RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE IS PRESSED AGAINST REAR SHOCK CAUSING A GROOVE TO FORM IN THE FLEXABLE PART OF THE BRAKE LINE. PROBLEM WAS CAUGHT BY OWNER BEFORE FAILURE OCCURRED.
1998 Ford Ranger complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
THE DESIGN OF THE FILTER IS LOCATED UNDER THE HOT MANIFOLD AND BELOW THAT FILTER IS THE HOT SOLENOID AND STARTER WIRES, CONSUMER WAS INJURED/BURNED WHEN CHANGING FILTER, FILTER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN CONSUMER DROPPED FILTER FROM BEING BURNED. MJS
VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP/SENDER AND SENSOR, SENSOR REPLACED A SECOND TIME DUE TO FAILURE. MJS
HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILED CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHEN ONLY THE TAIL LIGHTS AND FRONT PARKING LIGHTS WERE WORKING. MJS
CONSUMER HAD TROUBLE WITH DEALERSHIP DURING THE RECALL REPAIR (99V-062). MJS
PART WITHIN THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS TURN SIGNAL /HEADLIGHTS/ LOW BEAMS AND HIGH BEAMS BURNED OR MELTED, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V062001 CONCERNING SPEED CONTROL CABLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AN D NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A PANIC STOP BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN TO ENTER FREEWAY ONRAP THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO WIDE OPEN THROTTLE OF ITS OWN ACCORD. CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS DEFECTIVE VIA RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD. DEALES HAD PERFORMED RECAL REPAIT PREVIOUS MONTH. CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ACTIVATED PREVIOUS TO ACCIDENT BUT DISENGAGED BY APPLYINF BRAKE. VEHICLE SPUN WILDLY AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING DAMAGE TO LEFT SIDE TIRES, WHEELS, BRAKES AND POSSIBLY AXLE. POTENTIAL EXISTED FOR MUSH MORE SEROUSE DAMAGE AND INJURY. ONLY SELF INJURED TO THE EXTENT OF STIFF NECK, SORE BACK AND LEFT KNEE.
WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES, PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR , CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKES BENT THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK *ML
ON STARTING ENGINE HESITATED ,ALMOST STALLED THEN RACED WITH HIGH RPM,WHILE HUGE AMOUNTS OF WHITE THICK SMOKE AND HEAVY GASOLINE SMELL PRESENT.TRUCK STALLED.RESTARTED SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ADDITION OF A LARGE BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE ON PUSHING ACCELERATOR.THROTTLE STICKS CAUSING SURGING.DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE VALVE.PROBELM PERSISTS. BRAKES MAKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLIED,DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE AFTER 4 VISITS THEY FINALLY ACKOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND HAD TO DO A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB.BRAKES ARE HARD NOW AND IT APPEARS THAT THE ANTI LOCKS DO NOT ENGAGE.REAR SLIDER LEAKS WATER INTO EXTRA CAB WHEN IT RAINS. VIBRATION HEARD FROM EX HAUST AREA,HAD TO HAVE THE HEAT SHIELD TIGHTENED. NOISE HAS RETURNED./
LEFT FRONT WHEEL BECAME UNATTACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS TRAVELING ON EXPRESSWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. SEAT BELT ALSO BECAME DISCONNECTED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. NLM
WAS DRIVING 35MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF ICE. THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. VEHICLE TOOK OFF. SPUN AROUND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HIT THE MEDIAN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER 3 TIMES.
VEHICLE MAINTAINED A CONSTANT SPEED AFTER RELEASING PRESSURE FROM GAS PEDAL. ANOTHER EXAMPLE: VEHICLE WAS AT 58 MPH @2000RPM, FOOT TAKEN OFF GAS, VEHICLE PUT IN NEUTRAL, VEHICLE COASTED TO STOP, BUT RPMS HAD INCREASED TO 2500RPM AND STAYED THERE FOR OVER .4 MILES. AT WORST TIME VEHICLE RPMS HAD INCREASED TO 3650RPM. OCCURS WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL OR CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED AT ANY SPEED, ANY TIME, BUT NOT CONSISTENT AND QUITE RANDOM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS, 3 TIMES. BOTH DEALERSHIPS CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX, AS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO FIX. FORD TECH LINE STATES THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. CURRENT DEALERSHIP (WHERE PURCHASED) HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR OVER FOUR WEEKS, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS TAKEN IN.
DRIVING 35MPH, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF ICE. THE THROTTLE STUCK. VEHICLE TOOK OFF. SPUN AROUND IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION & THEN HIT THE MEDIAN. VEHICLE THEN FLIPPED 3 TIMES.
