2001 Ford Ranger Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The brakes and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000.

NHTSA ID

11729501

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

Mileage

226,000 mi

PICKED UP KIDS FROM BUS STOP (5 AND 6 YEARS AGE) WITH 2001 RANGER PARKED IN GEAR ON GRAVEL DRIVEWAY GRADE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. LOADED KIDS AND MYSELF, STARTED VEHICLE AND RELEASED EMERGENCY BRAKE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, VEHICLE TOOK OFF DOWN HILL. PUSHED AND PUMPED PEDAL HARD TO ENGAGE REAR BRAKE VALVE; NO REAR BRAKES. ENGAGED EMERGENCY BRAKE (NOW AT CONSIDERABLE SPEED ON GRADE). LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKED SKIDDING VEHICLE TO RIGHT SIDE ON GRAVEL DRIVE, CORRECTED WITH STEERING AVOIDING ROLL OVER. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED EXTENSIVE PREMATURE CORROSION TO VEHICLE FRAME, SUSPENSION AND BRAKE COMPONENTS. BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES COMPROMISED WITH CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DURING EMERGENCY. MY KIDS AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED BECAUSE FORD SAVED A FEW BUCKS USING BELOW STANDARD IMPORTED STEEL. NTSB; ARE YOU IN SOME WAY BEING PAID-OFF BY FORD TO IGNORE THE THOUSANDS OF SAFETY COMPLAINTS AND INCIDENTS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THESE VEHICLES? DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO ASSIGN BLAME ON SALTY EASTERN ROADS; MANY OTHER VEHICLE DRIVEN UNDER IDENTICAL CONDITIONS DO NOT FALL APART SO CONSISTENTLY AND COMPLETELY. MANY UNDERCARRIAGE PARTS ON MY RANGER ARE NOT EVEN RECOGNIZABLE DUE TO NEAR COMPLETE DISINTEGRATION. MY TRUCK HAS AN 'A' TITLE AND WAS RUST PROOFED PRIOR TO DELIVERY. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND REGULARLY WASH UNDERCARRIAGE. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN? *TR

NHTSA ID

10546490

Incident

Sep 19, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS GOING RELATIVELY SLOW AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. BRAKE LINE FROM ABS UNIT TO REAR BRAKE HOSE HAD FAILED. I AM SURPRISED THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN A RECALL AS I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH FORD RANGERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. ONE RESULTED IN AS CRASH. I ALSO INFORMALLY ASK OTHER RANGER OWNERS AND MANY HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS, FOR LONGER TIME PERIODS AND FAR MORE MILEAGE WITHOUT THIS KIND OF FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522801

Incident

Jul 20, 2011

Mileage

120,185 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, COMING UP TO A THIRD SPEED BUMP. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND MY ENGINE REVVED AND STARTED GOING FASTER. I HIT THE BRAKES AND MY TRUCK SPUN OUT, OFF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. THE SEAT BELT HARNESS DID NOT LOCK UP; THE SHOULDER STRAP STAYED LOOSE, AND MY HEAD WAS BEING HIT AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN, SOMEHOW I FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. 05/17/13 I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO GET THE RECALL FIXED, AND GET EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514258

Incident

May 26, 2013

Mileage

80,664 mi

UNDERCARRIAGE AND FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST PROBLEMS CAUSING PARTS ON FRAME TO FAIL AND FALL OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483463

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

Mileage

100,007 mi

TRUCK VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND A BRAKE FAILURE PROMPT THE DRIVER TO SWITCH INTO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SPUN OFF OUT OF CONTROL(BURNING TIRE) AND IT TOOK OFF VERY FAST WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. DRIVER TRIED TO STOP IT BUT NOTHING WORKED. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437685

Incident

Nov 29, 2011

I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, I NOTICED ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WAS BURNING. PUT FIRE OUT AND TOWED THE PICK UP TO THE SHOP WHERE IT REMAINS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433605

Incident

Oct 28, 2011

MY 2001 FORD RANGER REAR SAFETY LIGHTS (TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS) WILL ONLY WORK WHEN MY TILT STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE FULL UP RIGHT POSITION. I CAN DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION EVEN THOUGH IT IS A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE. MY WIFE MUST PLACE THE TILT WHEEL IN A LOWER POSITION TO DRIVE. SINCE THERE ARE NO REAR SAFETY LIGHTS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THIS POSITION SHE CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413760

