1998 Ford Ranger Transmission Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10176950

Incident

Dec 19, 2006

Mileage

125,628 mi

OUR 1998 FORD RANGER XLT WITH THE 4.0L V-6 AND THE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING. ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN BEING SHIFTED INTO PARK AND WOULD ON OCCASION ATTEMPT TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHILE IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEMS RECENTLY BECAME WORSE AFTER ONLY 44K MILES AND BEGAN TO IMPACT THE DRIVING PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHILE IN DRIVE WOULD SOMETIMES HESITATE AND HAD BECOME UNPREDICTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AAMCO DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION FOUND THAT THE CENTER SUPPORT HAD STRIPPED AND THAT THE BROKEN TEETH WERE BEING CIRCULATED THROUGHOUT THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE BROKEN PIECES CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE OTHER GEARS IT WOULD CAUSE THEM TO HANG AND CREATE A PRESSURE LOSS. THE SERVICE REPAIR TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE PART BEING IMPROPERLY CAST DURING MANUFACTURING. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART AND THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CIRCULATION OF THE BROKEN TEETH IN THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRED A PARTIAL REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION TYPE: 5R55E PRODUCTION DATE: 02-98. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029279

Incident

Jul 21, 2003

Mileage

44,045 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE GEAR SHIFT FELL OUT OF THE CASE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10026810

Incident

Jul 8, 2003

I WAS DRIVING MY 98 FORD RANGER AT HIWAY SPEED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CASE AND TRANSFER CASE EXPLODED. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION HAD LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON AT ALL. WHEN IT LOCKED UP IT SOUNDED JUST LIKE A TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS OUT OF TIME ON MY WARRANTY BUT, I WASN'T OVER ON THE ALLOWED MILAGE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE QUITE SURE IF MY TRUCK DIDN'T HAVE OBVIOUS ABUSE THAT FORD WOULD STILL COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THEY DISASSEMBLED MY TRANSMISSION THEY TOLD ME THAT IT LOOKED LIKE I HAD PUT IT IN PARK WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIWAY, WHICH IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. FORD DECIDED NOT TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR BILL BECAUSE OF WHAT THE DEALER HAD TOLD THEM. I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AT THAT SPEED, INSTEAD OF BLOWING APART, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INJURIES BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A SIX LANE HIWAY. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS WAS DUE TO SOME KIND OF PART FAILURE. I WAS JUST DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN IT WENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

764000

Incident

Jun 27, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

565698

PROBLEM 1: TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN STARTING OUT FROM STOP, OR WHEN SLOWING DOWN. WHILE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT DEVELOP OVERNIGHT,RATHER MANIFESTS ITSELF OVER A PEROID OF TIME, WHEN I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, THE MILEAGE WAS PAST WARRANTY BUT THE TIME( 3 YEARS ) WAS NOT. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS INVOLVED A PART THAT FORD KNOWS TO BE DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN. FORD HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THE PART, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE ORIGINAL BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE POORLY DESIGNED PARTS, KNOWN TO BE PROBLEM PLAGUED, WAS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, WELL UNDER THE WARRANTY-I.E. 0 MILES, 0 MONTHS.PROBLEM 2&3 INVOLVE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM-LANE CHANGER HAD BAD CONTACTS ( I COULD HEAR NOISE WHEN ENGAGING ) FROM ALMOST DAY ONE, BUT FINALLY FAILED COMPLETLY AFTER WARRANTY. IN ADDITION THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR HAS COME ON IN WET CONDITIONS SINCE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX MANY TIMES, OFTEN FAILING TO DUPLICATE, UNTIL I DROVE DIRECTLY TO DEALER WITH DOOR AJAR ON. EVEN THEN THEY HAVE FAILED TO FIX. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO FIX THIS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE OTHER PROBLEMS THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT WITHOUT CHARGE OR COMPROMISE. *AK

NHTSA ID

758051

Incident

May 1, 2000

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, FIRST GEAR IS AT LEAST 30% TO FAST, AND 80% TO FAST ON REVERSE GEAR AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GO BACK. *YH

NHTSA ID

563924

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH VEHICLE JUMPED INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

898188

Incident

Sep 26, 2001

MY TRUCK WAS JUST 3 MONTHS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.I WENT TO START IT TO GO TO WORK AND IT WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING:JUST WOULD NOT.I CALLED GORDIE BOUCHER SERVICE AND GOT AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT.I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT OUT THERE,SO I HAD MY HUSBAND DO THAT AND HIS FATHER FOLLOWED IN HIS VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND SAID HE HAD A HECK OF A TIME.TRUCK KEPT KILLING AND WOULDN'T STAY RUNNING.I TOLD HIM TO GO IN THE MORNING SO AS NOT TO GET CAUGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND STALL OUT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT!BOTTOM LINE:NEEDED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR:COST:$360.00.I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT REGARDLESS OF BEING ONLY 3 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY.I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 3 YEARS,3 MONTHS AND I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED BY FORD FOR THE $360.00 I HAD TO PAY. I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT HAD THAT HAPPENED ON MY GOING TO WORK OR GETTING OFF WORK OR MY HUSBAND ON HIS WAY TO TAKE IT TO BE REPAIRED!*AK

