Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 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 31, in the owner's own words
TAKATA RECALL. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I GOT TO WORK I NOTHING MY REAR BUMPER FELL OFF WITH NO GIVEN WARNING AND I DIDN'T HEAR IT HIT THE GROUND I GOT HOME AND LOOKED UNDER THE FRAME AND NOTICED THE WHOLE FRAME WAS ROTTEN AWAY AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE
CHASSIS IS SEVERELY RUSTED. YOU CAN BREAK CHUNKS OF METAL OFF WITH BARE HANDS.BOTH REAR SHOCK MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED OFF. STRAPS THAT HOLD GAS TANK HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. CROSS MEMBER HOLDING TRANNY IS SEVERELY RUSTED. GAS TANK FILL TUBE IS SEVERELY RUSTED GAS VAPOR RETURN TUBE RUSTED OFF. WHOLE CHASSIS. THE WHOLE FRAME IS SO RUSTED I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. TRUCK ONLY HAS 155,000 ON IT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED (HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS)
FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY. BOTH REAR SHOCK MOUNTS. GAS TANK HOLDING STRAPS. BOTH CHASIS RAILS ARE RUSTING AWAY WITH BIG CHUNKS OF STEEL FALLING OFF. TRANS CROSS MEMBER RUSTING AWAY
NOTED PIECE OF METAL DANGLING FROM REAR OF TRUCK. TOOK VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS SHOWN THAT DRIVER SIDE GAS TANK STRAP HAD RUSTED AWAY FROM MOUNTING BRACKET. TOURED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS ON LIFT AND WAS ASTONISHED TO SEE THE RUST THRU ON ALL COMPONENTS OF UNDERBODY. FRAME, FUEL AND BRAKE LINES, MOUNTING BRACKETS ETC. MECHANIC UNABLE TO FIND A SECURE PART OF FRAME THAT WOULD HOLD TEMPORARY REPAIR. {AUTO BODY MECHANIC MADE TEMP REPAIR}. THE DETERIORATION OF THIS VEHICLE GOES WAY BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE THROUGH ITS 80,000 MILES AND THE BODY AND PAINT LOOK PERFECT. IT IS A LIFE SAFETY CATASTROPHE WAITING TO HAPPEN. I BABIED THIS TRUCK AND PLANNED ON KEEPING IT MANY MORE YEARS. I CAN'T EVEN SELL IT NOW DUE TO COMPLETE DETERIORATION FROM PREMATURE RUSTING.
THE GAS TANK SUPPORT WHICH WAS A PART OF THE FRAME RUSTED OFF. *TR
ENTIRE FRAME RUSTED OUT-GAS TANK-REAR SHACKLES-BUMPER FELL OFF. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD RANGER ON FEBRUARY 3RD 2014 FROM COLUMBUS AUTO BODY RESALE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO REPAIR THE TIRE TO FIND OUT THE GAS TANK WAS HANGING OFF THE TRUCK AND COULD NOT INSTALL THE GAS TANK STRAPS TO SECURE THE GAS TANK BECAUSE THE FRAME IS TO RUSTED. THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKEL BROKE OFF FROM THE FRAME DUE TO RUST. THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILED DUE TO RUST AND CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO DROP. THE STEEL SHIELD UNDER THE GAS TANK DROPPED DOWN DUE TO RUST. *TR
SYMPTOMS INCLUDED ENGINE STALL DURING HIGHWAY AND UPHILL DRIVING. STOPPED AT FUEL STATION TO FILL TANK; WHEN TANK APPROACHED FULL; SOUND OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE NOTED FOLLOWED BY LARGE FUEL SPILLAGE FROM TANK AREA (SATURATED TRUCK RT REAR UNDERBELLY, GROUND, REAR TIRE, MY SHOES AND LOWER PORTION OF PANTS). SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED GAS TANK STRAP DETACHED FROM FRAME DUE TO SEVERE AND WIDESPREAD FRAME ROT. TANK APPARENTLY HANGING FROM REMAINING CORROSION DAMAGED STRAP AND FUEL FILLER NECK (CAUSED TANK TO TILT BACKWARDS; STARVING ENGINE OF FUEL DURING UPHILL OR DYNAMIC DRIVING). FUEL FILLER NECK WAS ALSO SEVERELY ROTTED AND FINALLY FAILED DURING FUEL FILL CAUSING ENTIRE TANK LOADED WITH 16 GALLONS FUEL TO BECOME DETACHED AT SHARP ANGLE. FOLLOWING INCIDENT; VEHICLE PROFESSIONALLY INSPECTED REVEALING EXTENSIVE FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENT DISINTEGRATION DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF FORD DESIGNED SUB-STANDARD MATERIALS. LARGE AREAS OF MATERIAL MISSING FROM BOTH FRONT FRAME MEMBERS (REAR OF ENGINE), LARGE HOLES IN FRAME AREAS FORWARD OF REAR WHEELS (WHERE FUEL TANK STRAPS ATTACK), SEVERE AND WIDESPREAD FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENT CORROSION. VEHICLE CONDEMNED BY INSPECTION PERSONNEL; NOW SITS IDLE IN DRIVEWAY. RANGER PURCHASED NEW (YEAR END, 2001) WITH DEALER RUST-PROOF. VEHICLE REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND KEPT FREE FROM ROAD SALT WITH REGULAR UNDERBELLY WASH. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 120,000 MILES AND LOOKED VERY CLEAN ON EXTERIOR. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES IN MY 35 YEAR DRIVING HISTORY; NEVER HAVE I EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS PRIOR. FORD OBVIOUSLY USED ULTRA-SUB STANDARD MATERIALS IN RANGER CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENT DESIGNS; WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF UNSUSPECTING OWNERS. THIS IS CRIMINAL, IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE DESIGN DEFECTS. *TR
REAR FRAME ON RANGER IS RUSTING. THE SLOT WHERE THE GAS TANK STRAP HOOKS ON TO THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AWAY THIS CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO DROP THE WHOLE BACK FRAME LOOKS BAD. *TR
WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE GAS TANK, THE OVERFLOW SYSTEM(?) DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. YOU CANNOT HAVE HARDLY ANY PRESSURE OR, AS YOU FILL, THE GAS SPEWS OUT OF THE TANK BEFORE THE SAFETY FEATURE ON GAS PUMPS CAN TURN OFF. GAS SPEWS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, OUT ONTO THE GROUND, ONTO MY HAND, ONTO MY FEET. THIS CREATES A COMBUSTION POSSIBILITY AT THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE GAS PUMP. THIS OCCURS ABOUT 99% OF THE TIME WHEN I TRY TO PUT GAS INTO THE TANK. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FULL THE TANK IS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT IT CAN BE FIXED IS BY DROPPING THE GAS TANK. I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD IT IS OCCURRING IN OTHER, NEWER FORD PICKUPS. DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE, THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU. *TR
CORRODED SUPPLY AND/OR RETURN GASOLINE LINE LEAKING GASOLINE IN LARGE VOLUMES, RESULTING IN DANGER OF FIRE AND/OR EXPLOSION. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR CENTER, AWAITING A NEW LINE TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE DEALER TO ANOTHER BECAUSE THE FORD WAREHOUSE HAS ZERO LINES IN STOCK. *TR
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS DRIVING MY FORD RANGER, (2001 XLT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN AN ATTEMPT TO WARM UP THE TRUCK AS THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN ACTING UP AS IT WAS NOT SHIFTING AS WELL AS IT SHOULD INTO HIGHER GEARS. THE TRUCK WAS HAVING TROUBLE GOING PAST 10-15 MPH BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS AND WAS GOING MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL. AS I DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK TO WARM UP THE TRUCK, IT WAS NOT GOING AS FAST AS NORMAL AND IT WARMED UP IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT WAS AT A NORMAL LEVEL. I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND CHECKED THE OIL WHICH WAS IN THE NORMAL RANGE. I PROCEEDED TO GO TO QT AND GET SOME GAS AND ON MY WAY BACK TO WORK, I WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS ALMOST STOPPED WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP AND TOOK OFF AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHILE MY FOOT WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD. I THEN COULD NOT SLOW IT DOWN AT THE NEXT LIGHT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE RIGHT TURN SAFELY. I HAD TO MAKE A U TURN WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AND AFTER PUTTING THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, I HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND CUT OFF THE ENGINE TO TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD HIT THE ACCELERATOR BY ACCIDENT AND HAD A CO-WORKER WATCH AS I CRANKED UP THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE TIRES WERE SPINNING LIKE CRAZY AND THE RPMS WERE WAY UP. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF QUICKLY AS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF AT ANY TIME. MY TRUCK IS PARKED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND I AM SCARED TO GET NEAR THE [XXX] THING. I HAVE A CALL INTO MY MECHANIC NOW. *TR
ON NOV. 22, 2008 MY SON JEREMIAH GOHN WAS KILLED AS A RESULT OF A FIRE IN THE CAB OF HIS TRUCK. *TR
MY 2001 FORD RANGER'S RPM'S DROP SUDDENLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN. ONCE I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE RPM WILL SURGE OR THE VEHICLE WILL QUIT. I HAVE TO PUT ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE OTHER ON THE GAS TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING AND STOP THE SURGING. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE MY WIFE WAS NOTIFIED BY HER CO-WORKER THAT GAS WAS LEAKING ONTO THE PAVEMENT UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OUR DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE WAS DAMAGED POSSIBLY BY ROAD DEBRIS, WHICH WE HAD REPLACED BY THE DEALER. HOWEVER BEING THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 FORD RANGER PICKUP TRUCK WITH 42,523 MILES I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN DUE IN PART THAT IF MY WIFE'S CO-WORKER DID NOT SEE THE PROBLEM AND MY WIFE CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE CERTAINLY A FIRE AND POSSIBLY SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *NM
I SMELLED GAS WHILE DRIVING. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND GAS WAS SPRAYING FROM A LEAK. THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY ABRASION WHERE THE LINE CONTACTED A HARD PLASTIC "PROTECTIVE COVER". IT COULD HAVE BLOWN UP! THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT.*AK
FUEL PUMP CRACKED. AS A RESULT, FUEL POURED ONTO THE MUFFLER. CONSUMER IWASCONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
FUEL LEAK FROM TOP OF FUEL TANK. (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL OUTLET NIPPLE LEAKING ON FUEL TANK MODULE). *LA
FUEL PUMP AND MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT CORRECT OPERATION FAILED UPON IGNITION IN DRIVEWAY. IT IS SECOND REPORT GIVEN TO THE NHTSA AND IT IS POSSIBLE IF VEHICLE IS HOT EXPLOSION COULD OCCUR. *NM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FUEL PUMP FAILED AT SPEED OF 35-50 MPH AND EMPTIED 3/4 OF A TANK OF GAS UNTO ROADWAYS. WEATER WAS DAMP AND WET,HOT WEATHER OR DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD OF CAUSED INJURY. *CB
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC
THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY WHEN THE CONSUMER ACCELERATED TO A SPEED OF 89-90 MPH. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL CUT OFF DEVICE WHICH COULD CUT OFF FUEL AT A SPEED OVER 85 MPH. *YH
FUEL GUAGE DROPS QUICKLY TO ONE QUARTER OR THERE ABOUTS AND THEN STAYS THERE FOR A LONG TIME.*AK
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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