1999 Ford Ranger Problems

I NOTICED HEAVY RUST SCALE ON GROUND AND INSPECTED TO SEE MY SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING, THERE IS A LARGE HOLE RUSTED ALL THE WAY THRU THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR SPRING SHACKLE AND A CRACK IN THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE FRONT SHACKLE ALMOST ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CHANNEL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED ALL CROSS MEMBERS, GAS TANK STRAP AND BED SUPPORTS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME RAIL FOLLOWING SUIT WITH THE LEFT FRAME RAIL. THE REMAINDER OF THE TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A TRUCK WITH THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER WITH DEFINITY DAKOTA H/T TIRES, SIZE P225/70/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A CENTER HIGHWAY MEDIAN. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHIN AND ARM DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS SEPARATED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES OF THE VEHICLE WERE APPROXIMATELY 175,000. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ UPDATED 1/30/2013 *JS

When washing the truck I noticed a crack in the left rear frame just aft of the forward leaf spring shackle.Vertical crack approx, 6" long and separating, frame severely rusted while the rest of the body has minimal rust.

MY VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION BUT TRY IS FRAME IS VERY WORRISOME. THE RUST MAKES ME AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE CONFIDENTLY.

GAS PETAL IS TOO CLOSE TO BRAKES...AND IF NOT CAREFUL RIGHT FOOT HITS BOTH.CAUSING A ROARING OF ACCELERATION , WHILE TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE.VERY DANGEROUS!

ON 20 JANUARY 2015, APPROX 11:30PM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE SINCE THE PREVIOUS EVENING, THE VEHICLE ALARM WENT ON IT'S OWN. I WENT AND TURNED IT OF F AND WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WENT INTO ACTION AND GOT THE HOOD OPEN, I SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE SWITCH AT THE END OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. I'VE NOTICED THE SWITCH BEFORE, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT DID, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I MANAGED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AT THAT POINT. THE SWITCH WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT, THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS BADLY CHARRED BUT DID NOT BURN THROUGH (THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS). THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS SEARCHING FOR A REPLACEMENT SWITCH (F3TA-9F924-CA) AND FOUND OUT IT WAS CALLED: SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND HAS TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. I FURTHER FOUND OUT THAT THE SWITCH IN QUESTION HAD BEEN THE CAUSE OR REPORTED TO BE THE CAUSE OF NUMEROUS VEHICLE FIRES WHILE PARKED AND NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CAMPAIGN MESSAGES IN THE OASIS REPORTING (WHATEVER THAT IS). ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE SWITCH CAUGHT FIRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE WEB INDICATES THAT THE SWITCH APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE OF NUMEROUS VEHICLE FIRES. I WAS LUCKY IN THAT I DECIDED TO FIND OUT WHY THE VEHICLE ALARM WENT ON, HAD I JUST TURNED IT OFF, AND GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE SWITCH SITUATION, IT APPEARS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOUR ASSISTANCE APPRECIATED. *TR

"TAKATA RECALL" WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE NOTICE THAT AIR BAGS NEED REPLACEMENT. HAVE BEEN TOLD WE ARE ON WAITING LIST AND THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON AND WHEN THEY COME IN WE WILL BE NOTIFIED. AS OF YET THIS HAS NOT HAPENED. THIS WEEK NOTICE IN THE NEWS AND ON WEB SITES OF FORD AND TAKATA AND YOUR SITE SUGGESTS THAT THESE VEHICLES NOT BE DRIVEN. WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WE HAVE CONTINUED TO TAKE ARE VEHICLES INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO KEEP THEM MAINTAINED AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, WE ARE GIVEN NO SOLUTION OF A REPLACEMENT OR OPTION OF DEACTIVATION OF THE DEVICE UNTIL A REPLACEMENT IS AVAILABLE AND NOT EVEN AN OPTION FOR PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT. PLEASE HELP ALL OUR VEHICLES ARE FORDS ALL ON RECALL WE SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO DRIVE ACTIVATED BOMBS