NHTSA ID

751481

Incident

Aug 28, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP WHEN COMING OUT TO A STOP OR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

890878

Incident

Jun 18, 2001

TRANSMISSION IS EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING NOISE WHENEVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS APPLIED FROM A STOP POSITION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK THE DRIVESHAFT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND DEALER STATED CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE HIS REPLACED WITH THE NEW DESIGN, RECALL 99V204. *SLC

NHTSA ID

889390

Incident

Mar 15, 2001

THE TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO FAIL ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. NLM

NHTSA ID

561333

COMPLAINTS OF VIBRATIONS IN FRONT END BEGAN 9-98. THIS TRANAMISSION WAS SERVICED AT 16321. COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME VIBRATION CONTINUED AND WAS NEVER ELIMINATED. AT ABOUT 50300 THE VIBRATION BE CAME MORE VIOLENT AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION SEALS TO LEAK. THE THE RESULTS WAS A COMPLETE BREAK DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

743900

Incident

Mar 27, 2001

TRANI 3RD/4TH GEARS FAILED. REQUIRED REBUILT (WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED). *AK

NHTSA ID

743028

Incident

Mar 18, 2001

4- WHEEL DRIVE HAS QUIT WORKING, IT HAS ONLY BEEN USED 3-4 TIMES. ALSO HORN HAS FAILED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

882226

DOOR AJAR AND LIGHT STAYING ON FOR 45 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE SHUTING OFF. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK A SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LEAKING AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, PLACE WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED IS GOING TO REPLACE VEHICLE BECAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER CHIP, AND DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

880149

Incident

Jan 6, 2001

CLUTCH PEDAL ABOUT 1 1/2" FREE PLAY. WARRANTY WORK PERFORMED @ AIRPORT MARINA FORD ON 05/16/00, 05/22/00,08/16/00, 08/24/00.CLUTCH PEDAL NOW FEELS SPONGY. ACCORDING TO PAPERWORK, SLAVE CYLINDER, MASTER CYLINDER, BLEED, SLAVE CYLINDER REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

730379

Incident

May 16, 2000

ON GOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IN HOT WEATHER CONDITION WHEN APPLYING TRANSMISSION TO STOP OR DECLINE FROM A HILL. IT CAUSES RMPS TO INCREASE TO 1500. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

869168

Incident

Jul 25, 1999

THE TRANSMISION TORQUE CONVERTER SEEMS TO WHINE FROM APROX. 2,500 RPM UNTIL GEAR SHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN OVERDRIVE IS DISENGAGED ABOVE 50MPH THE TRANSMISION SLAMS. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY UPON DELIVERY OF VEHICLE RESULTING IN 1 ELONGATED RIM. AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES. TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM THAT IT WAS WITHIN "FORD" SPECS, YET MIRACULOUSLY IT IS COLD AGAIN FOR APPROX 1-2 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

724413

Incident

Jul 25, 1998

THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH HAD TP BE LUBRICATED EVERY TIME. YH

NHTSA ID

552362

CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER BOLTS CAME OUT KNOCKING HOLE THROUGH TRANSMITION CASE.TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER HAD TO BE CUT OUT AFTER SPEED NUTS BROKE LOOSE.HEATER FAILED THREE TIMES.THERMOSTAT REPLACED TWICE DIDN'T HELP.BOLTS HOLDING COOLING FAN ON CAME OUT.SWITCH FOR DOME LIGHT FAILED, AND BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.*AK

NHTSA ID

719838

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

CLUTCH WOULD NOT FULLY DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING, AND TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. DEALER REPRESENTATIVE STATED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED, DUE TO WAY I DRIVE, WHICH IS A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, AND $623.00 TO REPAIR. TRUCK HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES ON IT. PREVIOUS TWO TRUCKS I OWNED HAD MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND OVER 140,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN I SOLD THEM AND BOTH HAD ORIGINAL CLUTCHES. I HAVE NOT CHANGED WAY I DRIVE, AND I DRIVE IN SAME AREA. BROUGHT TO AAMCO FOR SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH FAILURE. WAS TOLD BY AAMCO IT WAS PROBABLY DESIGN DEFECT DUE TO ONLY 32,000 MILES AND PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE. ALSO, AAMCO REP. STATED NEW FORD RANGER AND F-150 MANUAL TRANSMISSION USES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND HAS 3 RUBBER PLUGS IN TRANSMISSION HOUSING. AUTO TRANS. FLUID EATS AWAY RUBBER PLUGS, WHICH ALLOWS DIRT IN AND FLUID OUT, ANOTHER DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

714572

Incident

Oct 25, 1999

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OUTSIDE OF STORE . PARKING EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T ON, AND VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE ROOLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT INTO THE STREET. THEN ROLLED BACK TO THE SAME STREET AND THEN RAN INTO A 12FOOT DRAINAGE DITCH. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

851451

Incident

Jul 28, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

710809

VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER. ENGINE FELT LIKE IT HAD DIED. AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WHEN IN LOWER GEAR ONLY, WOULD DIE OUT. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER'S TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ID

845712

Incident

Jun 29, 1999