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 2005 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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 26, in the owner's own words
THE LEAF SPRING BUSHINGS PUSHED THREW THE ROTTED FRAME AND POKED HOLES IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK .THE SPARE TIRE WAS HANGING ON THE GROUND WHEN I GOT HOME ONE DAY. NOW MY INSPECTION STATION WONT PUT A INSPECTION STICKER ON IT BECAUSE THEY SAY ITS TO DANGEROUS.TOYOTA HAD THIS PROBLEM AND ETHER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE OR REPLACED IT. *TR
THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLES ROTTED THREW THE FRAME AND THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER DROPPED THE SPARE TIRE WHILE DRIVING THIS IS DANGEROUS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH LEAF SPRING SHACKLES WERE ROTTING THROUGH THE FRAME AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME MY LEAF SPRING SHACKLES COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO SEVERE ROT OF THE FRAME IN THE REAR.TRUCK ONLY HAS 59000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF.THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IS THERE A RECALL I DONT NO ABOUT? THANKYOU
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHACKLE RUSTED COMPLETELY OFF AND THE LEAF SPRING ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE BED OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS NOT DRIVABLE UNTIL THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SHACKLE WAS REPLACED. THIS WAS DISCOVERED AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HEARING A LOUD BANG AND EXPERIENCING A JOLT. ONCE PARKED THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY LOOKED OVER, WHICH LEAD TO MORE DISCOVERIES. A GIANT RUST HOLE HAS FORMED IN THE FRAME BEHIND THE SHACKLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR AREA OF THE TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND WAS PROFESSIONALLY UNDER COATED A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH NO HOLES IN THE FRAME OR VISIBLE RUST AT THAT TIME. THE FRAME HAS DETERIORATED RAPIDLY. LUCKILY I DID NOT TRY TO TOW ANYTHING WITH THIS TRUCK BECAUSE THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF, LOSING WHAT WAS BEING TOWED AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS ALSO A LARGE HOLE FORMING IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK.
SEVERELY RUSTED FRAME. WHILE THE SPARE TIRE HAS NOT FELL OFF YET, I HAD THE TRUCK UP ON A RACK AT PATRICK AIRFORCE BASE TO CHANGE THE OIL. I'VE KNOWN FOR A WHILE THAT THE FRAME IS BAD. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT, BUT LOOKING AT THE FRAME, IT WON'T LAST MUCH LONGER.
FRAME ROTTED AWAY IN THE BACK SIDE, REAR LEAF SPRINGS FELL OFF, SPARE TIRE READY TO FALL OFF.
THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY VEHICLE HAS A LOT OF RUST UNDERNEATH AND ON THE DORRS I HAVE SEEN A FEW COMPLAINTS NOT SURE IF THIS IS SAFE OR NOT
THE FRAME UNDER THE TRUCK ESPECIALLY THE REAR IS LITERALLY RUSTING AWAY. THE CROSS MEMBERS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND OVER HALFWAY GONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
VEHICLE HAS 37850 MILES LOOKS LIKE NEW AND THE FRAME HAS ROTTED AWAY SPRING HANGERS AND THE COMPLETE FRAME ITSELF YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGERS THROUGH IT AND GAS TANK STRAPS ALSO GONE
DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE DESPITE PROPER PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME/CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPROMISED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME AT THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE SNAPPED COMPLETELY SEPARATING INTO TWO PIECES. THE RUST DAMAGE ALSO CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE APPARATUS TO BREAK AND ALSO CAUSED THE BUMPER TO FALL OFF.
BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND AFTER ITS FIRST WINTER, WAS ALREADY SHOWING SEVERE RUSTING ON THE FRAME, NOW 11 YEARS LATER THE REAR FRAME IS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THAT THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES MOUNTING BRACKETS HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE METAL ON THE REAR FRAME RAILS IS SEVERELY RUSTED AND PERFORATED WHERE THE SPRING SHACKLE BRACKETS ATTACH TO THE FRAME, ALSO THE SPARE TIRE HOIST ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS THE SPARE UNDER THE TRUCK , HAS ALSO FAILED AND IS DANGEROUS, CAN NO LONGER USE IT AS SPARE TIRE IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD OF FALLING OFF THE TRUCK THAT COULD SEVERELY INJURE OR KILL ANOTHER MOTORIST SHOULD IT FALL OFF THE TRUCK AND STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE OR FLY THROUGH SOMEONES WINDSHIELD. NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE THAT FORD RECALL THESE TRUCKS, AND BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE FRAMES, SIMILAR TO THE TOYOTA TUNDRA RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR RUST PROBLEMS ON THEIR FRAMES, A TRUCK FRAME SHOULD NOT RUST AWAY ON A 2005 RANGER THAT HAS 98,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT! FORD FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY CORROSION PROTECTION ON THESE RANGER TRUCK FRAMES.
L/FRONT SUSPENSION SNAPT FROM THE FRAME (THE FRAME BROCK).
FIST SIZE AND MULTIPLE FINGER SIZE RUST HOLES IN FRAME. SPARE TIRE MOUNTS COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF.SPARE TIRE WAS HELD ON BY STEEL LINE. WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LEAF SPRING MOUNT ON DRIVER SIDE RUSTED COMPLETELY OFF. LEAF SPRING NOW PUSHES UP ON BOTTOM OF THE BED. ALSO HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY HEARD A LOUD BANG. GOT HOME AND SEEN THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. DRIVING THIS TRUCK PUTS ANYONE ON THE ROAD IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. DRIVER AND OTHERS. I WOULD SAY EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED WOULD BE "NEAR MISSES"
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AND SPARE TIRE FRAME ROTTED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO DROP. THE VEHILCE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDEDNT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN
SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER DETACHED FROM FRAME. REAR BUMPER DETACHED FROM FRAME. RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE COLLAPSED. GASOLINE SUPPORT STRAP DETACHED FROM FRAME CROSS MEMBER. MIDSECTION OF FRAME CRACKED AT 47,000 MILES. THIS WAS ALL DUE TO CORROSION OF METAL OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB. I WAS DRIVING IT AND I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES FELT REALLY FUNNY SO I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED OUT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THE BODY MOUNTS ARE ROTTED OUT, THE SHACKLES ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FRAME RAILS IN BETWEEN THE LEAF SPRINGS ARE ABOUT TO BREAK IN HALF, AND IF THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY ELSE DRIVING A FORD RANGER THAT IS NOT AWARE IF ITS ISSUE. I AM ALSO NOW STUCK WITH A TRUCK THAT NEEDS WORK DONE THAT WILL COST TWICE AS MUCH AS IT IS WORTH. *TR
SEVERE FRAME RUST NOTED AFTER 8/2014 MAINE SAFETY INSPECTION. CHANCES OF VEHICLE PASSING A 2015 INSPECTION VERY REMOTE ACCORDING TO THE TECH DOING THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION. ONLY 5 MAINE WINTERS ENDURED BY THE VEHICLE 2005_2010. PARKED & GARAGED THE LAST 4 WINTERS.OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE IS PRISTINE. LOTS OF OTHER FOLKS WITH SIMILAR ISSUE ACCORDING TO RESEARCH OF LOCAL BODY SHOPS. WHY?? *TR
UNDER- BED MOUNTED SPARE TIRE MOUNTS RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING TIRE TO BREAK FREE FROM VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS FRAME DAMAGE FROM RUST, PARTICULARLY THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS. THE FRAME IS FALLING APART AT AN ALARMING RATE. *TR
MY HUSBAND T-BONED A SEMI AT 35 MPH. THE TRUCK SPUN AROUND AND THE REAR OF THE TRUCK ALSO HIT THE SEMI. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE INCURRED MULTIPLE INJURIES, SOME OF WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN MINIMIZED HAD AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A DIRECT HIT -- I.E. FRONT OF TRUCK HIT SIDE OF SEMI AND DESTROYED ENGINE (AND MORE), YET AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. . *TR
TOP OF FRAME FROM THE SHOCK TOWERS FORWARD HAVE RUSTED THRU AND THE FRAME HAS SPLIT. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD, HAS ONLY 97,00 MILES ON IT, AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE IS GARAGED AT NIGHT AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN A SNOW STORM DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS. OTHERWISE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. *TR
HIT A PARKED VAN. *TR
I AM CURIOUS WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE FORD RANGER FRONT WHEEL BEARING ISSUE WITH THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OUT THERE. WE THE CONSUMER DRIVING ON THE ROADS NEED TO BE PROTECTED BETTER. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AND UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.
DEAR SIRS; I AM A NIGHT SHIFT AUTOWORKER AT FORD RANGER PLANT IN ST PAUL. MY JOB IS TO BUILD AND MOUNT A SWAYBAR ON THE REAR AXLE. FOR OVER A YEAR I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO MANAGEMENT ABOUT THE PROPER ANGLE TO MOUNT THE SWAYBAR BRACKETS. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN STONEWALLED, TOLD THINGS LIKE "IT DOESEN'T MATTER". IT DOES MATTER TO OUR CUSTOMERS. THEY WANT THAT SWAYBAR TO BE PERFECT. IT MIGHT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IF THERE HAS TO BE A HARD SWERVE TO AVOID A DEER OR CHILD IN THE ROAD. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME NUMERICAL POINT OF REFERENCE ON RECORD IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS GUIDELINES. THE OPERATOR EITHER NEEDS A TONGUE AND GROOVE SYSTEM ON THE AXLE AND SWAYBAR BRACKET AND/OR SOME TYPE OF FIXTURE THAT WOULD ACT AS A GUIDE TO INSURE THE CORRECT ANGLE IS ACHIEVED FOR EVERY BUILD PROCESS. THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE AN INSTRUMENT THAT CAPABLE OF CHECKING EACH ONE FOR CORRECT ANGLE. *NM
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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