1999 Ford Ranger Suspension Problems

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 .

NHTSA ID

11437821

Incident

Sep 21, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11385534

Incident

Nov 30, 2020

Mileage

127,642 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11257158

Incident

Jul 10, 2019

THE FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY. BOTH LEAF SPRING SHACKLES RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, MUFFLER HANGERS ALL RUSTED OFF LOST MY MUFFLER ON A ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11121059

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

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!

NHTSA ID

11065807

Incident

Jan 26, 2018

Mileage

178,000 mi

MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE DUE TO EXTREME RUST/CORROSION ON CHASSIS FRAME (LEFT SIDE) OVER AND NEAR GAS TANK AND BRAKE LINES. NO ACCIDENT TO REPORT BUT I WON'T DRIVE VEHICLE NOW DUE TO OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10911225

Incident

Sep 30, 2016

THE FRAME AT THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION POCKET RUSTED OUT. UPPER CONTROL ARM REAR BRACKET IS COMPLETELY DETACHED. DROVE THE TRUCK TO MY DESTINATION WITH NO ISSUES, ON THE RETURN TRIP IT FELT "FLOATY" AS IF IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A TOWN ROAD. THERE WAS NO BUMP OR AUDIBLE NOISE PRIOR TO OR ACCOMPANYING THE ISSUE. BODY HAS VERY MINIMAL RUST, THE REST OF THE FRAME APPEARS SOLID. TRUCK HAS 104,660 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10899610

Incident

Aug 7, 2016

Mileage

104,660 mi

FRAME RAILS ARE ROTTING OUT MORE ON THE LEFT SIDE THAN THE RIGHT, CRACKS AND ROT HOLES NEAR ALL THE CHASSIS /SUSPENSION MOUNTS INCLUDING THE MOUNTS FOR THE FUEL TANK, VERY DANGEROUS AS THESE VEHICLES LOOK GREAT IN APPEARANCE BUT FRAMES ARE ROTTING TO PEOPLE UNKNOWN POSSIBLY TOO LATE AS SOME MAY GET KILLED AS A RESULT, EITHER BY AN ACCIDENT OR GETTING BLOWN UP BY THE FUEL TANK FALLING OUT

NHTSA ID

10888066

Incident

Jul 5, 2016

LIKE MOST OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, REAR FRAME IS JUST DISCENTERGRATING. FIRST NOTICED AT ABOUT 54000 MILES, DID SOME REPAIRS AND NOW AT AROUND 90000 I NOTICED BOTH SIDES ARE GOING BAD, HAVE CRACKS AND HOLES, AND THE CROSSMEMBERS ARE IN BAD SHAPE. I'M NOT A WEALTHY PERSON AND CANNOT JUST AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNMENT OR FORD DOESN'T REALIZE WHAT A SAFETY CONCERN THIS IS. DOES SOMEONE'S LIFE HAVE TO END BECAUSE A FRAME BRAKES OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET OR INTERSTATE. DOESN'T' ANYONE READ THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND UNDERSTAND HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE. I KNOW FORD IS AWARE OF THE REAR FRAMES ROTTING ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND OTHERS OF THE RANGER. I CONTACTED THEM PERSONALLY. WHAT MAKES FORD BETTER THAN TOYOTA? I ALWAYS SAY BUY AMERICAN, BUT I'M HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS.

NHTSA ID

10885338

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

SEVERE FRAME RUSTING, BED HAS SEVERE RUST, REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES RUSTED OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. VEHICLE IS NEARLY UNUSABLE AND UNSAFE AT 112,000 OR SO MILES.

NHTSA ID

10859797

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SPRING SUSPENSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 237,000.

NHTSA ID

10789376

Incident

Nov 9, 2014

Mileage

237,000 mi

MY 1999 FORD RANGER FRAME IS RUSTING IN SEVERAL LOCATION WHICH WILL MAKE IT VERY UNSAFE THE BODY LOOKS BRAND NEW BUT THE FRONT FRAME AND REAR FRAME ARE RUSTING AWAY. THE SHOCKS ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE ARE ABOUT THE BREAK THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM IS ABOUT THE BREAK OFF.

NHTSA ID

10748050

Incident

Aug 10, 2015

Mileage

116,503 mi

MY FRAME HAS RUSTED/ ROTTED ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF WHERE IT CONNECTS TO MY REAR BUMPER. THE BUMPER IS NOW ATTACHED BY ONE OF TWO BRACKETS AND IS SOON TO FALL OFF WHERE AS IT MAY CAUSE A FATAL INJURY TO ANOTHER DRIVER OR PEDESTRIANS.

NHTSA ID

10745936

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC SAID "SHACKLES , FRAME, LEAFSPRINGS, ALL RUSTED AND TRUCK WILL NOT LAST. MOTOR RUNS GREAT, BODY NO RUST.

NHTSA ID

10743905

Incident

Jul 10, 2015

Mileage

104,000 mi

MY REPAIR GARAGE CALLED ME IN TO LOOK AT THE FRAME ON MY 1999 FORD RANGER. THE FRAME WAS DETERIORATED SO BADLY FROM RUST NEAR THE FRONT ENGINE AND BY THE REAR SPRING HANGERS AND SHACKLES IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MECHANICALLY IT RUNS AND DRIVES GREAT AND THE SHEET METAL AND INTERIOR IS EXCELLENT. THE FRAME IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR A VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN GARAGED, WELL CARED FOR, AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY AN AVERAGE OF 6,125 MILES ANNUALLY. FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS!

NHTSA ID

10735436

Incident

Jul 21, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED 4 RANGERS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, A 1995, 1998,1999,AND A 2001 AND ALL 4 TRUCKS HAVE HAD THE LEAF SPRING HANGERS ROT OFF . MY LATEST TRUCK THE LEAF SPRING HANGER AND NOW THE FRAME HAS ROTTED AWAY THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TUNDRAS HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE. WHY IS IT DIFFERENT FOR A RANGER? *TR

NHTSA ID

10567492

Incident

Mar 4, 2014

Mileage

76,000 mi

FOR THE SECOND TIME AS FAR AS I KNOW THE REAR FRAME (REAR SPRING SHACKLES AND SPEAR TIRE HOLDER SPECIFICALLY) HAVE AND ARE BEING REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAVE RUSTED AND THEY TORE APART. AS I WAS DRIVING I HIT A REGULAR BUMP IN THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 TO 45 MPH ON THE WAY TO WORK. WELL IT SOUNDED LIKE IT HIT PRETTY HARD, AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED THE TRUCKS PERFORMANCE WAS LACKING. SO, WENT TO WORK, GOT OUT OF WORK AND ON THE WAY BACK HOME I NOTICED THE SAMETHING WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS LACKING IN A BIG WAY. AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD A LARGE CLUNK SOUND. THE NEXT DAY I HAD A PRIOR APPOINTMENT AT MY TRANSMISSION SHOP. AS THE MECHANICS PUT IT ON THE LIFT "THE REAR AXLE DROPPED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND BUSTING THEIR SEALS. BECAUSE THE SHACKLE BROKE IT WAS CAUSING THE AXLE TO TWIST WHILE I WAS DRIVING GIVEN THE TRUCK THE BAD PERFORMANCE, BAD STEERING, AND GIVING THE TRANSMISSION A PULSATING AFFECT. ALSO THE ENGINE LOST THE POWER GIVING THE TRUCK RESISTANCE AND USING MORE GAS. SO I AM REPLACING BOTH SHACKLES, BOTH SHOCK ABSORBERS, AND THE SPEAR TIRE MECHANISM. AT THE SAME TIME I WILL BE SANDING THE FRAME DOWN, AND COATING ALL PARTS (CLEANING AND COATING PARTS) WITH BEDLINER COATING TO HOPEFULLY STOP THE RUST. THE PARTS THAT I AM REPLACING ARE ALSO REPLACEMENT PARTS BECAUSE THEY ARE BOLTED ON TO THE FRAME INSTEAD OF RIVETED LIKE THE ORIGINALS WERE. ALSO THE STEEL SEAMS TO BE THINNER IN THE REAR THAN THE FRONT AND MIDDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543515