FRONT END ALIGNMENT WILL REQUIRE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL PARTS ($250 WORTH) WHICH ARE INCLUDED ON MOST OTHER CARS & TRUCKS BUT OMITTED ON THIS $23,000 TRUCK, AND NOT INCLUDED IN "WARRANTY COVERAGE". *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. *AK
REAR VIEW MIRRORS ON THE EXTERIOR ARE DESIGNED WITH SHARP EDGE, CONSUMER CUT HANDS WHEN WASHING VEHICLE. MJS
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 99V062001, SPEED CONTROL CABLE. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER INDICATED NO NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FRONT SEAT IS DISTORTED AND SINKING/COLLAPSED, REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTINUES TO COLLAPSE. MJS THE CONSUMER WAS WRITING A COMPLEMENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. *YH
WINDOW BINDS AND MAKES NOISE GOING UP, ALIGNED WINDOW AND LUBRICATED HOWEVER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM AGAIN. MJS
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. UPON RECEIVING THE NOTICE, HE CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. RECALL 99V062.001. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TURNING RIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FAILED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER DID NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME , BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND CURRENTLY DEALER IS REPLACING THE STEERING GEAR BOX. *AK *ML
THE POWER STEERING PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO CRYSTALLIZE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP 4 TIMES, AND HAS REPLACED STARTER AND REPAIRED THE COOLANT SYSTEM ONCE. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH BACK END HIT SOME GRAVEL IN THE ROAD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND ROLLOVER. CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS SITTING IN THE CHILD SEAT IN THE REAR, AND THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT BUCKLE POPPED OPEN,CAUSING THE CHILD TO BE HANGING OUT OF SEAT. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO CUT THE STRIP FROM AROUND THE CHILD. *AK
TRUCK WON'T DECELERATE AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR. CONTINUES TO TRAVEL 25-30 MPH IN SECOND GEAR. SUNDAY APRIL 18, 1999, I WAS TRAVELING ON US 30 WEST CAME TO INTERSECTION OF US 30 AND US 39 AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 50 MPH ON WET RAINY ROADS, AND TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND TRUCK WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN. VERY HAZARDOUS. THEY ARE BEING VERY SLOW AT RESOLVING THIS MATTER, APPROACHING 1 YR ANNIVERSERY OF FIRST COMPLAINT. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW AND COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED. CONSUMER HAS TO SHUT THE KEY OFF IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. *AK
COMPUTER SYSTEM IS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE DOES NOT IDLE DOWN FROM SPEED UPON RELEASE OF PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
A VIBRATION HAS DEVELOPED UNDER ALL BRAKING CONDITIONS (15,000 MILES ON). THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHUDDER AND TWITCH FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ENTIRE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. WORST UNDER LOW BRAKING PEDAL PRESSURE. AS THE VEHICLE SLOWS, THE SENSATION IS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE MAKING VARYING BRAKING CONTACT WITH THE ROTORS/DRUMS, CONSISTANT WITH THE WHEEL REVOLUTION SPEED. AT LOW SPEED AND LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY SPIN 90-180 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE DRIVING LANES, UNLESS FIRMLY HELD BACK. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND DROVE THE VEHICLE. EXPERIENCED VIBRATION/SHUDDER AND WHEEL PULL. STATES BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS COMPONENTS ARE IN NORMAL CONDITION, BRAKES ARE UNADJUSTABLE, COMPLAINT IS COMMON, AND USUALLY GETS WORSE. CAN OFFER NO SOLUTION. *AK
FRONT END KEEPS WEARING OUT TIRES EVER 2500 MILES SUSPENSION COMES LOOSE SEVERE VIBRATION IN FRONT END TIRE CHOPING AGAIN DEALER HAS HAD FOR 22 DAYS AND 6 TIMES FIXING FRONT END SUSPENSION STILL NOT FIXED( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205-75-15 )
NEW AUTO HUBS DONT ENGAGE,(BAD DESIGN), WRNTY FIX, STILL DOSNT WRK. ENGAGING DRIVER MOTER FAILED ON TRANSFER CASE, AND HUBS HAVE FAILED SERVERAL TIMES, COLD WEATHER AFFECTS IT ALSO. NOW IT DIENGAGES THE FRONT TIRES WHEN I CHANGE FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE, CAN HEAR NOSES FROM THE FRONT HUBS
GAS GAUGE FAILED THREE TIMES.
ENGINE IDLES BETWEEN 2500-3200 WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN.
