Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
DISPITE PROPER MAINTENCE, I OBSERVED BODY RUST AND DECAY ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY TRUCK FRAME. ALSO THE BRAKE LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO CORRUSION AND RUST INTO THE FRAME. SPARE TIRE BRACKETS HAVE RUSTED INTO AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. ALSO EVAP CANASTER BRACKET RUSTED INTO AND THE EVAP CANASTER FELL OFF.
THE SPINDLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE SPLIT IN HALF CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. MY SON LOST CONTROL AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER AND FENDER. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. HE HAD JUST LEFT THE FREEWAY. *JB
WHILE BACKING MY 98 FORD RANGER 4.0 SUPERCAB WITH TOW PACKAGE (WHICH HAS THE BEEFIER BRAKES) THE ALUMINUM BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE BAR THAT THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH HINGE ON, BROKE AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. THIS LEFT ME HEADING IN REVERSE WITH NO BRAKE OR CLUTCH. I WAS IN SHOCK, IMAGINE THE STEERING WHEEL COMING OFF IN YOUR HANDS WHILE DRIVING; THAT'S HOW I FELT. I DIDN'T THINK TO HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT I WAS ALREADY HALFWAY INTO THE GARAGE AND HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO REACT PROPERLY BEFORE I CRASHED INTO THE BACK WALL (CINDERBLOCK) PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE WALL WHICH KILLED THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AT THE FIRE STATION WHERE I WORK! THE POLICE DID A REPORT. HE SAW AND REPORTED THE BRAKES WERE BROKE ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T LOOK VERY CLOSELY. MANY OF MY SUPERIORS AT THE JOB SAW THAT THE BRAKES HAD BROKE AWAY AND WERE NOW DANGLING, USELESS. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED ON THE BILL THE STATE OF THE BRAKES AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. I REQUESTED THE BROKEN PARTS AND THEY ARE NOW IN MY POSSESSION. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY STATED THE OBVIOUS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO STATED THEIR WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS NOT TRUE; I KNEW ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HAS HAD THE FIRESTONES REPLACED. I GUESS THEY MEANT ON THE BRAKES. I SAID YES, BUT CERTAIN THINGS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON A VEHICLE ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD YOU WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MAY FALL OFF. JUST LIKE YOU WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY MAY BRAKE AWAY UNDER YOUR FEET. TODAY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD SAYING THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WONDER IF THERE HAS BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE MINE AND THEY ARE IN THE FORM OF "SERVICE BULLETINS" SECRET RECALLS THAT KEEP FORD AND OTHER COMPANIES FROM HAVING TO FIX MANY OF THEIR PROBLEMS. *JB THE CONSUNER HAD TO HAVE 2 BAD LUG NUTS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ORIGINAL LEFT REAR WHEEL IS CRACKED AND RUSTING ALONG THE INNER PORTION BY THE VALVE STEM OF THE RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL DETERMINED THE RIM FRACTURED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE STEEL MATERIAL OF THE WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM ONLY EXISTED ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL RIM. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPOSED TO HARSH WEATHER OR OTHER ELEMENTS, THE RUSTING RIM ALLOWS AIR TO ESCAPE FROM THE ATTACHED TIRE. *NM
REPLACE HEATER PLUNTUM BECAUSE HEAT EXCHANGE DOOR BROKEN. IT IS A BAD PART BECAUSE IT WAS REPLACE WITH A NEWER IMPROVED PART.*AK
