1998 Ford Ranger Suspension Problems

THE REAR OF THE FRAME RUSTED CAUSING THE BUMPER TO HANG OFF. IT WILL FALL OFF IF NOT ADDRESSED

NHTSA ID

11404912

Incident

Mar 25, 2021

Mileage

151,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11319686

Incident

Mar 28, 1918

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION IS DETACHING FROM FRAME AND FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND WILL SEPARATE SOON. THE SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER HAVE FALLEN OFF WHERE IS WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RUST AND THE BED MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED AWAY AND NO LONGER ATTACH TO THE FRAME LEAVING THE BED WITH NO SOLID MOUNT. SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER FELL OFF ON INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11234955

Incident

May 9, 2019

Mileage

210,050 mi

VEHICLE BACK BUMPER FELL OFF DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST (WHILE IN MOTION). BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS RUSTED OUT AS WELL AS HOLES IN THE FRAME (ALL IDENTIFIED WHILE STATIONARY).

NHTSA ID

11083796

Incident

Mar 31, 2018

Mileage

111,150 mi

"FRAME RECALL ? " WHILE DRIVING FRAME BROKE IN HALF, BOTH SIDES. SINCE OWNING I HAVE REPLACED LEAF SPRING AND SHOCK BRACKET,AND ALSO REMOVED SPARE TIRE BRACKET BEFORE IT FELL OFF IN ROADWAY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!!!

NHTSA ID

11040954

Incident

Oct 28, 2017

Mileage

114,000 mi

THE REAR FRAME OF THE TRUCK FELL APART RUSTED AWAY

NHTSA ID

10745767

Incident

May 5, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE BACK SECTION OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED OFF THE SPRING HANGERS ARE RUSTED OFF THE FUEL TANK CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED OFF AND THE TIRE HANGER IS RUSTED OFF THE SHOCK MOUNTS ARE ABOUT RUSTED OFF AND THE SPRINGS ARE BENT BECAUSE THE BRACKETS RUSTED OFF

NHTSA ID

10721523

Incident

May 26, 2015

DRIVING ON HI WAY, EVAP CANISTER ROTTED OFF, AND ALSO LOST MY SPARE TIRE, I HAVE PATCHED FRAME 13 TIMES NOW WAITING FOR A RECALL TO COME OUT AND YET STILL HAVNT HEARD OF ONE. TRUCK NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. . HOPING ANYWAY POSSIBLE THAT THEY WILL THROW A RECALL OUT THERE FOR US RANGER OWNERS. THANKYOU.

NHTSA ID

10716177

Incident

Jul 14, 2010

Mileage

96,000 mi

MY FORD RANGER FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY IN THE BACK AND THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE REAR SHACKLES AND SHACKLE BRACKETS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THE SPARE TIRE HAS EVEN FALLEN OFF FROM RUST. ALSO THE GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM WERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A TRUCK THAT IS NOT THAT OLD. I HAVE READ THINGS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES FRAMES THAT ARE RUSTED AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649986

Incident

Oct 24, 2014

Mileage

163,121 mi

I TOOK MY TRUCK TO HAVE A POWER STEERING ISSUE EXAMINED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. I EXAMINED THE FRAME AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SIZABLE HOLES IN THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE TRUCK IS IN SOLID CONDITION, HOWEVER THE FRAME ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632615

Incident

Sep 5, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

MY 1998 FORD RANGER FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE GAS TANK IS READY TO FALL OFF . THE SHOCK FELL OFF. THE STRAP FOR THE SPARE TIRE IS RUSTED OFF HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? *TR

NHTSA ID

10631723

Incident

Aug 26, 2014

TOOK IN FOR INSPECTION. IT FAILED BECAUSE OF RUSTED FRAME, SHACKLES, SHOCKS, BRAKE LINES AND REAR BRAKE DRUMS. IT COST ME $3,127.34 TO REPLACE ALL THE PARTS. BEFORE THIS, THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF. TOYOTA REPLACED THE FRAME OF MY NEIGHBORS PICKUP AT NO COST TO HIM. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD A YEAR 2000 MAZDA PICKUP THAT HAD A RUSTED FRAME AND WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION. I'M SURE THIS ISN'T THE FIRST COMPLAINT ON THIS SUBJECT. I BOUGHT FORDS FOR YEARS AND MY FATHER WORKED FOR A FORD DEALER SHIP FOR 40 YEARS. SINCE THIS TRUCK, I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585662