THE AIR BAG DISCHARGED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 45 MPH. I HEARD A HISSING SOUND AS A WHITE POWDERY SUBSTANCE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THE BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON.I WROTE FORD 3 TIMES. EACH TIME I WAS SENT A LETTER STATING THAT THERE WAS A COLLISION. I WROTE BACK , NO COLLISION. THEY HAD ME SEND THEM PICTURES OF THE ENTIRE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE ANY WHERE. THEY SAID IT WAS OFF WARRANTY. I SAY IT WAS DEFECTIVE. IT DISCHARGED WITHOUT REASON AND STILL DIDN'T WORK CORRECTLY THANK GOD.AN AIR BAG SHOULD BE WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL WITH THIS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAN YOU HELP ME?

99 FORD RANGER XLT SPORT PACKAGE. 5 SPEED MANUAL. TRUCK BODY IS RUST FREE BUT FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT. RUST BEGAN ON LEFT REAR FRAME AND SPREAD TO ENTIRE FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS. SPARE TIRE FELL OFF, FRAME CRACKED IN HALF CAUSING BUMPER TO FALL OFF, GAS TANK FELL OFF TRUCK HITTING A SMALL ROAD BUMP AT 60MPH. BOTH SIDES OF REAR FRAME, BUMPER, AND GAS TANK WERE REPAIRED. NOW FRAME HAS CRACKED IN HALF UNDER PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH ONLY 99,000 MILES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND DO NOT ALWAYS WORK WHEN TURNED ON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THE LAW DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO CHANGE THE MIRROR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

I was driving to the store around 1 month ago and I noticed the truck was trying to tail to the side as I was driving. I thought nothing of it until my Uncle Bobby noticed my rear shock was scraping the ground. We looked underneath to investigate and found both shock mounts completely rusted off and the frame in terrible shape. The truck itself barely has any rust other than the tailgate and bed floor. Also thought I should include that the hose that connect the gas tank and where you pump the gas is rusted to where every time I pump gas, a little drips out onto the floor. I was trying to find videos on how to fix it but came across a page that says Rangers have been recalled from the years 1995 to 2000 because of Toyota starting to make frames for them. *EDIT* Also would like to mention that the frame where the bumper attaches to on the driver side has cracked and now the bumper is sagging down .

I WAS DRIVING WAS ABOUT 20 MPH AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. I HEARD A LOUD POP BANG NOISE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK DROPPED ABOUT 2 OR 3 INCHES. I THOUGHT THE FRONT END FELL OFF. THE FRAME IS RUSTED SO BAD YOU CAN PUNCH HOLES IS THE FRAME WITH A SCREW DRIVER, THE DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE, THE CROSSMEMBER TO TRANSMISSION IS BARLEY HOLDING TRANSMISSION UP, THE SPARE TIRE AREA IS RUSTED IN HALF, ALL MAIN CROSSMEMBERS ARE RUSTED IN HALF AND THE FRAME IS RUSTED IN HALF BEHIND FUEL TANK. TRUCK HAS 127K MILES AND THE BODY BODY HAS LITTLE TO NO RUST, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE UNSAFE FROM RUST. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE BODY CAN BE SO GOOD BUT FRAME AND SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY RUSTED TO NO RETURN.

ON 20 JANUARY 2015, APPROX 11:30PM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE SINCE THE PREVIOUS EVENING, THE VEHICLE ALARM WENT ON IT'S OWN. I WENT AND TURNED IT OF F AND WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WENT INTO ACTION AND GOT THE HOOD OPEN, I SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE SWITCH AT THE END OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. I'VE NOTICED THE SWITCH BEFORE, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT DID, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I MANAGED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AT THAT POINT. THE SWITCH WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT, THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS BADLY CHARRED BUT DID NOT BURN THROUGH (THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS). THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS SEARCHING FOR A REPLACEMENT SWITCH (F3TA-9F924-CA) AND FOUND OUT IT WAS CALLED: SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND HAS TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. I FURTHER FOUND OUT THAT THE SWITCH IN QUESTION HAD BEEN THE CAUSE OR REPORTED TO BE THE CAUSE OF NUMEROUS VEHICLE FIRES WHILE PARKED AND NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CAMPAIGN MESSAGES IN THE OASIS REPORTING (WHATEVER THAT IS). ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE SWITCH CAUGHT FIRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE WEB INDICATES THAT THE SWITCH APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE OF NUMEROUS VEHICLE FIRES. I WAS LUCKY IN THAT I DECIDED TO FIND OUT WHY THE VEHICLE ALARM WENT ON, HAD I JUST TURNED IT OFF, AND GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE SWITCH SITUATION, IT APPEARS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOUR ASSISTANCE APPRECIATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME ABNORMALLY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,784. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 150,000 MILES. UPDATED 06/16/2014 *JS