Incident

Jun 15, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN IT WAS FOGGY, COLD, RAINY OR DAMP. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEALS ON THE REAR AXLE LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN 2009 THAT THE CONTACT BELIEVED WAS DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID

10379655

Incident

Jul 21, 2001

Mileage

250 mi

IN 2001 PURCHASED A NEW FORD 2001 XLT RANGER FROM A DEALERSHIP. IN MARCH/APRIL 2009, AT 76,000 MILES IT BECAME NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR BRAKELINE SYSTEM DUE TO ROT. IN DEC /JAN 2009 THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND THE REAR BUMPER BECAME LOOSE. IN THE EARLY SPRING OF 2010 THE REAR BUMPER FELL OFF IN MY HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS SET FOR SERVICE AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THE FRAME AND BED ATTACHMENT, LEAF SPRINGS AND FRAME ATTACHMENTS, MAIN FRAME, WERE CORRODED AND ROTTED WITH VISIBLE HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN UNDERTAKEN BECAUSE A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT FRAME IS UNAVAILABLE AND REPAIRS AT THIS TIME ARE UNAFFORDABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361526

Incident

Apr 4, 2009

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO AN AUTOMOTIVE CENTER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE CONTACT WHERE THE METAL ON THE CALIPER WAS DETERIORATING AND FLAKING OFF. THE CONTACT HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES BEFORE BEING INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,000.

NHTSA ID

10359529

Incident

Oct 6, 2010

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH EXTREME PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE WHEN THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT PULSATE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,800.

NHTSA ID

10344453

Incident

Jul 19, 2010

Mileage

36,800 mi

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A LEAK OVER THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED (10 MPH), AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I THOUGHT THE BRAKING SYSTEMS IN MODERN TRUCKS HAVE REDUNDANT LINES SO THAT IF THERE IS A LEAK, ONLY HALF THE BRAKES FAIL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10289669

Incident

Sep 30, 2009

Mileage

56,860 mi

I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN I REACHED TO RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE. AS I PULLED THE RELEASE HANDLE, THE BRACKET AND RELEASE HANDLE FELL ONTO THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL; UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE BRACKET HAD FALLEN OUT WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE BOLTS BACK IN, BUT ONLY ONE OF THEM WOULD GO BACK INTO PLACE, AND THAT ONE ONLY LASTED FOR A SHORT TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228821

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

2001 FORD RANGER WITH SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPLACEMENT HARNESS WAS AVAILABLE. WHEN THE HARNESS WAS AVAILABLE AFTER THE REPAIR THE ABS AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES HAVE STARTED TO GRAB ON INITIAL BRAKE APPLICATION. WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JOLT TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE HARNESS DISCONNECTION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. THE DEALER STATED THE AIR BAG PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A SEAT BELT PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10220574

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

FORD 2001 RANGER WAS NOTIFIED AUGUST 2007 OF A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE SPEED CONTROL WIRING. I WENT TO MY DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT THE EXISTING WIRING WAS UNPLUGGED, WHICH WOULD DISABLE THE CRUISE CONTROL, & THE NEW HARNESS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER. IMMEDIATELY, AFTER THE DEALER UNPLUGGED THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS), THERE WAS A FAULT LIGHT FOR THE BRAKE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. I WENT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ASK WHY, & WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO CONNECTION TO THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. THEY SAID THEY 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM, AND I DROVE HOME. IN LESS THAN TWO MILES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE NEXT MORNING, THE LIGHT CAME ON TWICE WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. AGAIN THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE VISITED SEVERAL WEB SITES WHERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE ALSO HAVING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, WHICH ONLY STARTED WHEN THE SCDS WAS DISCONNECTED, WHILE WAITING FOR THEIR NEW WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THIS WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. WHEN I RECONNECTED THE SCDS, THE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON AND THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM WORKS NORMALLY. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND TO ASK WHEN I CAN GET THE NEW WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED. I AM BEING TOLD THE TWO PROBLEMS ARE NOT RELATED, AND THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH NEW HARNESS KITS AVAILABLE. I CHOOSE TO HAVE BETTER BRAKES EVERY DAY, SO I HAVE RECONNECTED THE SCDS UNTIL I CAN GET THE NEW WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING THE SAME THING? HOW LONG IS REASONABLE FOR FORD TO DELAY GETTING THE NEW HARNESS INSTALLED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10215473

