2006 Ford Ranger Suspension Problems

The spare tire stabilizing bracket rusted away and fell off. The rear shackles for the springs broke on both sides, and is coming up through the bed. The frame has rusted apart and it’s not possible to bolt a new shackle for the rear springs on. The body is not rusting out. They used inferior steel on the frame and it has rusted away. They should do a recall on these like other manufacturers have. This is a serious safety issue. I bought this truck new, and it only has 98000 mikes on it.

NHTSA ID

11468541

Incident

Jun 9, 2022

THE FRAME OF MY RANGER HAS RUSTED BADLY , CAUSING THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES TO NO LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME.ALSO THE BED OF THE TRUCK HAS RUSTED AWAY BADLY. I I SPOKE TO A GUY WHO SPECIALIZES IN FRAME / AXLE REPAIR . AFTER INSPECTING IT , HE TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY OPTION TO REPAIR MY TRUCK WAS TO REPLACE THE FRAME , BECAUSE THE FRAME IS RUSTED TOO BADLY TO BE ABLE TO BE WELDED , HE SAID THE ONLY OTHER OPTION WAS TO JUNK IT . THE TRUCK HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT AND IS OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION . I HAD PLANNED TO OWN IT FOR YEARS TO COME . NOW I AM AFRAID TO TRUST IT . AND I WOULD NOT FEEL RIGHT ABOUT SELLING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE . I USE THIS TRUCK TO HAUL HAY TO FEED MY LIVESTOCK , BUT NOW I AM AFRAID TO LOAD IT UP AND DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD WITH IT .I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED AND THE SERVICE CENTER NOTED ON THE PAPERWORK THAT THE FRAME WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE SPRING MOUNTINGS FIXED ..,

NHTSA ID

11384120

Incident

Dec 8, 2020

Mileage

101,823 mi

LEFT SIDE REAR FRAME...WHERE THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE ATTACHES TO THE THE FRAME RUSTED AWAY. THE FRAME RUSTED AWAY, NO WHERE ELSE IS THERE RUST THROUGH...THE LEAF SPRING ENDED UP BEING SUPPORTED BY THE BED OF TRUCK. SPRING IS ATTACHED TO THE REAR AXLE. AXLE CAN BECOME FREE WHEELING AT ANY TIME. THE RIGHT SIDE REAR SHACKLE ATTACHMENT LOOKS AS IF THE FRAME IS GOING TO FAIL ANY MOMENT ...I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE FRAME RUSTS AWAY WHILE THE REST OF THE BODY IS OK.....A TEMPORARY REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE WITH A 4 X 4 BOLTED TO THE FRAME AND SPRING.

NHTSA ID

11366707

Incident

Aug 12, 2020

Mileage

90,000 mi

I WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SPARE TIRE DROPPED DOWN ON THE ROAD CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY TRUCK GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND FOUND THE FRAME ROTTED ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

11118843

Incident

Mar 14, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED, THE RUST ON THE FRAME AROUND THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE RUSTED ENOUGH THAT THE SHACKLE IS BROKEN FREE. THIS WAS NOTICED DUE TO THE NOISES THE SHACKLE MAKES WHEN MOVING. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 108,000 MILES. IN ADDITION THE SIDE STEPS RUSTED THROUGH AND WERE HANGING DOWN, I HAD TO REMOVE THEM TO PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING OFF.

NHTSA ID

11056143

Incident

Nov 28, 2017

Mileage

107,000 mi

SEVERE RUST ENTIRE BACK HALF OF TRUCK. FIRST THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE EVAP CANISTER WAS BROKEN. THE BED ROTTED OUT AND MY GAS TANK WAS IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF. THE CROSS MEMBERS BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON A TOWN DIRT ROAD CAUSING THE CROSS MEMBER TO RUB AGAINST THE DRIVE SHAFT. I HAD TO USE A CARGO STRAP TO HOLD UP THE GAS TANK SO I COULD GET HOME WHICH LUCKILY WAS ONLY ABOUT A MILE.