Motor rattling, knocking in transmission, exhaust sounded louder than usual, motor cut off and unable to start

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES SURROUNDING THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. *BF.* CONSUMER STATED FIRE IGNITED UNDER THE HOOD IN BOTH CASES DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. FOR ODI 11173289 AND 11173291. CONSUMER HAS FILED A LAWSUIT.*JB

I HAVE A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE SHIFT INDICATOR NO LONGER INDICATES THE CORRECT POSITION. WHEN IN PARK THE INDICATOR SHOWS REVERSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HE HEARD A BANGING NOISE UNDER THE GEAR SHIFT AREA. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE "U" JOINT CAME APART WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. AS OF AUGUST 14, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TAIL LIGHTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT, THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITION. SPOT CHECKS BY ME SHOW THAT SOMETIMES THEY ARE WORKING AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT. SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.

GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE - GAUGE INDICATED ALMOST 1/2 TANK OF GAS WHEN TRUCK RAN OUT OF GAS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BORMAN AUTOPLEX (470 W BOUTZ RD, LAS CRUCES, NM 88005, 575-525-4500) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

GAS PETAL IS TOO CLOSE TO BRAKES...AND IF NOT CAREFUL RIGHT FOOT HITS BOTH.CAUSING A ROARING OF ACCELERATION , WHILE TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE.VERY DANGEROUS!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. A FEW YEARS AFTER THE VEHCILE WAS PURCHASED, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SENSOR AT THE COST OF $800.00. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS NOT LEVELED WITH THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE THE SEAT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT PADDING. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE COULD NOT PROPERLY VIEW THE ROAD-WAY, WHICH CAUSED A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE POLICE REPORT AND THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTEMNTLY TURN ON WHEN I MAKE TURNS. ANOTHER PROBLEM: THE 'DOOR AJAR' LIGHT COMES ON AND THE DOME LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF. HAD THE TRUCK TAKEN IN BEFORE FOR THE DOMELIGHT PROBLEM.*AK

FRAME IS VERY RUSTED AND BIG HOLES IN THE FRAME. I THINK THERE IS A GAS LEAK AS WELL BUT THE FRAME IS VERY BAD.

MY FRAME IS RUSTING OUT! I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS FILLING MY GAS TANK SO I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE SHOP TO FIND THAT WHERE THE GAS TANK SUPPORTS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT. MY GAS TANK WAS HANGING ON BY A THREAD. I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE THING REMOVED, REPAIRED, AND REPLACED.

