1997 Ford Ranger Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE INSPECTION AT HALDEMAN FORD OF KUTZTOWN, INC. (15465 KUTZTOWN RD, KUTZTOWN, PA 19530, (610) 683-3553) THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. AFTER HAVING AN EMISSIONS INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

NHTSA ID

11396643

Incident

Jan 7, 2020

Mileage

154,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT SECURED AND WAS HANGING FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 233,479. *TT

NHTSA ID

11101460

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

233,479 mi

EXCESSIVE RUST NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, HAD SPARE TIRE CARRIER RUST OFF WHILE ON THE ROAD

NHTSA ID

11080036

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

97,000 mi

FARMR RUSTED THROUGH TRUCK WAS SITTING AT HOME PARKED WHEN IT BROKE THROUGH

NHTSA ID

10971028

Incident

Sep 3, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WALKED OUT OF MY HOUSE ONE MORNING AND MY REAR BUMPER WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND BEHIND MY TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680185

Incident

Jun 25, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN OHIO IN OCTOBER 2014, AFTER PURCHASING I NOTICED QUITE A BIT OF RUST ERODING THE FRAME BEHIND 20" LOW PROFILE TIRES, I PUT FACTORY SUGGESTED TIRES ON IT THE LEAF SPRING HANGERS BROKE IN EARLY DEC. 2014 AFTER THAT WAS FIXED, THE EROSION WAS NOTICEABLE. NOW THE SHOCK HAS FALLEN OFF AND THE FRAME HAS A CRACK THROUGH IT AT THE LEAF SPRING HANGER. THE TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS POINT. I NEED ANOTHER FRAME OR WILL HAVE TO JUNK THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676529

Incident

Jan 19, 2015

Mileage

240,000 mi

I PURCHASED USED FORD RANGER 1997...TURNS OUT CHASSIS HAS A SAFETY DEFECT....IT IS RUSTED AND NEEDS TO BE WELDED.....MEINEKE SAID SAFETY IS A BIG ISSUE...AND WE SHOULD TALK TO FORD... RUST SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.....WHAT SHOULD I DO? THE PART IN QUESTION IS FRAME CHASSY! DROP DOWN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO LIST CHASSY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523356

Incident

Jul 5, 2013

Mileage

170,000 mi

I HAVE SEVERE RUSTING OF THE FRAME AND PARTS CONNECTED TO FRAME OF MY 1997 FORD RANGER, AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT ITS SAFETY ON THE ROAD/HIGHWAY. AND I ONLY HAVE 64,000 MILES ON IT! I HAVE HEARD OF SPARE TIRES COMING LOOSE AND FALLING OFF, REAR BUMPERS FALLING OFF, GAS TANKS FALLING OFF, REAR SHACKLES COMING LOOSE ETC...ON THE FORD RANGER BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE RUST. IF I WAS TOWING A TRAILER AND THE REAR BUMPER FELL OFF THERE GOES THE TRAILER TOO, A TRAILER AND/OR BUMPER THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND KILL SOMEBODY! SAME WITH THE OTHER PARTS COMING LOOSE. AND IF THE REAR AXLE BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME IT WOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT AND FATALITY. AND IF I WAS CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD THE FRAME COULD BUCKLE OR BREAK IN HALF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND FATALITY, BECAUSE THE FRAME IS HALF GONE BECAUSE OF THE RUST. ITS JUST LIKE THE FRAME RUST PROBLEMS ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND TUNDRA TRUCKS. I ALSO HEARD THAT THE SUPPLIER OF THE FRAMES FOR THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND TUNDRA, WAS ALSO THE SUPPLIER FOR THE FORD RANGER FRAMES. I THINK THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BY FORD, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORCE FORD TO RECALL MY 97 FORD RANGER, AND ALL OTHER FORD RANGERS AFFECTED BY THE RUSTY FRAMES ASAP. FORCE FORD TO BUYBACK THE TRUCKS AT KBB VALUE, OR REPLACE THE RUSTY FRAMES WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE. THE FRAME IS THE BACKBONE OF A TRUCK, ITS A CRITICAL PART AND IF IT FAILS BECAUSE OF SEVERE RUSTING, YOU HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM HERE. ITS A DISASTER JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN, AND I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACTION AND BE PROACTIVE, AND NOT WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO BE KILLED ON THE NATIONS HIGHWAYS. ONLY 64,000 MILES ON MY 97 RANGER AND BIG CHUNKS OF STEEL ARE FLAKING OFF THE FRAME AND HAVE FOR YEARS! HALF THE FRAME IS GONE ALREADY! THE FRAME SHOULD FAR OUTLAST THE BODY OF THE TRUCK, AND ITS JUST THE OPPOSITE! A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. ACTION IS NEEDED NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490650

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

FRAME IS NEARLY GONE / RUSTED , REAREND / AXLE FELL OUT IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453240

Incident

Mar 24, 2012

Mileage

123,000 mi

MY 1997 4X4 RANGER, 61500 MILES, HAS MAJOR FRAME RUST AND HAS IN FACT RUSTED THROUGH IN ONE AREA. THE FRAME RAILS ALSO AT THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES HEAVILY RUSTED. I HAVE OWNED THIS SINCE OCT.OF 2000. THE BODY IS CLEAN AND STRAIGHT OF ANY DAMAGE OR RUST. I EXPECT A FORD FRAME TO LAST AND NOT BE THE REASON OF THE VEHICLES TOTAL FAILURE IN BOTH SAFTEY AND OF THE VEHICLE LIFE AFTER 12-13 YEARS WITH ONLY 61,500 MILES. THE CAR IN MY OPINION IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND DO WHAT TOYOTA HAS DONE WITH SIMILAR FRAME ISSUES. I LOOK FOWARD TO YOUR REPLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434338

Incident

Nov 5, 2011

Mileage

61,500 mi

UNDERSIDE OF 1997 FORD RANGER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. BUMPER WON'T STAY IN PLACE AND THE SPARE TIRE BOLT WOULD NOT ALLOW SPARE TIRE TO COME OFF. WE HAVE JUST PARKED VEHICLE AFTER WERE WARNED ABOUT IT. WE JUST USE IT FOR SHORT TRIPS. *KB

NHTSA ID

10416610

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

RE: 1997 FORD RANGER. THE PEDAL MOUNT BRACKET (MOULDED ALUMINUM) FRACTURED, CAUSING THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKE. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER FAIL IN NORMAL OPERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248782

Incident

Oct 24, 2008

Mileage

14,000 mi

ROOF SUPPORT/ VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO BOUNCE ALL OVER THE ROAD BAD SUSPENSION! HIGHER CENTER GRAVITY! MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ROLL, NOT ONLY TO ROLL AND LOSE CONTROL THE ROOF SUPPORT IS NOTHING BUT THIN CHEAP METAL THAT CAN BE EASILY SMUSHED. I KNOW I BROKE MY NECK AND NOW I AM DISABLE....FORD RANGERS SHOULDN'T BE ON THE ROAD WITH A HIGHER CENTER OF GRAVITY...MAKE THEM SAFER....WIDER OR LOWER BUT NOT THE WAY THEY ARE NOW TRUCK IS A HAZARD A LIFE THREATENING HAZARD..MORE WAYS THAN ONE! *NM

NHTSA ID

10140673

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE STEERING SECTOR TO THE FRAME ALL BROKE OR SNAPPED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT AND STARTED TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS A SNAP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS OF THE TRUCK A 97 FORD RANGER. I SENT AN EMAIL TO FOR ON JANUARY 28, 2003 ABOUT THIS ITEM AND THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED, THE TRACKING ID IS KMM2029449C0KM CASE ID 688902. I AM NORMALLY OUT ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT OVER 65 MPH ON WEEKEND AND HAD THE BOLTS SNAPPED WHILE MOVING AT THIS SPEED I WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD. IS THERE ANY RECORDS OF THIS PROBLEM REPORTED BY ANYONE THAT IS STILL ALIVE? THANKS FOR YOU HELP. JUST WANTED T O INFORM YOU OF THIS HAPPENING. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING ON A VEHICLE. AS FAR AS I CAN DETERMINE THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. MOST OF THE 76,000 MILES HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAYS. THANKS AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10005671