Incident

Sep 15, 2007

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES AND WITH BRAKE PEDAL CLEAR DOWN TO FLOOR, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE, SEEMING TO ACCELERATE, RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN. FIRST FEW TIMES THIS HAPPENED, THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN FRONT OF ME OR MY WIFE AT THE STOP SIGN, BUT TODAY, THERE WAS. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE DITCH TO AVOID A PILE UP. THIS OCCURRED AT 35 MPH. DAMAGED A FENCE AND PARKED TRUCK ON SOMEONE'S PERSONAL PROPERTY. MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FORD RANGER. DID NOT GET PROBLEM CHECKED OUT THE FIRST 2 TIMES, AS THIS OCCURRED WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND WAS FORGOTTEN. I WILL DEFINITELY BE TAKING IT TO THE SHOP NEXT WEEK TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT. BASED ON THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE RANGERS. HOW MANY OTHERS JUST HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTED, OR PERHAPS DIED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BRAKES AND COULDN'T REPORT THE PROBLEM??? *TR

NHTSA ID

10211957

Incident

Dec 14, 2007

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS OF OCTOBER 18, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AS PART OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 ON OCTOBER 17, 2007. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE DISCONNECTION OF THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CAUSED THE ABS TO FAIL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

NHTSA ID

10206171

Incident

Oct 16, 2007

Mileage

97,000 mi

I WAS ADVISED BY THE FORD DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT A USED RANGER THAT THE REAR BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED. UPON MY OWN INSPECTION THIS PROVED NOT TO BE TRUE. DO I HAVE A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT AND WHO DO I CONTACT FOR FOLLOW UP? *JB

NHTSA ID

10188377

Incident

Mar 19, 2007

Mileage

79,000 mi

FELT REAR BRAKES LOCKING, TOOK OFF REAR DRUMS FOUND THE LEFT REAR BRAKE SHOES HAD FALLEN APART. THEY WERE CAUSING THE REAR DRUMS TO LOCK UP. THE SHOES FELL COMPLETELY OFF THE RIVETS AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRUMS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT I WILL BE GOING TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. *NM

NHTSA ID

10159360

Incident

Jun 8, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND HAVE TO BE PUMPED TO WORK PROPERLY. WHEN THE REAR WHEELS WERE REMOVED, THE BRAKES FELL APART. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND SHOES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE REAR BRAKE PADS, SHOES, AND DRUMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE. THESE COMPONENTS MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE BRAKES WERE MANUFACTURED.

NHTSA ID

10148346

Incident

Jan 23, 2006

Mileage

47,530 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES: SHE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW FORD RANGER IN 2000 AND SHE HAS HAD TO PUT 2 TRANSMISSIONS AND 2 TORQUE CONVERTERS ON THE VEHICLE WITHIN 70,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. SHE WROTE A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF FORD AND TO THE NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD AND TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS. SHE HAS TALKED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AT FORD. SHE HAS ALSO TALKED TO THE REPRESENTATIVE IN DEARBORN MI. THERE WAS 34,000 MILES ON THE FIRST TRANSMISSION SHE REPLACED. THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. *NM THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO FEEL A SLIPPING SENSATION WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10128314

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

Mileage

34,000 mi

THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT VACUUM PRESSURE UNDER CERTAIN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO BRAKE POWER IF THE ACCELERATOR IS OPEN ENOUGH FOR THE ENGINE SPEED TO REACH 2500 RPM, DURING COLD IDLE (AFTER START UP), FREQUENTLY AFTER RAPID ACCELERATION IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE THE BRAKES ARE THEN APPLIED. DEALER AGREED THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER (TWICE), BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, AND FINALLY THE ENTIRE ENGINE. CONDITION REMAINS THE SAME. DEALER AND FORD ENGINEER NOW STATE THAT IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED - EVIDENTLY DESIGNED TO FAIL IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10092970

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND THE TRAVEL OF THE PEDALS OVERLAPS MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO ACCIDENTALLY PRESS BOTH PETALS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS OCURRED IN THE WINTER WHEN I WAS WEARING HEAVY BOOTS BUT IS POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086439

Incident

Feb 9, 2004

BOUGHT A USED 2001 FORD RANGER IT WAS VIBRATING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. TOLD THE SALESMAN AND HE SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT. TOOK THE TRUCK IN, AND THEY CHARGED ME $669.00 SAID IT HAD BEEN IN SALT WATER I BOUGHT IT APRIL 12TH 2004 I DID NOT GO NEAR ANY SALT WATER THEY KNEW WHAT THE TROUBLE WAS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT ALSO SAID WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082897

Incident

Apr 17, 2004