PROBLEM WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES GRABBING WHEN TRYING TO APPLY SLIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE, AGGRAVATED IN DAMP WEATHER. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT INTO COLE WHITNEY FORD FOR REPAIR WAS 2/19 /98 MILEAGE 12282. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY A BUILD UP OF BRAKE DUST THAT WHEN WET WOULD CAUSE LOCK UP. THEY BLAME IT ON THE NON ASBESTOS CONTENT OF THE SHOES. ALL THEY DID WAS CLEAN OUT THE DRUMS AND SAND THE SHOES. THEY SAID THERE IS NO KNOWN REPAIR OTHER THAN THIS.I HAVE NOW MOVED TO BANGOR SO I HAVE MY TRUCK SERVICED AT DARLINGS FORD 403 HOGAN ROAD BANGOR MAINE 04401 PHONE 1-800-540-1339. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN FEB. 98 I'VE HAD THE TRUCK IN TO DARLING'S TWICE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . THEY TREATED THE PROBLEM IN THE SAME WAY, STILL NO PERMANENT FIX. I ASKED IF FORD WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT AND I SHOULD TALK TO THE DEALER AS THEY MAY DO IT AS A SIGN OF GOOD FAITH. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE AS I TRAVEL 60 MILES TO WORK IN ALL WEATHER AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES GRAB WHEN DRIVING ON ICE . I'VE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF NEARLY LOSING CONTROL WHEN APPLYING VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS IN THE SUMMER DURING DAMP WEATHER ON NEARLY DRY ROADS WHEN THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM TO COME IN AND GREATLY INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE LAST FORD T
LOAD 'SQUEAL' HEARD WHEN RELEASING CLUTCH PEDAL BETWEEN 1ST-2ND, 2ND-3RD, 2WD & 4X4 HIGH. WILL BE SERVICED FOR THE 3RD TIME MARCH 1999. FIRST TWO INSPECTIONS RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF PRESSURE PLATE(2) AND FLYWHEEL (1).REAR DRUM BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER EMERGENCY LEVER PULLED. OWNER HAD TO APPLY UNACCEPTABLE GAS PEDAL PRESSURE TO MOVE VEHILCE, RESULTING IN A LOUD 'CLUNK' WHEN DRUM BRAKES FINALLY RELEASED.
DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE SENSOR, WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE HAD BEEN OFF FOR 5 HOURS AND SUDDENLY STARTED UP BY ITSELF. THEN TOOK OFF AND HIT A GARAGE. OWNER HAD TO JUMP IN VEHICLE AND AND TAKE CAR OUT OF FIRST GEAR. *AK
DRIVING ON I90 WEST WITH NO PROBLEMS NOR WARNING THE REAR END SUDDENLY LOCKED UP COMPLETELY, SEVERING THE DRIVESHAFT AND ROTATING THE DIFFERENTIAL SO THAT IT EMBEDED ITSELF IN THE SPARE TIRE (MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE). RESULT WAS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL, VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND RAN OFF THE FREEWAY INTO THE MEDIAN. REAR WHEELS WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND UN-MOVABLE. INVESTIGATED BY WSP (REPORT # 0570977). CLEARLY AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE VEHICLE DEFECT. FORD DEALERSHIP (EVERGREEN IN ISSAQUAH, WA) MECHANICS ALL CONCURRED THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
PROBLEM: ENGINE CONTINUES TO REV TO 2000-3500 RPMS WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED OR PUT INTO NEUTRAL. PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IT'S A SLOW RETURN TO IDLE #617400. CALIBRATION STRATEGY CHANGE, MESSAGE 11966.
VEHICLE HAS JUMP SEATS AND ONLY LAP BELTS, NO SHOULDER HARNESS. DEALERSHIP ASSURED US THIS WAS SAFE FOR A SMALL CHILD AT THE TIME LEASE WAS SIGNED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT MY 40 LB. CHILD IS UNSAFE WITHOUT A SHOULDER HARNESS. PLEASE CONFIRM THIS AS THE MANUFACTURER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS GIVING US DIFFICULTY ABOUT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT OUR CONCERN. *AK
WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED THE ENGINE DOES NOT NECESSARILY SLOW DOWN AND SO THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW. IN FACT IF BACK SHIFTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES GAIN SPEED
VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY IDLE AT A HIGH RPM. THIS WILL CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO TRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AT AN IDLE SPEED. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND TAKING FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR TO BEGIN SLOWING, MY VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TRAVELING AT THE SAME SPEED. ALSO, AS I DOWNSHIFTED VEHICLE TO SLOWDOWN IN TRAFFIC,VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES REMAIN OR INCREASE IN SPEED THAT VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY TRAVELING. *AK
CARGO BED WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY. DEALER SAID THAT THEY AGREED. AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE, DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE. *AK
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND TRUCK STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED. MY SON EXPERENCED PROBLEM AT ABOUT 25 MPH, AND RAN OFF ROAD INTO A HOME OWNERS YARD. OWNER HAS ALSO EXPERENCED SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX 3 TIMES. ADJUSTED ALL COMPONENTS/TURNED/FACED DRUMS/ROTORS; REPLACED MASTER CYL; REPLACED ALL PADS/SHOES. NOW PROBLEM ALWAYS HAPPENS FOR FIRST FEW STOPS AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT OR ABOUT 1 HR. SERVICE TECH. HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT FIX. OWNER WILL NOW CLAIM LEMON LAW RIGHTS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. *AK
ENGINE KNOCKING, DIAGNOSED AS CARBON BUILD UP, CARBON REMOVER ADDED, ENGINE SEIZED, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE, 9000 MILES ON SECOND ENGINE. SAME KNOCKING NOISE IS PRESENT. FORD SERVICE BULLETIN RECOMMENDS SAME TREATMENT AS PREVIOUSLY DONE. THE BULLETIN ALSO SUGGESTED REVVING ENGINE TO 3000 RPM ON DAILY BASIS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT LONG TERM AFFECT CARBON BUILD UP WILL HAVE ON THE ENGINE. FORD DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
WINDOWS MAKE RATTLING NOISE. *YC
WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. *YC
POWER STEERING FAILED.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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