THE JACK WHICH COMES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHEN FULLY EXTENDED TO ITS MAXIMUM HEIGHT, IS INCAPABLE OF ELEVATING THE CHASSIS TO A HEIGHT SUFFICIENT TO INSTALL A SPARE TIRE. I HAD MY FIRST FLAT TIRE LAST NIGHT AND FOUND THIS OUT. THE SPARE I WAS TRYING TO MOUNT WAS THE ORIGINAL SPARE WHICH CAME WITH THE TRUCK, AND IT WAS INFLATED PROPERLY. THE JACK WAS MOUNTED PROPERLY PER THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS ATTACHED TO IT, AND AT FULL ELEVATION THE CHASSIS OF THE TRUCK WAS STILL ABOUT 3 INCHES TOO LOW FOR THE WHEEL STUDS TO LINE UP WITH THE WHEEL. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL CONCRETE PAVEMENT, AND I HAD A CLERK FROM AN AUTO PARTS STORE ASSISTING ME WITH CHANGING THE TIRE/WHEEL. IF I HAD GOTTEN THIS FLAT ON SOME SPARSELY TRAVELLED RURAL ROAD IN THE DESERT 25 MILES FROM HERE, I COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED AND DIED OF HEAT EXHAUSTION OR DEHYDRATION. DOESN'T THE MANUFACTURER HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SUPPLY A JACK WHICH IS MECHANICALLY CAPABLE OF LIFTING THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE TO A SUFFICIENT HEIGHT TO ALLOW FOR THE MOUNTING OF A SPARE TIRE/WHEEL? NLM
UPON HAVING A FLAT TIRE I DISCOVERED THAT THE JACK WAS NOT THE PROPER SIZE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A 4WD AND THE JACK WOULD NOT RAISE THE VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO USE UNSAFE METHODS TO CHANGE THE TIRE.*AK
THE CABLE THAT SUPPORTS THE SPARE TIRE BROKE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE FROMT OF THE SPARE DROPED DOWN CONTACTING THE ROAD WHICH RESULTED IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK BEING LIFTED IN THE AIR. LUCKLY THIS HAPPENED ON A SECLUDED SECTION OF THE ROAD AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC. I CAN'T EMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD OCCURED ON A BUISY EXPRESSWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I CALLED THE DEALER SINCE I WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER HAVING ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL PROGRAM. THE DEALER INFORMED ME I SHOULD CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. CUSTOMER SERVICE THANKED ME FOR THE CALL BUT SAID THERE WAS NO PROGRAM THAT WOULD COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE FAULTY CABLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING SUPERHEATED AND IGNITED LUBRICATION OF GREASE WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. AND WHEEL OFF WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER, EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
RIM RUPTURED AND DEFLATED, CONSUMER FELT IF HE WAS GOING ANY FASTER MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE BEAD COMING THROUGH THE CRACK IN THE RIM, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER 3 RIMS ON VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
THE TIRES NEED TO BE TRUDE AND BALANCED ALMOST EVERY MONTH, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO FORD 4 OR 5 TIMES AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT ITS EITHER THE TIRE OR RIMS AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST YEAR I'VE SPENT OVER 1,000.00 AND MORE JUST TO GET IT RIGHT AND IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. FORD IS BLAMEING FIRESTONE AND FIRESTONE IS BLAMEING FORD I NEED HELP PLEASE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/70/14 )
LEFT WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THERE WAS A NOISE DUE TO A SPINDLE BREAKING,WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CURRENTLY THE NOISE HAS RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SDT4WEQTW
LEFT FRONT WHEEL BECAME UNATTACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS TRAVELING ON EXPRESSWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. SEAT BELT ALSO BECAME DISCONNECTED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. NLM
NEW AUTO HUBS DONT ENGAGE,(BAD DESIGN), WRNTY FIX, STILL DOSNT WRK. ENGAGING DRIVER MOTER FAILED ON TRANSFER CASE, AND HUBS HAVE FAILED SERVERAL TIMES, COLD WEATHER AFFECTS IT ALSO. NOW IT DIENGAGES THE FRONT TIRES WHEN I CHANGE FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE, CAN HEAR NOSES FROM THE FRONT HUBS
CARGO BED WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY. DEALER SAID THAT THEY AGREED. AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE, DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE. *AK
RECALL FOR SAFETY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS NOT BEING GRANTED BY DEALERSHIP.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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