1998 Ford Ranger complaints

PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER BAR BROKE OFF. *YC

VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD WHILE PARKED HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. MJS

PEDALS ARE TO CLOSE, CAUSING ACCELERATION. *YC

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE COOLING SYSTEM HOSES WERE LOOSE, CAUSING FAILURE AND LEAKAGE. *YC

BRAKE SHOE SPRING FAILED. MJS

STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED. *YC

TRANSMISSION GEARS FAILED. MJS

ALTERNATER FAILED. YH

SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT COMPLETELY,RESULTING IN BELT BECOMING ENTANGLED IN THE DOOR.

MAP SENSOR FAILED. *YC

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *YC

CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED ON STEEP HILLS AT HIGH ELEVATION. YH

ENGINE OXYGEN REGULATOR COMPLETELY FAILED. *YC

PASSENGER DOOR FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *YC

DRIVER SIDE DOOR INOPERABLE. YH

FRONT TIRES WEAR IMPROPERLY DUE TO POSSIBLE FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. YH

FAULTY GAS GAUGE. YH

ENGINE HEAD FAILED TWICE. YH

TEMPRATURE GAUGE FAILED. YH

TIME BELT FAILED. YH

INSIDE HEAD LIGHT INOPERABLE. YH

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,THE DRIVER TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES, BUT VEHICLE KEPT GOING. OWNER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THE AXLE BENT, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO GO OUT. *AK

DESIGN OF THE OIL FILTER LOCATION CAUSES ELECTRICAL SPARKS WHENEVER THE FILTER COMES INTO CONTACT WITH STARTER HOT TERMINAL. A PROTECTED COVER SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO THIS CONDITION WOULD NOT OCCUR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

BRAKES HAVE BEEN EXAMINED TWICE FOR SQUEAKINESS. DEALER HAS STATED THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. NOISES HAVE WORSENED SINCE LAST EXAM ON 12/15/98. THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS OF RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY TRUCK AND ON THE OUTTAKE MANIFOLD IN THE ENGINGE. DEALER HAS STATED "THAT'S NORMAL" TO REPEATED INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS RUST. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THROTTLE ASSEMBLY PIECE, THE "BUTTERFLY VALVE" REPLACED IN NOV OF 1998. I NOW HAVE SQEAKY NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE AS WELL, WHICH I WILL SCHEDULE FOR EXAM THIS WEEK, 1/11/99.

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR. ACCELERATOR STUCK 11 TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *SB

WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO GARAGE AND VEHICLE. ALSO, CONSUMER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. *AK

STARTED VEHICLE UP. HAD DOOR OPENED AT TIMES DRIVER'S LEG NOT INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, WITHOUT WARNING. HIT A TRUCK & THEN A WALL. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK DURING SUDDEN BRAKING.

FIRST, NO ACCIDENT HAS HAPPENED YET. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE A 1998 FORD RANGER WITH THE 3.0 ENGINE AND 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM, TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS HAS NO EFFECT ON VEHICLE SPEED. IF TRAFFIC IS SLOWING IN FRONT OF ME, TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS IS THE NORMAL THING TO DO IN ORDER TO START SLOWING DOWN AND NOT HITTING TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME. THIS VEHICLE WILL KEEP ON GOING AND BRAKE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. AS A FURTHER EXAMPLE. COMING TO A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE WILL WANT TO RACE ABOVE 2000 UNTIL THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT TAKES ABOUT 4 SECONDS AFTER THE STOP BEFORE THE COMPUTER WILL SLOW THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. BOTH TIMES, THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THIS ENGINE/TRANSMISSION COMBINATION. HOWEVER, THEIR TESTING EQUIPMENT SHOWS NO PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE REPORTED IT TO FORD BUT CAN DO NOTHING UNTIL FORD ISSUES A PROGRAMMING CHANGE FOR THE COMPUTER. ONE TIME LAST SUMMER, AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE DECIDED TO GO FROM 2000 TO 3600 RPM AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO KILL THE ENGINE. FORD SEEMS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. AS AN ADDITIONAL TEST, I GOT ON THE INTERSTATE, GOT UP TO SPEED, PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. THE ENGINE SPEED REMAINED CONSTANT AT 2800. EVEN TOUCHING THE BRAKE AND SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN A SMALL AMOUNT, HAD NO EFFECT ON ENGINE SPEED DURING THIS TEST. THE PROBL