TAKATA RECALL FOR PRODUCE A 1999 MODEL 4WD PICK UP LAST NOVEMBER I WENT TO LOOK AT IT HERE WERE NO STICKERS ABOUT SOLD AS IS BUT REGARDLES I FEEL IT IS FORD CORPORATIN TO SELL A SFE VEHICLE BY LAW ,, I DISCOVERED THE TIRES WERE THE WRONG SIZE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I QUESTION THEM THEY SAID IT THE WAY TEY RECIVED IT AND REFUSED TO GO ANY FURTHER THE REQUIRED TIRES FOR THIS TRUCK STATE THERE SUPPOSED TO BE 245/75/16 FOR HAD TIRE ON THE TRUCK THAT ARE THE WRONG SIZE 215 65 15 WHICH MAKE HANDLING THE VEHICLE HARD IN CORNERS AND CREATED A ROLLOVER SITUATION TIRES ARE UNDER RECALL AND FORD WONT HELP ON THIS MATTER I AM ASKING FOR ALMOST A YR NOW THAT SOME ONE MAKE FORD PUT ON THE PROPER TIRES AT THERE COST BECAUSE OF THERE LIES AND DISHONESTY,, ALSO THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE WITH BAD BALL JOINTS THAT BROKE A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE SO I BORROWED THE MONEY AND GOT THEM REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE THE ENGIN HAS A TICKING NOISE IN IT NO ONE CAN FIND ,, FORD OF COOKVILLE TN IS JUST DISHONEST I WILLNEVER DEAL WITH THEM EVER AGAIN IM JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE 1999 FORD RANGER 4WD WITH A 4.0 ENGINE SAFE SO MY CHILDREN CAN BE SAFE THIS YR CAN U HELP WITH ANY OF THESE MATTERS? IF THEY JUST REPLACE TIES I CAN HANDLE THE REST OF THE ISSUES PLEASE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND I HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. UPON INSPECTION, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS TOED-IN AND THE UPPER TIRE STABILIZER ARM BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME AT THE BRACKET. THE BRACKET ATTACHING THE ARM TO THE FRAME HAD SNAPPED. THE FRAME ITSELF JUST BELOW THAT BRACKET WAS CRACKED WITH SEVERE ROT ON BOTH SIDES. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN PERFECT CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS CANNOT BE FIXED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WAS ABOUT 20 MPH AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. I HEARD A LOUD POP BANG NOISE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK DROPPED ABOUT 2 OR 3 INCHES. I THOUGHT THE FRONT END FELL OFF. THE FRAME IS RUSTED SO BAD YOU CAN PUNCH HOLES IS THE FRAME WITH A SCREW DRIVER, THE DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE, THE CROSSMEMBER TO TRANSMISSION IS BARLEY HOLDING TRANSMISSION UP, THE SPARE TIRE AREA IS RUSTED IN HALF, ALL MAIN CROSSMEMBERS ARE RUSTED IN HALF AND THE FRAME IS RUSTED IN HALF BEHIND FUEL TANK. TRUCK HAS 127K MILES AND THE BODY BODY HAS LITTLE TO NO RUST, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE UNSAFE FROM RUST. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE BODY CAN BE SO GOOD BUT FRAME AND SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY RUSTED TO NO RETURN.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. AFTER A SHORT WHILE I COULD NOT MANAGE THE STEERING. WHEN I PULLED OVER IN THE BRAKEDOWN LANE I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS TOED IN. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME WE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED AND ROTTED AT BOTH WHEEL MOUNTS AND THE THE RIGHT FRONT MOUNT WAS THE WORSE. WE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE ALL ROTTED AND THE OVERALL FRONT SECTION OF THE FRAME WAS ROTTED WHICH PREVENTED ANY REPAIR. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE 3 TIMES SINCE NOV OF 2003. THE TOTAL MILEAGE DRIVEN SINCE THAT FIRST REPLACEMENT IS 9023. THE FIRST REPLACEMENTS WERE FOR ALL 4 SEAT BELTS, PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION AT 49,499 MILES. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE IS FAILING AGAIN AFTER ONLY 2605 MILES AND FORD DOES NOT WANT TO WARRANTY THE BELT BECAUSE IT WAS REPLACED 14 MONTHS AGO. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN MY VEHICLE OR THE SEAT BELT DESIGN. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR A NEW SEAT BELT ONLY TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN. *JB

DURING A 45 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT RELEASED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TAIL LIGHTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT, THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITION. SPOT CHECKS BY ME SHOW THAT SOMETIMES THEY ARE WORKING AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT. SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.

SMOKE FROM STEERING COLUMN, WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALER STATES ITS COMING FROM THE HAZARD SWITCH, AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT FIXED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON, ENGINE SURGES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FOUR DEALERS, THEY ARE UNABLE TO RECTIFY PROBLEMS. (PROBLEMS SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW) *MJS

DASHBOARD FELL OUT. MJS