Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 72 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 72, in the owner's own words
THE FRAME RAILS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE SHOCKS BOLT UP HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED THROUGH THE METAL ON PASSENGER SIDE & THE DRIVER SIDE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND FRAME CRACKED
FRAME HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
FRAME ROT RUSTED REAR FRAME
I RECENTLY REPLACED ROTTED PARTS OF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY FORD RANGE, SPRING SHACKLES, SCHOCKS AND SCHOCK MOUNT BRACKETS. I DID THIS REPAIR TO MAKE MU TRUCK SAFER, AFTER 3 WEEKS OF DRIVING WITH THE NEW REPAIRS THE FRAME BEGAN TO CRACK AND IS ABOUT TO SPLIT IN HALF... NOT SO SAFE. THE BODY IS IN GREAT SHAPE, BUT I CAN'T DRIVE THE TRUCK WITH THE FRAME IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. BACK ROAD DRIVING 3 DAYS A WEEK.
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK DOWN A MAIN ROAD AND THERE WAS A SMALL POTHOLE.IT WAS ONLY ABOUT AN INCH DEEP BY ABOUT A FOOT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK STARTED MAKING VERY LOUD NOISES GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALMOST SEEMING LIKE THE TRUCK DIDN'T WANT TO GO STRAIGHT. I PULLED OVER BECAUSE I WANTED TO CHECK IT AND HERE WAS A MASSIVE CRACK IN THE FRAME BEHIND THE SHACKLE MOUNT IN THE FRONT OF THE WHEEL WELL. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE GAS TANK MOUNT THAT THE STRAP CONNECTS DO HOLDING DIRT AND MOISTURE BEHIND IT AND ROTTED OUT A HOLE IN THE FRAME. ALSO THE GAS TANK MOUNT ROTTED COMPLEATLY OUT AND IS NO LONGER THERE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE SAME PLACE THAT THE FRAME ROTTED OUT. THIS IS A BIG DEFECT BY FORD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO CLEAN IT OUT AND THE FRAME WILL JUST ROT EVEN THOUGH THE BODY OF THE TRUCK IS SPOTLESS AND RUST FREE BECAUSE I WASH THE UNDERCARRIAGE EVERY WEEK AS WELL AS THE WHOLE TRUCK. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE MOISTURE AND DIRT CONSISTAINTLY EAT AWAY AT THE FRAME. ALSO IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I POSSIBLY NEED TO TAKE THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS PERFECT. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE FORD COULD HAVE OVER LOOKED THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
WAS PULLING LAWN MOWER TRAILOR ON I-81 & CAR PULLED UP BESIDE ME, THEY WERE HISTERICLY TELLING ME TO PULL OVER, THAT MY BUMPER WAS COMING OFF, ALONG WITH TRAILER, MOWER & ALL. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MANY FATALITIES. THE FRAME OF MY TRUCK IS COMPLETELY RUSTED IN 1/2 ON DRIVER SIDE. NOT FAR FROM IT ON PASSENGER SIDE. GAS TANK STRAP RUSTED IN 1/2. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY FORD TRUCK IS UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, & RECALL MY TRUCK FOR NEW FRAME. THANK U VERY MUCH....STILL A FORD MAN FOR NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A RATTLING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE CONNECTED TO THE SUBFRAME FAILED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
GOING OVER A BUMP ON CITY STREET LEAF SPRING BROKE. FRAME AROUND RADIATOR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. UNDER BODY FRAME RUSTED AS WELL.
MY FRAME IS RUSTED OUT, 110,000, MILES, REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BRAKE LINES, GAS LINES, AND A # OF OTHER THINGS, DUE TO A RUSTED OUT UNDER CARRIAGE, THE MOTOR IS GREAT, THINGS ON THE FRAME ARE BREAKING OFF ALL THE TIME, SO MUCH RUST CANT EVEN SEE A BOLT.