Incident

Jan 27, 2003

Mileage

76,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 60MPH HOOD BLEW OPEN, BENDING THE HOOD ON VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8003904

Incident

Jan 24, 2002

WHEN DRIVING MY RANGER IF I HIT A SMALL BUMP OR POTHOLE THE TRUCK BECOMES VERY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WANTS TO JUMP UNCONTROLLABLY FROM LANE TO LANE POSING DANGER TO MYSELF OR OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. RECENTLY I NOTICED A SMALL HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE ROOF OF THE CAB ABOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER PANEL PROTRUDES AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS TELLS ME SOMETHINGIS SERIOUSLY WRONG AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD.NOT ONLY IS THE TRUCK A HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE UNSTABLENESS OF OPERATION NOW IT HAS A STRESS PROBLEM AS WELL AND IF IN AN ACCIDENT I WONDER IF THE THE STRUCTURE WOULD HOLD UP AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD AM REFRAINING FROM OPERATING THIS VEHICLE UNTIL A LATER DATE. I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *AK

NHTSA ID

754684

WHEN SENSORS IN DOOR ACCUMLATE DIRT IT CAUSES DOME LIGHT TO COME ON. LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT UNTIL CONSUMER TAKES OUT FUSE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

891326

POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS MAKING A NOISE LIKE PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER PUMP REPLACED. RIGHT WINDOW IS LOOSE WHILE GOING DOWN. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OCCASIONALLY WHILE TAKING OFF. THERE ARE LOOSE BOLTS UNDERNEATH SEATS. FOG LIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER STATES OIL FROM MASTER CYLINDER DAMAGED HOOD. DOOR LOCK INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR NEVER WORKED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

882240

Incident

Mar 1, 1998

THE DOME LIGHT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE PINGING SOUND AS IF THE DOOR WAS AJAR. I CALLED CARRIAGE FORD (WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE). THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NOT NECESSARILY IN THE DOME LIGHT BUT IN THE DOOR SWITCHES--THEY'VE HAD TO REPLACE A NUMBER OF THESE ALREADY. MY DAUGHTER, WHO LIVES IN TN, ALSO HAS A RANGER AND SHE'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE NOTICED PEOPLE IN OTHER RANGERS DRIVING WITH THEIR DOME LIGHTS STUCK ON, TOO. I REASONED THIS MUST BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND CHECKED TO SEE HOW MUCH THE PARTS WERE TO REPLACE IT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MINIMAL FOR THE PARTS--BUT THE LABOR WAS $160+. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS WITH THESE PARTS. BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES, (DOME LIGHT AS WELL AS REAR HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT) I HOPED THEY'D TAKE CARE OF IT. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP ME. CAN YOU? WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? THANKS, [email protected]. *AK

NHTSA ID

741980

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

CONSUMER'S 2-YEAR OLD SON IS ABLE TO OPEN PASSENGER'S DOOR WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. VEHICLE WAS NOT MADE WITH THE CHILD PROOF LOCK. CONSUMER HAS NO WHERE ELSE TO PLACE HIS CHILD BECAUSE EXTENDED CAB IS NOT FITTED FOR CHILD SAFETY SEATS. DOORS THAT CAN BE OPENED WITH ONLY A PULL TO THE HANDLE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO PASSENGER. *AK

NHTSA ID

867766

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BELL WILL KEEP RINGING WITHOUT STOPPING. COULD NOT BE FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ID

863900

Incident

Jun 19, 2000

DOOR SWITCHES AND WINDSHIELDWIPER SWITCH REPEATEDLY FAILED. SAME IN FATHER'S 1997 F150. *AK

NHTSA ID

721306

Incident

Jul 20, 1998

LOUD NOISE NEAR GLOVE BOX AREA AND DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ID

544460

Incident

Jun 22, 1998

BED LINER PLUGS CONTINUALLY COMING OUT RESULTING IN THE PARTIAL SEPARATION OF LINER FROM BED OF TRUCK, SCREWS HAD TO BE ADDED TO KEEP LINER ONTO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

532877

Incident

Mar 7, 1998

THE DOOR HANDLES ON THE INSIDE ARE NOT SECURE, WHEN GRABBING THE DOOR HANDLES ON THE INSIDE, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN HAVING THE LOCKS ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

817676