NHTSA ID

11032230

Incident

Oct 4, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE REAR SHACKLES RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE OFF FROM THE LEAF SPRINGS. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON CITY STREETS. WHEN TURNING CORNERS THE SOUND OF THE BROKEN SHACKLE ROLLING BACK AND FORTH ON THE BACK OF THE BUMPER ALERTED ME TO THE SITUATION. I AM THIRD OWNER AND THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF VERY WELL

NHTSA ID

11022395

Incident

Aug 14, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

REAR LEAF-SPRING SHACKLES AND HANGERS ON MY 2006 FORD RANGER ARE RUSTED OUT, ONE OF THE SHACKLES BROKE FREE FROM THE FRAME WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MADE IT HARDER TO STEER BECAUSE THE TRUCK FELT NOWHERE NEAR AS STABLE AS IT WAS BEFORE IT BROKE, IT CAUSED ME TO SWERVE INTO THE LANE BESIDE ME WHICH VERY WELL COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE WERE TO BE THERE. THE REST OF MY FRAME SEEMS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE RUST WHICH IS NOT TO BE EXPECTED FROM A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK, ESPECIALLY BY THE SHACKLES AND HANGERS FOR THE LEAF SPRINGS, AND ALSO ALL AROUND THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT WHICH I COULD SEE TO BECOME A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING. I MEAN WHO WANTS A SPARE TIRE IN THEIR WINDSHIELD WHILE FOLLOWING SOMEONE DOWN THE ROAD? MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IM VERY CERTAIN THAT CHEAP FRAME METAL WAS THE CAUSE OF IT BREAKING, BECAUSE IM GENERALLY PRETTY EASY ON MY TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10918444

Incident

Oct 24, 2016

Mileage

245,000 mi

ON MY 2006 FORD RANGER 4X4, I HAVE HAD BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKETS AND SHACKLES REPLACED, ALSO NOTICED THE FRAME AND UNDER CARRIAGE RUSTED, TRUCK BED RUSTING THROUGH.

NHTSA ID

10902005

Incident

Aug 2, 2016

Mileage

191,353 mi

FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE SEEMS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE RUST, ESPECIALLY REAR AXLE SPRING HANGERS.

NHTSA ID

10895823

Incident

Aug 11, 2016

Mileage

129,183 mi

AWFUL BANGING SOUND WHILE DRIVING, INSPECTED TRUCK, FOUND REAR BUMPER HANGING HALF OFF. REAR PORTION OF BOTH FRAME RAILS HAD ROTTEN OFF. REAR SPRING SHACKLES ROTTEN AND NOT ATTACHED. I PULLED THE BUMPER OFF WITH MY BARE HANDS! IF IT HAD FALLEN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. THIS IS NOT AN OLD BEAT UP TRUCK, AS A MATTER OF FACT IT ONLY HAS 17,000 MILE ON IT. IT STILL LOOKS BRAND NEW. THE FORD RANGER XLT 4X4 EXTENDED CAB WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2006 FOR $20,000, NOW ITS USELESS, CAN NOT EVEN FIX THE SPRING SHACKLES, NOTHING TO ATTACH THEM TO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683098

Incident

Feb 12, 2015

Mileage

17,000 mi

WAS DRIVING AND THE BRACKET AND CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE BRACKET UP BROKE DUE TO THE FRAME BEING ALL RUSTED/SCALELY AND ROTTED OUT WHICH ALSO LED TO THE SHACKLES BEING BROKEN. WHEN THIS BRACKET BROKE, MY SPARE TIRE WAS HANGING DOWN AND DRAGGING ON THE GROUND WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AFTER THE TIRE WAS TAKEN DOWN, THIS IS WHEN THE DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF THE FRAME WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE. THIS TRUCK SHOULD NOT EVEN HAVE BEEN SOLD TO ME OFF OF THE WYOMING VALLEY MOTORS DEALERSHIP LOT IN LARKSVILLE, PA. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK LESS THAN 14 MONTHS AND PUT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE IS UNFIT TO BE ON THE ROAD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD ESPECIALLY AT A BIG DEALERSHIP LOT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR TRUCK AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676344