Incident

Apr 28, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE FROM RUST. I SHOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE AS IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE BUT THEY EITHER COULD OR WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE COIL SPRING POCKET IS CRACKED AND THE SPRING IS ABOUT TO POP OUT. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE FRAME IS BROKEN AND CRACKED IN SEVERAL AREAS DUE TO STRESS FROM FLEXING BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I ATTEMPTED TO GET A LOCAL FABRICATION SHOP WELD IT BUT THEY WILL NOT TOUCH IT. I CAN TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS IF NEED BE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT HAVE NO CHOICE. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED REAR SPRING MOUNTS AND SHACKLES BECAUSE OF RUST BUT I CANNOT REPLACE THE FRAME AND NO ONE WILL TOUCH IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514593

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

REAR FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT BY THE RIGHT REAR SPRING HANGER CAUSING SPRING TO GO TRU BED AND THE REAR AXLE TO BE DETACHED THE TRUCK AT THIS TIME IN IN OPERABLE DUE TO THIS WILL BE TRYING TO WELD AND REPLACE IT AS BEST AS CAN BE BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT IM READING ABOUT ONLINE SURE WISH FORD WOULD STEP UP LIKE TOYOTA DID

NHTSA ID

10495541

Incident

Dec 26, 2012

Mileage

180 mi

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SPOTS ALL THE WAY DOWN THE FRAME. IT LOOKS CLOSE TO BREAKING IN HALF IN SOME SPOTS. A 1998 VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MUCH RUST NO MATTER WHERE IT CAME FROM. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS VEHICLE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10493593

Incident

Jan 5, 2013

Mileage

131,800 mi

SEVERELY RUSTED OUT REAR FRAME RAILS THAT WOULD NOT PASS PA. INSPECTION CODES. IN THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED ALL THE REAR SPRING HANGERS AND MOUNTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FORD RANGER LINE AND IS WHY IM SENDING THIS LETTER AND FORM.

NHTSA ID

10481841

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

85,107 mi

REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTS ROTTED AND BROKEN , REAR BUMPER MOUNTS ROTTED AND VERY CLOSE TO FAILURE , SPARE TIRE MOUNT SEVERLEY ROTTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463639

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

134,000 mi

REAR SECTION OF FRAME THAT HOLD SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, TIRE AND FRAME SECTION JUST MISSED A VEHICLE BEHIND ME, AT THIS SAME TIME THE FRAME BROKE OFF JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR SPRING HANGER ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463373

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

131,000 mi

THE FRAME IS HAVING SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS HEAVY RUST AND ROT COMPROMISING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TRUCK. IN FACT A SHOCK MOUNT JUST BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND THE RESULTING LOUD BANG CAUSED ME GREAT STRESS WHILE DRIVING. AFTER PULLING OVER AND LOOKING I COULD SEE THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD ROTTED SO BAD AS TO BREAK OFF THE AXLE HOUSE.AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURES HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE,GAS TANK AND ENTIRE SUPPORT SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450527

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

54,000 mi

THE REAR BUMPER IN MY 1998 FORD RANGER (80K MILES) IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF, AS THE REAR OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED & BROKEN. I HAVE CABLES HOLDING IT ON NOW. I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE & BRACKET RUSTED OFF THE FRAME AND BROKE IN TWO. THE SPARE TIRE ALSO LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM RUSTED BRACKETS. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF FORD RANGERS IN WHICH THE REAR BUMPER ACTUALLY DID FALL OFF, OR THE SPARE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MUCH WORSE THAT THE TOYOTA TRUCKS. IN FACT SOMEONE SAID THAT THE FORD FRAMES WERE BOUGHT AT THE SAME FACTORY AS THE TOYOTA'S, BUT I DO NOT KNOW FORE SURE. EVERYTHING ELSE ON MY TRUCK IS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION, NOT A SPECK OF RUST ON THE BODY, AND IT RUNS GREAT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292259

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

AT 40,000 MILES AND NOW AT 81000 MILES I NEED THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS ON ANY CAR UNDER 150,000 MILES MY ENTIRE LIFE, THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE, THIS IS A '98 FORD RANGER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260173

Incident

Jan 25, 2009

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED A SQUEAKING NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, TIE RODS AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10157660

Incident

May 2, 2006

Mileage

58,864 mi

AT APPROXIMATELY 150,000 VEHICLE MILES, THE MIDDLE LEAF ON BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAS FRACTURED JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE. DISCOVERED 5/27/2005 WHEN THE BROKEN PIECE FELL OUT OF THE LEFT SPRING. SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED THE IDENTICAL PIECE WAS MISSING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. RECOVERED PIECE SHOWS FATIGUE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10125111

Incident

May 27, 2005

Mileage

153,500 mi

WHILE TURNING, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A LOUD POPPING NOISE/HEAVY VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10076060

Incident

May 13, 2004

Mileage

66,111 mi

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATED. A MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND INDICATED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT HAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10071738

Incident

Mar 28, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi