1999 Ford Ranger Tires & wheels 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

NHTSA ID

10513461

Incident

May 8, 2013

Mileage

161,120 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10483168

Incident

Oct 30, 2012

Mileage

175,000 mi

1999 FORD RANGER WITH 130,000 MILES. LEAF SPRINGS RUSTED OUT (BOTH SIDES) AND MOUNTING BRACKETS ALSO RUSTED. WENT TO 3 AUTOBODY SHOPS AND NOBODY WOULD TOUCH IT. BUMPER JUST RUSTED OUT ON BOTH SIDES AND SPARE TIRE WELL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. BUMPER AND SPARE CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH 2, 1900 LB CHAINS. RANGER RUNS FINE JUST BODY FALLING APART. VERY CONCERNED TIRE, BUMPER MAY BECOME DISLODGED AND CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. GAS TANK ALSO RUSTED BUT NOT LEAKING SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448484

Incident

Sep 18, 2011

Mileage

127,000 mi

CABLE ATTACHING SPARE TIRE TO UNDERCARRIAGE OF TRUCK SNAPPED, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL INTO ROAD. I CONTACTED FORD WITH MY CONCERN, WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS DEFECT DUE TO MY TRUCK BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260058

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

165,000 mi

I HAVE HAD 2 OF THESE TIRES BLOW OUT ON ME. THE FIRST HAPPENED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. HEARD A LOUD BOOM AT 10 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT. WENT OUTSIDE AND FOUND A GASH IN THE TIRE ON THE SIDE WALL ABOUT 5 TO 6 INCHES LONG. I HAD THOUGH SOME ONE HAD SLASHED THE TIRE BUT THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THAT THE TIRE BLEW OUT FROM THE INSIDE. THIS TIRE WAS ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE 99 FORD RANGER PICK UP. I HAD IT REPLACED WITH THE SAME TIRE BRAND AND MODEL. THE SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT 6/24 WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 81. THIS WAS THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. THE SIDE WALL HAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SEPARATION STARTS RIGHT ABOVE THE RAISED WHITE LETTERING. ONE OF THE OTHER 2 ORIGINAL TIRES HAS SOME OF THE WHITE BEGINNING TO SHOW ABOVE THE WHITE LETTERING. THE TIRE THAT WAS REPLACED 3 WEEKS AGO IS ALSO BEGINNING TO HAVE SOME OF THE WHITE THAT IS UNDER THE BLACK COLOR OF THE TIRE SHOW THROUGH RIGHT ABOVE THE LETTERING. I HAVE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE WITH KELLY TIRES. I HAVE THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES IF YOU WANT THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232354

Incident

Jun 24, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS SUMITOMO TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE STRANDS FROM THE TIRE WRAPPED AROUND THE MUD FLAPS OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAD TO BE PULLED APART TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINE. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000. THE MILEAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID

10202742

Incident

Sep 8, 2007

Mileage

103,000 mi

1999 RANGER TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CURB, WHEN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175387

Incident

Sep 3, 2006

1. SEEMS LIKE ABS SYSTEM COMES ON WHEN BRAKING AND CAR ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED. 2. THUD COMES UP THROUGH BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES RELEASE CAR TO ROLL AN ADDITIONAL SEVERAL FEET BEFORE COMING TO COMPLETE STOP. 3. DEALER REPLACED LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB AND SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143251

Incident

Nov 17, 2005

Mileage

35,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ONE OF THE TIRE ON HIS 1999 FORD RANGER EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE ITSELF REMAINED INFLATED. THE LOCATION WAS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FIRESTONE. THE CONSUMER MAILED THE TIRE AND OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED. FIRESTONE DID THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT, AND IT WAS NOT A DEFECT. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, P205/75R14. *AK FIRESTONE CLAIMED THE MOISTURE CAUSED THE TREAD SEPARATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136754

Incident

Aug 5, 2005

Mileage

43,000 mi

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE 4X4 HIGH LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE SELECTOR SWITCH STILL IN THE 2-WHEEL DRIVE POSITION. STOPPED THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY AND RESTARTED THE TRUCK. ONCE MORE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED, WHEN THE 4X4 HIGH LIGHT AGAIN FLASHED ON AND OFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 50+ MPH THE TRUCK SLAMMED INTO 4X4 LOW. THE SELECTOR SWITCH REMAINED IN THE 2-WHEEL DRIVE POSITION.

NHTSA ID

10129331

Incident

Dec 22, 2004

Mileage

59,102 mi

CONSUMER REQUEST ASSISTANCE RE THE DIFFICULTY HE IS EXPERIENCING IN GETTING FORD TO REPLACE THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON HIS 1999 FORD RANGER. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD REPLACE THE RECALLED TIRES AT ANY TIME, FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER HE HAS SINCE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT TOO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED AND HE MUST PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES HIMSELF. *NM

NHTSA ID

10127921

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT: FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES THAT FORD SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE AT ANY TIME. THESE TIRES WERE RECALLED, AND CONSUMER CHOSE NOT TO REPLACE AT THAT TIME. FORD TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE COULD REPLACE AT ANY TIME. CONSUMER WASN'T NOTIFIED OF ANY CHANGES THAT FORD MADE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10121068

Incident

Oct 12, 2001

Mileage

58,023 mi

THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE STINKS IT COME IN AND OUT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING MESSED UP IN IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10108035

Incident

Oct 23, 2004

Mileage

72,300 mi

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT LEFT DRIVER TIRES WITH TIRE TREAD FAILURE AND BLOWOUT. TIRES 2 YEARS OLD AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTAINANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO MY 1999 FORD RANGER SUPERCAB XLT RWD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081244

Incident

Jun 29, 2004

Mileage

43,000 mi

TWICE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL SIDEWALL FAILURE ON THE MICHILEN LTX A/T TIRE SIZE 75/15. BOTH INSTANCES HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE PICK-UP I WAS DRIVING. *LA

NHTSA ID

10074496

Incident

May 25, 2004

CONSUMER PLACED VEHICLE IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT REMAIN IN THAT POSITION. IT WOULD DISENGAGE OUT OF THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SIX TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10046381

Mileage

45,000 mi

THERE IS 3 OR 4 RECALLS ON MY RANGER AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY. WITH THE TIRES I TRIED TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BECAUSE I CHANGED THE TIRES MYSELF TO SOMETHING ELSE BEFORE I EVEN NEW THEY MAY BE PROBLEMS. I ALSO OWN A 1998 FORD ESCORT AND COULD NOT PULL UP THAT MODEL CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON THAT ONE. THANK YOU.*LA

NHTSA ID

10042978

Incident

Feb 13, 1998

THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. *JB.....*AK

NHTSA ID

10015682

Incident

Apr 11, 2003

I BOUGHT A 1999 FORD RANGER ON JANUARY 31 2003 WHICH HAS THE WILDERNESS AT. TIRES . I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM THEY NO LONGER REPLACE THOSE TIRES ,COULD YOU PLEASE HELP THEY GOT REALLY HATEFUL SAID THEY GAVE CUSTOMERS A YEAR TO GET THIS DONE ,BUT I JUST GOT THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

10005213

Incident

Feb 3, 2003

CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND SAID THE TIRES ARE BEGINNING TO FEATHER CAUSING THE TIRE TO SPIN. TS THE TIRES SPIN AND SLIP ON ANY SURFACE. *JG

NHTSA ID

10001570

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

Mileage

8,873 mi

AFTER HAVING BRAKE JOB DONE AND TIRES ROTATED I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED. VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL JERKING OCCURRED. PULLED OVER AND CALLED AUTO REPAIR SERVICE WHO HAD JUST WORKED ON VEHICLE TO COME INSPECT. HE SAYS NOTHING THEY DID WRONG, BELTS IN TIRE APPEAR TO BE SEPARATING. NOT BELIEVING, TOOK VEHICLE TO 3RD PARTY WHO SAID SAME THING. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1999 FOR RANGER PICK UP. FORD SAYS CONTACT FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE SAYS THAT PROBABLY ISN'T WHAT IT IS BUT WILL SELL ME NEW FIRESTONES WITH PRO-RATE FOR USAGE. THANKS, BUT NO THANKS. DT

NHTSA ID

769497

Incident

Nov 8, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AT LOCAL FIRESTONE MERCHANT WITH BRIDGESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15 INCH TIRES. SOON AFTER, CONSUMER RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE STATING THAT THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES WERE ALSO INSUFFICIENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE BRIDGESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE PART OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL. CONSUMER IS SEEKING AUTHORIZATION FROM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID

565956

Incident

Dec 18, 2000

FOR 3 DAYS IN A ROW I HAVE HAD ALL 4 TIRES AND THE SPARE TIRES, MAKING THAT 5 TIRES ALL TOGETHER DISINTEGRATE. THESE WERE THE WILDERNESS HT SIZE 14 FROM FIRESTONE. NEITHER FORD NOR FIRESTONE WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE. THE STEEL BELTS HAVE COMPLETELY COME THROUGH THE TIRE AND I HAVE CRACKS AND GOUGES IN ALL 5 TIRES. NOONE WANTS TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE SIZE OF THE TIRE HAS TO DO WITH IT. OBVIOUSLY THE WAY THE TIRE IS MADE IS THE PROBLEM. IF THEY HAVE TO RECALL ANY OF THEM THAN OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM IS WITH FIRESTONE. THEY SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BLAME THE CONSUMER FOR THEIR FAILURES.

NHTSA ID

761094

Incident

Apr 20, 2002

I JUST DISCOVERED THAT MY 1999 FORD RANGER 4X4 OFF-ROAD PICKUP, WHICH WAS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH 16" TIRES, HAS A 15" SPARE. THE ENGINEERS AT FORD HAVE DECIDED THAT MISMATCHING TIRE SIZES POSES NO ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR CONSUMERS. I FEEL THAT EMERGENCY HANDLING WITH A 15" SPARE MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WOULD BE A CHALLENGE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I DOUBT THAT ANY TIRE MANUFACTURERS WOULD RECOMMEND OR SUPPORT THIS PRACTICE. WHAT DID THE DEALERSHIP OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY DO WHEN I BROUGHT THIS MATTER TO THEIR ATTENTION, YOU ASK? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THE RESULTS FROM SOME INDEPENDENT TEST CONDUCTED BY A CONSUMER GROUP OR FROM ANY TESTS THAT FORD MAY HAVE PERFORMED. COULD THIS BE ANOTHER RECALL IN THE MAKING? I HOPE SO, AS I THINK THAT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, DRIVING A VEHICLE IN THIS CONFIGURATION COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS! THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 1999 MODEL YEAR. FORD HAS DONE THIS ON THE 2000, 2001 AND IS STILL DOING IT ON THEIR 2002 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 16 TIRES. APPARENTLY FORD HAS NO PROBLEM AGGRESSIVELY MARKETING AND UPGRADING THE STANDARD 15 TIRES TO OPTIONAL 16 TIRES. THEY JUST DONT SEE ANY NEED TO UPGRADE THE SPARE. I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH FORDS ATTITUDE, AS I SEE A REAL PROBLEM WITH DRIVING MISMATCHED TIRES EVEN TEMPORARILY, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

NHTSA ID

756673

BOTH TIMES THE TIRES JUST BLEW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE 1ST TIME IT CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH THRU A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE SECOND TIME I SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY BUT NO DAMAGE HAPPENED. I HAVE CALLED FIRESTONE AND THEY WILL NOT HELP. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK AND FORD SAYS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRES BEFORE THEY BLOW WILL START THUMPING AND WITHIN SECONDS THEY FALL APART. *AK (TIRESIZE: P225/70/R1)

NHTSA ID

756293

Incident

Jul 8, 2001