Incident

Nov 28, 2014

Mileage

90,700 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE TCH IN NEWFOUNDLAND, I HEARD THIS UNUSUAL BANG OUT OF THE REAR OF MY FORD RANGER. I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SEEN SOMETHING COME FROM BENEATH THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. I PULLED OVER AS DID THE VEHICLE TRAVELING BEHIND ME. THE SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY HAD RUSTED OFF WHICH LET THE TIRE LOOSE AND FALL OFF. THE TIRE NARROWLY ESCAPED THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME. AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION ON THE TRUCK , THE MAIN FRAME HAD COMPLETELY CRACKED OFF AS DID THE SPRING HANGER. I CONTACTED FORD RELATIONS AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS IS TOTALLY UNSAFE OF FORD TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS FORD AS IT ALMOST CAUSED A FAMILY OF 3 AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS TRUCK AND HAVE HAD IT UNDER COATED EVERY TOO YEARS. THERE IS ONLY 85000 KILOMETERS ON THIS TRUCK AND THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. MY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615357

Incident

Jun 20, 2014

Mileage

45,000 mi

I HAVE A 2006 FORD RANGER THAT I PURCHASED NEW (ITS MY SECOND RANGER I HAD A 1996 THAT I TRADED IN. I REALLY LIKE RANGERS BUT HAVE RUN INTO A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH RUST ON MY RANGER. THE SPRING SHACKLES RUSTED AND BROKE ON BOTH SIDES LAST WEEK. I TOOK MY BED OFF TO REPLACE THE SHACKLES AND FOUND THE BRACKETS WERE ALSO RUSTED OUT. THE FRAME IS VERY RUSTY AND THERE IS RUSTED HOLES THROUGH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR FRAME. I HAVE NOT GOT TO THE FRAME UNDER THE CAB OR FRONT OF TRUCK YET. IS THERE A RECALL OR CAN I EXPECT HELP FROM FORD. THE SAFETY FACTOR OF THE FRAME CONCERNS ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10585858

Incident

Apr 25, 2013

Mileage

53,000 mi

TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO HAVE WHEELS CHANGED. WHEN PUT ON THE LIFT, I HEARD TO SOUNDS FROM THE SUSPENSION. BOTH SPRING SHACKLE HANGERS AND BRACKETS WERE RUSTED. THE SHACKLES ACTUALLY FELL APART. I HAVE REMOVED THE BED AND FOUND EXTENSIVE RUST OUT ON THE FRAME . THE DRIVER SIDE REAR FRAME IS BASICALLY GONE FROM RUST OUT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585507

Incident

Apr 24, 2014

Mileage

53,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HIT A BUMP AND MY SPARE TIRE FELL DOWN AND OUT OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND RETRIEVED MY WHEEL OF THE HIGHWAY AND SAW THAT IT WAS STILL CONNECTED TO PART OF THE MOUNT. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO PUT THE TRUCK ON A LIFT TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND REALIZED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME HAD ROTTED UNDER THE TRUCK. I LEFT THE REPAIR GARAGE AND WAS HEADING HOME WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FRAME ROTTED AND THE WHEEL FELL PARTIALLY OFF THE TRUCK, SO I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY OFFICE PARKING LOT AND PARKED IT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT DRIVABLE ANYMORE. I CONTACTED FORD THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD SEND A REP OUT TO LOOK AT IT. SO I DID AND THE REP NEVER CAME OUT AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT REMOVED, THAT THE REP CALLED THEM AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR ANYTHING, SO THE TRUCK STILL SITS ROTTED AND PARKED, AND REMEMBER IT ONLY HAS 17,900 MILES ON IT, THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552819