Incident

Aug 21, 2013

Mileage

16,500 mi

I TRIED TO GET MY 99 RANGER INSPECTED WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT A BIG CHUNK OF THE FRAME FELL TO THE GROUND .UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THERE WERE HOLES IN THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME NEXT TO THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES AND THE GAS TANK STRAPS WERE RUSTED OUT OF THE FRAME .THE GARAGE OWNER TAPED THE FRAME WITH A BALL PEEN HAMMER AND FOUND MORE HOLES ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE RIGHT FRONT UNDER THE AIR CONDITIONER .I COULD NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK HOME IT WAS SO UNSAFE I CAN'T BELIEVE THE FRAME DID NOT BRAKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT .IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TRUCK IN THAT CONDITION THE FRAME WOULD HAVE CRUMPLED UP LIKE TIN FOIL .READING THE COMPLAINTS HERE I'M NOT ALONE .THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN CARE OF WASHED ALL THE TIME IF FORD IS GOING TO SELL TRUCKS IN NEW YORK THEY BETTER BE SAFER .I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD . *TR

NHTSA ID

10536443

Incident

Aug 20, 2013

Mileage

118,000 mi

I NOTICED A HOLE IN THE REAR OF MY TRUCK BED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND SPRING SHACKLES AND FRAME MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AWAY AND NOT HOLDING THE SPRINGS ANYMORE. THEY WERE COMING THROUGH MY TRUCK BED! THIS MADE MY TRUCK UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REST OF MY TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. THIS KIND OF RUST IS NOT NORMAL AND IS NOT SAFE! AS I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET I'VE FOUND THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 FORD RANGER! *TR

NHTSA ID

10520355

Incident

Jun 8, 2013

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

NHTSA ID

10513461

Incident

May 8, 2013

Mileage

161,120 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10513374

Incident

Oct 25, 2012

Mileage

186,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS BEHIND THE REAR WHEELS THAT WERE CONNECTED TO THE BED OF THE VEHICLE WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION WHEN THE DEALER ADVISED HIM OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510981

Incident

May 1, 2013

THE FAR REAR RIGHT SPRING SHACKLE AND MOUNT FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK. I FELT THE BODY FALL AND HEARD A BANG AND IN THE MIRROR SAW SOMETHING FALL ON THE GROUND. AFTER INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THOSE PARTS HAD ROTTED OUT AND FELL OUT. THE SPRING WAS RESTING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK BED. I'M A MECHANIC, SO I GOT THE PARTS TO FIX IT, BUT FOUND THAT AS I TOOK APART THE FRAME PARTS, THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SPRING MOUNT. THE LEFT SIDE, THOUGH THE SHACKLE MOUNT HAD NOT ROTTED OFF YET, WAS IN BAD SHAPE. WHEN I GOT THE LEFT SIDE SPRING MOUNT OFF, THE FRAME WAS ROTTED THROUGH BEHIND IT AND HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SPRING MOUNT. THIS ISN'T GOING TO LAST LONG. INFACT I'M LOOKING INTO MY OPTIONS FOR REPAIR. FORD SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. THERE IS NO WAY A TRUCK FRAME SHOULD MELT LIKE THIS. TO REMOVE THE RIVOTS USED FROM THE FACTORY TO MOUNT THE FRAME PARTS, I USED AN AIR CHISEL. THE VIBRATION CAUSED MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF RUST FLAKES TO FALL OFF OF OTHER PARTS OF THE FRAME, SOME AN EIGHTH IN THICK AND THE SIZE OF A LARGE TIRE PATCH. THIS MAKES ME WONDER IF THE REST OF THE FRAME IS SAFE TO USE.! IF YOU GO TO A JUNK YARD YOU CAN FIND TRUCK FRAMES THAT ARE 40 YEARS OLD THAT DON'T HAVE THIS KIND OF ROT!!! PLEASE PRESS FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS...THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499747

Incident

Feb 18, 2013

Mileage

126,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10487952

Incident

Nov 29, 2012

Mileage

189,341 mi

STRUCTURE, FRAME RUSTED, FRONT BUMPER RUSTED FROM INSIDE. REAR SPRING SUPORT RUSTED. GAS FILLER DOOR RUSTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10485891

Incident

Nov 24, 2012

Mileage

102,000 mi