CAME TO A SLOW STOP ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME RAIL BROKE FROM APPARENT RUST THROUGH. INSPECTION OF FRAME AND SUSPENSION SHOWS MUCH RUST DETERIORATION EVEN THOUGH THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND KEPT UNDER A CARPORT ON A PAVED DRIVEWAY. ALL MECHANICAL S, EXTERIOR BODY AND INTERIOR LITERALLY LOOK LIKE A NEW VEHICLE. FORD SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING, AS TOYOTA DID, AND REPLACE THIS TRUCK'S FRAME OR BUY OUT THIS VEHICLE. *TR
DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE FOUND A 6 TO 8 INCH HOLE RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME JUST BEHIND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND FRONT SUSPENSION ATTACHMENT LOCATION. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE, BUT FRAME LOOKS TO BE WEAKENED AT THIS POINT.. PHOTOS AVAILABLE. OTHER ISSUES DUE TO RUST: SPRING 2013: REPLACED ENGINE OIL PAN - LEAKING OIL DUE TO RUST HOLES. WINTER 2013: BODY REPAIR - MAJOR RUST AND RIGHT SIDE ACCIDENT DAMAGE - MUCH MORE RUST COMING ON TRUCK. AUTUMN 2013: REPLACED 5 FEET RUSTED BRAKE LINE TO REAR BRAKES - LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, NO BRAKES. SUMMER 2012: STEEL WHEELS WERE REPLACED DUE TO RUSTED BEAD AREA CAUSING WEAKNESS AND AIR LEAKAGE. SPARE TIRE MOUNT FOUND INOPERABLE DUE TO RUSTED SUPPORT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE MAINFRAME BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, NO SOLUTION WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,858.
EXCESSIVE RUST THROUGH FRAME. INTEGRITY FAILED. *TR
WHILE MY TRUCK WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK I CAME OUT FOR A BRAKE AND I NOTICED THAT THE BED OF THE TRUCK WAS SITTING AGAINST THE CAB. THIS TRUCK IS WASHED AND KEPT OUT OF THE WEATHER AND IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT THE FRAME IS ROTTEN BEFORE THE BODY IS. I KNOW THAT THE ROCKER PANELS AND FENDER WHEELS NORMALLY ROT OUT BUT THEY ARE STILL MINT. *TR
THE REAR LEAF SPRING ARE ROTTING AWAY. *TR
WAS LOADING A WASHING MACHINE IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK, AND HEARD A CRACK. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE THE LEFT REAR SHOCK MOUNT BROKEN OFF THE FRAME. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE FRAME HAD HOLES RUSTED THROUGH IN NUMEROUS SPOTS. THE BODY IS GOOD SHAPE. I WASH THE TRUCK REGULARLY, INCLUDING THE UNDER SIDE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAS ROTTED IN SPOTS. I AM VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS, AS I HAVE OLDER TRUCKS THAT HAVE NOT RUSTED, THAT SEE HARSH USE ON OUR FARM. THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER THAT IS FOR PERSONAL USE, AND I LOVED THIS TRUCK TILL I SAW THAT. *TR
THE FRAME ON MY 2000 FORD RANGER HAS RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT I DON'T FEEL SAFE PUTTING ANYTHING IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE I WILL EVEN FEEL SAFE PUTTING IT BACK ON THE ROAD. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE POOR OVERALL CONDITION OF THE FRAME BUT THE WORST PART IS AT THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES, HOLES COMPLETELY THROUGH. HAVEN'T CHECKED THE REST OF THE FRAME THOROUGHLY BUT WILL THIS WEEK BEFORE I DECIDE IF IT'S EVEN WORTH THE COST OF REPAIRS. THIS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO FIND ON A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN FAIRLY WELL MAINTAINED OVER THE YEARS. I WISH I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A FULL SIZE TRUCK. I GUESS I BETTER DO A LITTLE RESEARCH BEFORE I BUY SOMETHING ELSE. I FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE/WERE AWARE OF THE FRAME ISSUES WITH THESE TRUCKS MANY YEARS AGO. I WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE A LITTLE HOMEWORK BEFORE BUYING THIS RANGER, AT LEAST I WOULD HAVE OIL SPRAYED OR SOMETHING TO PREVENT PREMATURE FAILURE. WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE NEXT TIME I BUY A TRUCK. I WAS HOPING TO FIND FRAME RECALL INFO ON THIS ISSUE BUT I SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF UPSET RANGER OWNERS OUT THERE BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ONE. MY PREVIOUS F150 WAS AROUND FOR A LOT LONGER THAN THIS ONE WILL BE. SIGNED. DISAPPOINTED WITH MY 2000 RANGER XLT EXTENDED CAB 3.0. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 07/01/14 MA THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THREE BRAKE LINES FAILED, THE TAILGATE FAILED AND THE REAR BUMPER RUSTED OUT.