Incident

Dec 14, 2012

Mileage

17,882 mi

REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES ARE BROKEN, FUEL TANK STRAPS ARE BROKEN REAR STRUTS ARE IN POOR CONDITION, EXTENSIVE RUST ON FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533117

Incident

Jul 18, 2013

Mileage

94,841 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT SIDEWAYS ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS EMITTING SMOKE AND THE WHEEL WAS PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED HAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ID

10448975

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

Mileage

23,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 FORD RANGER 4X4, 4.0 LITER XLT CLUB-CAB. THIS TRUCK HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT, AND WILL BE 4 YEARS OLD IN MAY. AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, AND AS I HAVE FOUND OUT, THE HUB/WHEEL-BEARING BEARINGS FAIL AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. AFTER READING ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC ACCOUNTS OF FAILURES FROM MANY OTHER OWNERS, I AM ASTOUNDED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SAFETY RECALL. ADDITIONALLY THE CURRENT DESIGN HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC FOR SOMETIME, AND FORD HAS ADMITTED THEE PARTS MEXICAN AND CHINESE ORIGINS (WHERE COUNTERFEIT PARTS ABOUND). I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS THE WHEEL BEARING STARTED TO CRAB OR CATCH AT WET HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR FORD HUB/WHEELBEARING FAILURES, SOME ARE RATHER EXTREME. I CAREFULLY (AND SLOWLY) TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THE LEFT WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE (FALLING OFF??) AND THE RIGHT WHEEL WAS LOOSE, BUT NOT AS EXTREME. AS FORD IS WELL AWARE, THE COST FOR REPLACING BOTH IS $800. THE REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC SAID THAT THEY SEE A LOT OF THESE (I.E., FORD RANGERS); SOME LESS THAN 50,000 MILES, AND THAT MINE IS NOT AN UNUSUAL CASE FOR THE FORD RANGER, AND I WILL PROBABLY BE BRINGING IT BACK IN ABOUT 40-50,000 MILES TO GET THOSE REPLACED. IT IS SAD THAT MECHANICS ARE NORMALIZING SUCH A DESIGN DEFICIENCY AS TYPICAL AND EXPECTED PERFORMANCE. DUE TO THE POOR RESPONSE TO OTHER FORD RANGER (AND EXPLORERS TOO) OWNERS (2000-2006) AND LACK OF FORDS WILLINGNESS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, I WILL MOST LIKELY RETURN TO TOYOTA. ADDITIONALLY, TOYOTA HAS THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN WANTING TO RESOLVE CUSTOMER PROBLEMS TO REGAIN THEIR TRUST AND WIN THEM BACK AS EVIDENT BY RECENT ISSUES. FORD HOWEVER HAS NO SUCH ASPIRATIONS, WHICH IS CLEAR BY READING THE MANY CARCOMPLAINTS.COM ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND FORDS POOR RESPONSES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THEIR SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

10322217

Incident

Mar 22, 2010

Mileage

57,411 mi

FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE FRONT WHEEL ROAD NOISE AFTER 1ST OIL CHANGE AT DEALER, AT SECOND OIL CHANGE REQUESTED INSPECTION OF FRONT END, DEALER STATED NO PROBLEMS THAT ROAD NOISE WAS TIRES, ONE DAY BEFORE THIRD OIL CHANGE WHEELS SHOOK WHILE DRIVING, UPON INSPECTION BEARINGS WERE WORN OUT, LESS THAN 19300 MILES ON 2006 RANGER, VEHICLE IS UNSAVE TO DRIVE, AND FORD WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY. CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO REPLACE BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY AXLES AT NON DEALER CERTIFIED LOCATION. WHAT CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO FAIL? THIS IS CONSIDERED AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223441

Incident

Apr 4, 2008

Mileage

19,255 mi