Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 29 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.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
4WD STOPPED WORKING SOME TIME AGO, SERVO/ACTUATOR SEEMED TO BE FREE, RECENTLY STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES IN THE FRONT RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE HUB IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. SORT OF POPS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP HVAC DOES NOT WORK, FAN SPEED ONLY INTERIOR COURTESY STOPPED WORKING
WHILE IN BED AT 2:00 AM TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
1998 FORD RANGER, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE ON VEHICLE. *BF AFTER THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, IT WENT THROUGH THE GAS TANK CAN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0294-89 UPDATED 05/03/10 *BF UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF THE REAR AXLE PINION FROZE, THE DRIVE SHAFT TWISTED AND BROKE IN TWO. UPDATED 05/28/10
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. THEN, TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT REAR DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM REAR. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BROKEN SEAL. ALSO, MACHINE DID NOT CALIBRATE THE FRONT AXLES PROPERLY. *AK
FRONT WHEEL DRIVE INTERMITTENT EVEN WHEN 4X4 LIGHT IS ON AND 4X4 SWITCH IS ENGAGED. MOST NOTABLE WHEN BELOW OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND BELOW. MULTIPLE FORD DEALERS HAVE TRIED BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE CONDITION. THIS CONDITION IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY AND HAS CREATED SOME DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS DUE TO LACK OF TRACTION WHEN DRIVER THOUGHT 4WD SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED. *CB
VEHICLE'S DRIVE SHAFT BROKE RESULTING IN LOST OF CONTROL. *MR *SC *JB
ONLY 55,000 MILES OF HIGHWAY USAGE NO HAULING/OFF ROAD AXLE AND BEARINGS MUST BE REPLACED. DT
PURCHASED TRUCK USED WITH 18,000 MILES. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED FEELING A BUMPING FROM THE DRIVETRAIN UPON ACCELERATION. DEALER REPLACED DRIVESHAFT UNDER WARRANTY. BY THE TIME THE TRUCK REACHED 40,000 MILES I STARTED TO FEEL IT AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT THAT WAY SINCE AND IT NOW HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERS WILL NOT FIX IT AGAIN AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. MR
ON 2-14-02 ODOMETER READ 54250--------ON 3-15-02 ODOMETER READ 4,862. *AK
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE INSIDE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF, WHEN THE KEYS ARE LEFT INSIDE THE IGNITION WITH THE DOOR CLOSED, THE CHIMER WILL KEEP DINGING UNTIL THE KEY IS REMOVED, THE DEALER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE JEWEL MODULAR, HOWEVER THE BULBS INSIDE THE DASH KEEP BLOWING, WHEN THE BLINKERS ARE TURNED ON THERE IS A CRACKLING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WIRE SHORTING OUT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACT ERRACTICALLY WHEN IN DELAY MODE, THE HAZARD LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT, WHEN HE TURNS THE SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION, THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND WHEN CONSUMER TURNS THE SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION, THE LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF.*JB
REAR AXEL BROKE. *AK
IN THIS VEHICLE DRIVESHAFT DOES NOT FIT ON THE TRANSMISSION FAR ENOUGH WHICH CAUSES IT TO FIBRATE OUT OF BALANCE AND KNOCKS THE OIL SEAL OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD?*AK
A FORD REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF A RECALL REGARDING THE SPEED CONTROL (POSSIBLY A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL), THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED A RECALL STATEMENT AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT PERFORM ANY WORK. *SLC