I HAVE A 2000 FORD RANGER 4X4. THE FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY TOWARDS THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK. IN 2011, THE REAR BUMPER WAS FALLING OFF. I HAD TO REMOVE IT BEFORE IT COMPLETELY CAME OFF. I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD FALL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IN 2008 I TOWED A CAR A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. I SHUDDER TO THINK HOW WEAK THAT BUMPER WAS AND WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CAR I TOWED WAS A BIT HEAVIER. AROUND THE SAME TIME I HAD TO REMOVE THE SPARE TIRE FROM ITS HOLDER UNDER THE TRUCK BED - THE SPARE TIRE AND BRACKETRY WAS SLOWLY SAGGING TO THE GROUND. AGAIN, IT WAS REMOVED BEFORE IT COMPLETELY FELL OFF. MOST RECENTLY BOTH REAR LEAF SPRINGS AND THEIR BRACKETS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY FROM THE FRAME. THE WHOLE REAR END OF THE FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS TRUCK HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE - IT ONLY HAS 135,000 OR SO MILES ON IT. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION - NO RUST ON THE BODY. THE ENGINE RUNS FINE. JUST THE REAR 1/4 OR SO OF THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. *TR
I HAVE A 2000 RANGER AND WAS TOLD BY A REPAIR SHOP THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE REAR SHACKLES AND LEAF SPRING HANGERS BEING COMPLETELY ROTTED OFF THE FRAME. THE WHOLE REAR FRAME IS ROTTED ALSO AND BARELY HOLDING THE REAR BUMPER ON. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT ALMOST EVERY RANGER LIKE MINE HAS THIS PROBLEM, BOTH OLDER AND NEWER YEARS. THIS ISSUE IS SO BAD THAT AUTO PARTS STORES ARE KEEPING THESE PARTS IN STOCK. THESE TRUCKS ARE NOT SAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED ESPECIALLY IN STATES WHICH DO NOT HAVE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS LIKE MINE, MICHIGAN. *TR
REAR RIGHT FRAME RAIL ROTTED OFF OF TRUCK BUMPER SAGGING. RUST INCURSION INTO LEAF SPRING SHACKLE AFFECTING LEAF SPRING MOUNT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT ON BOTH SIDES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
BOUGHT TRUCK FOR MY SON FOR 3,500 A MONTH LATER FRAME RUSTED THRU. STOPPED HIM FROM DRIVING IT DEATH TRAP ETT AUTO SALES GAVE ME 1000 DOLLARS BACK BURNED ME FOR 2500 . SPRINGS WERE COMING OFF .FRAME OTHER SIDE CRACKED. SPARETIRE RUSTING OFF.THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE CRUSHED. *TR
TWO-THOUSAND FORD RANGER WITH THE FRAME ROTTED OUT ON RAILS AND CROSS MEMBER. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 51,000 MILES AND WILL NO LONGER PASS INSPECTION. THE ENGINE, BODY AND INTERIOR IS PERFECT. THESE TRUCKS SHOULD BE UNDER A MANDATORY RECALL JUST LIKE TOYOTA TRUCKS. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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