODE. DEALER AND MANUFACTRER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE ABS BRAKES LOCK UP ON WET PAVEMENT. *YH

NHTSA ID

8011417

Incident

Jun 15, 2000

ABS FAILED WHEN PEDAL HELD DOWN IN RAPID STOP. PULSES AND THEN DROPS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE REENGAGING. HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES DURING ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED TRUCK. TECHNICIANS CAN FIND NO INFORMATION ON WHY THIS MIGHT OCCUR. *AK

NHTSA ID

757543

THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS WAS BROKE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE IS NO REASON FOR A SOLID PIECE OF STEEL TO JUST BREAK. *YH

NHTSA ID

564089

Incident

Oct 10, 2001

THERE WAS LOOSE GRAVEL ON ROAD AND PAVEMENT WAS WET AT THE INTERSECTION, WHEN ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN BRAKES LOCKED UP, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

785738

Incident

Sep 24, 2001

BRAKES LOCK UP ONLY DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

NHTSA ID

884513

Incident

Sep 15, 1996

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

740085

Incident

Apr 20, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

737269

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

WHEN TRUCK IS DRIVEN IN THE MORNING, NO MATTER AT WHAT SPEED, REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. TRUCK IS FINE FOR THE REST OF DAY. OWNER PHONED TWO DEALERSHIPS ABOUT PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD BY ONE OF DEALERSHIPS THAT THERE WAS A NEW MATERIAL ON THE BRAKE LINING THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

873818

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (00T-005) NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE TIRES WERE NOT AFFECTED, HOWEVER THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND CHANGED THE TIRES, CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS

NHTSA ID

556507

Incident

Oct 5, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON A NARROW TWO-LANE ROAD, I PROCEEDED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. I ACCELERATED AND KICKED THE TRUCK INTO PASSING GEAR. THE THROTTLE WENT TO THE WIDE OPEN POSITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I USED THE BRAKES TO FIGHT THE OUT OF CONTROL ENGINE AND VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED DOWN THE CURVY FOR 3 TO FOUR MILES UNTIL I GOT TO A PULLOUT PLACE WHERE I APPLIED THE BRAKES SO HARD THAT IT KILLED THE ENGINE. THE BRAKES WERE DOWN TO NO PADS, WERE VERY HOT, AND COOKED OUT GREASE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AT WHICH TIME THE THROTTLE WAS NO LONGER STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

719743

Incident

Mar 5, 2000

PASSENGER'S FRONT WHEEL LOCKS UP WHICH CAUSES BRAKE LOCK UP, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. FIRST TIME IT WAS THE REAR BRAKES. CURRENTLY, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

854834

Incident

Jun 17, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

713113

TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE HAS FALLEN ON TOP OF CROSSOVER PIPE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE EXHAUST PIPE ,BURNING THROUGH CABLE. THE 1998 MODEL WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ADDED HEAT SHIELD TO PREVENT BURNING. BRAKE PADS, SHOES AND CALIPERS REPLACED ON (7-22-99). *AK

NHTSA ID

843488

Incident

Jul 21, 1999

ABS LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE ABS BRAKES ARE LOCKING UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ID

846432

Incident

Mar 1, 1999

BRAKES GRAB IN DAMP AND HUMID WEATHER.

NHTSA ID

710171

Incident

Jun 1, 1996

IN MAY OF 1996 I PURCHASED A NEW 1996 FORD RANGER 4 WHEEL DRIVE XLT MODEL. IN THE SPRING OF 1997 (APPROX. MAY) I CHANGED THE MUD FLAPS AND DISCCOVERED THAT I HAD 2 EACH CRACKED ROTORS. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO PORT CITY FORD--ROUTE 104 EAST, OSWEGO N.Y. 13126--WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. IN 1998 THIS DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED SO I TOOK MY BUSINESS TO FRED RAYNOR FORD IN FULTON N.Y. PORT CITY FORD REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS IN MAY 1997 UNDER WARANTEE. IN JAN. 1998 TOOK VEHICLE TO PORT CITY FORD FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. DISCOVERED THAT BOTH FRONT ROTORS WERE AGAIN CRACKED. PORT CITY FORD AGAIN REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS UNDER WARANTEE. APPROX. MILEAGE WAS 33,000 MILES. IN MARCH OF 1999 I DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT ROTOR WAS CRACKED. PORT CITY FORD HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS SO I TOOK MY TRUCK TO FRED RAYNOR FORD IN FULTON,NY. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T RETRIEVE MY RECORDS FROM PORT CITY FORD AND THAT MY 12000MILE/12 MONTH WARANTEE ON FORD PARTS HAD EXPIRED. I PAID THEM FOR A NEW RIGHT ROTOR, TURNED DOWN RIGHT ROTOR, NEW BRAKE PADS AND BACK BRAKE INSPECTION. IN JUNE, 1999, I REPLACED MY REAR BRAKE SHOES MYSELF AND HAD THE TRUCK INSPECTED. THE FIRST WEEK IN JULY IL NOTICED MY BRAKE PEDDAL PULSATING AND DISCOVERED THAT MY LEFT FRONT ROTOR HAD CRACKED. I WENT TO FRED RAYNOR FORD AND TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER--BRAD STEVENS-- AND SET UP AN APPT. FOR TODAY-7/23/99- AT 8AM. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, SO THEY CALLED THE FORD TECH HOT LINE AND TALKED TO SOMEONE WHO SPECIALIZED IN FORD RANGERS. THAT PERSON SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS NOR DID THEY HAVE ANY KNOWLEGE OF ANY FORD RANGERS HAVING ROTOR PROBLEMS. I PAID FOR ANOTHER FORD ROTOR TODAY BUT I RECEIVED A 10% DISCOUNT AND FREE LABOR. THESE PEOPLE ARE TREATLING ME AS GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEIR HANDS ARE TIED. WHERE DO GO FROM HERE? THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY ONE.

NHTSA ID

709087

Incident

Jul 21, 1999