ON TAKE OFF AND STOPPING THERE IS A JURKING IN THE VECHICLE UPON TAKING IT TO A FORD DEALER NEAR ME ( JEFFERS FORD IN NEW LEXINGTON OHIO) FIRST TIME IT WAS IN THEY TOLD ME THEY FIXED IT . ON THE SECOND TIME THE HEAD MAINTANCE MAN TOLD ME HE CALLED FORD AND THEY WAS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFTS BEING BAD (TO LONG ) IS WHAT I THINK HE SAID FROM 1997-2000 FORD RANGERS .SO THEN HE WANTED TO CHARGE ME TO INSTALL A NEW ONE AT MY COST.AT WHICH HE DID SAY MY WARRENTY WAS OVER MILES SO IT WAS EXPIRED BUT IT WASNT AT THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT IN TO THEM WHICH THEY SAID THEY FIXED. I JUST HOPE NOT TO MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE THIS EXPERANCE AND HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF THERE POCKETS ..ISNT THIS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM?OH I DID ASK THE MAINTANCE IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HE RESPONDED THEY (FORD MOTOR CO.) DIDNT SAY. THAT MADE ME FEEL REAL GOOD AND SAFE OUT ON THE ROAD ..THANK YOU . EDWIN W HALSEY
FIRESTONE WRANGLER P265 75 R15 TIRES EXPERIENCED EARLY TREAD WEAR SO CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE BALANCED AND ALIGNED MANY TIMES AND PROBLEM NEVER CORRECTED, DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE PRESSURE OF THE TIRES WERE TOO HIGH FOR LARGE TIRES ON A SMALL TRUCK, ANOTHER DEALER THOUGHT THE PROBLEM TO BE THE RIMS BEING TO SMALL FOR SUCH BIG TIRES, ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED TIRES WITH RADIAL ATX TIRES THAT DIDN'T DO ANY BETTER. *SLC
STRONG ODOR OF GEAR OIL WAS FOUND COATING SOME OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND MUCH OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK FLOOR AND OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE AREA OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. PONTENTIAL OF FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM SEIZURE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL (FROM LACK OF OIL ) IS FEARED.
THIS FAILURE HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT BACK IMMEDIATELY AND IT WAS CHECKED BY FORD, AND KOONS MECHANICS. THEY STATED EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. ALL KOONS DID FOR ME WAS REPLACED 4 TIRES THAT WERE WORN ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF ALL TIRES. I HAVE CONTINUED NOTIFING KOONS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING. I FINALLY FOUND OUT FROM A BACK YARD MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLE WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I TOLD KOONS' MECHANICS THAT ,AND I ORDERED THRU AN EXTENDED PLAN THE SHAFT TWO MONTHS AGO 2/10/00 .I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM KOONS YET. I FEEL THAT THE JUMPING AND SWAYING WILL COST ME TO HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *AK
REAR END (?) WHINES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS,TRANSMISSION SLIPS. DEALER REBUILT DIFFERENTIAL, PROBLEM PERSISTS, DEALER NOW HAS VEHICLE INSTALLING A NEW TRANSMISSION TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM. BRAKE PEDAL PULSES (NOT ABS)AND STEERINGS WHEEL SHUDDERS (LEFT/RIGHT) WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS. (NOT REPORTED TO DEALER, HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE). OIL FILTER- TO REMOVE FILTER IT MUST BE WEDGED PAST THE SOLENOID/STARTER. IT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE EXPOSED WIRES/LUGS? ON THE STARTER. THERE IS NOTHING PROTECTING THIS EXPOSED AREA. MY DEALER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY COURTEOUS AND UNDERSTANDING IN DEALING WITH THE TRANSMISSION/DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM FORD REGARDING THESE PROBLEMS.THROUGH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED HERE ARE NOT LIMITED TO MY EXPERIENCES. THANK YOU. *AK
REAR DRIVESHAFT EXHIBITS A CLUNKING NOISE/FEELING UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. BEGINS AT AROUND 10,000 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE.
DRIVING ON I90 WEST WITH NO PROBLEMS NOR WARNING THE REAR END SUDDENLY LOCKED UP COMPLETELY, SEVERING THE DRIVESHAFT AND ROTATING THE DIFFERENTIAL SO THAT IT EMBEDED ITSELF IN THE SPARE TIRE (MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE). RESULT WAS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND RAN OFF THE FREEWAY INTO THE MEDIAN. REAR WHEELS WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND UN-MOVABLE. INVESTIGATED BY WSP (REPORT # 0570977). CLEARLY AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE VEHICLE DEFECT. FORD DEALERSHIP (EVERGREEN IN ISSAQUAH, WA) MECHANICS ALL CONCURRED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. YH
VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD WHILE PARKED HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. MJS
WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. *YC
TRANSMISSION GEARS FAILED. MJS
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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