COMPLAINT#1: GAS TANK LEAKED AFTER VEHICLE WAS ONLY ONE WEEK OLD. DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A NEW TANK. COMPLAINT#2: POWER WINDOWS ARE 'JERKY' AND THEY CHATTER WHEN GOING DOWN. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED IT YET. COMPLAINT#3: PASSENGER SEAT VIBRATES ANY TIME TRUCK DRIVES OVER ANY BUMPS, LARGE OR SMALL. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED IT AT THIS TIME.

FIRESTONE P265/75R15 TIRE BLEW OUT.

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ANTI- LOCK BRAKES AND AIRBAG. DURING AN ACCIDENTANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THEIR BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ANTI LOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY LOCKING UP.

SIGNAL LEVER IS 15-20 DEGREES TO RIGHT OR LEFT OF CENTER, IT DOES NOT STAY ENGAGED WHEN TURNING HAVE TO HOLD THE LEVER AND TURNING WITH THE OTHER HAND. TWO DEALERS INDICATED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY (ALL POWER WILL GO OUT) WHICH ALMOST COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED BATTERY, FUSES ETC. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE FURTHER DETAILS AND VIN #. 8AK

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED.MIKE SHAD FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. RICK PALMAN IS THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR MIKE SHAD. AND CHRIS @ FORD, REP # 2752 ON 9/28/98 @12:28PM VIA PHONE SAID HE WOULD HAVE MIKE SHAD FORD CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE IT AS IT WOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM. WHEN AT MIKE SHAD FORD, MR. PALMAN REFUSED TO REAIR THE MISSING WINDOW UNDER WARRANTY.

AT MAINTENANCE OIL AND FILTER CHANGE, ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE FILTER BY CONVENTIONAL METHOD OUT THROUGH BOTTOM OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FILTER CONTACTED STARTER AND CHASSIS FRAME WHICH CREATED A ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT RESULTING IN FIRE INVOLVING PLASTIC WHEEL WELL AND PARKING BRAKE CABLE HOUSING. ALSO DESTROYED TWO GROUND STRAPS AND MAIN BATTERY GROUND WIRE BEFORE BATTERY COULD BE DISCONNECTED AND FIRE EXTINGUISHED WITH DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER. FORD OF HYANNIS TOLD US THAT NO OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENT HAD BEEN REPORTED. NO CAUTION OR INFORMATION WAS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL OR IN THE DEALER ORIENTATION WHICH WOULD HAVE ALERTED THE OWNER TO THE NECESSITY OF REMOVING THE FILTER THROUGH THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY OF LARGE DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND GARAGE ATTACHED TO HOME SEVERELY DAMAGED.

MY PICKUP HAD UNDIAGNOSED BRAKING DIFFICULTIES SINCE A MILEAGE OF 150. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT DEPRESS, THEN BREAKS FREE, GREATLY INCREASING MY REACTION TIME. THIS OCCURS UP TO 25 TIMES PER DAY IN VARYING DEGREES. FREEWAY FORD MERCURY HAS ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE HELP OF THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER TWICE, THE PROPORTIONING VALVE, LINKAGE, AND OTHER SUSPECTED FAULTY PARTS TO NO AVAIL. ON THE THIRD VISIT IT WAS FOUND THAT MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE CYLINDER HAS NEVER WORKED. THIS WAS REPLACED, BUT HAD NO AFFECT ON THE STICKING BRAKE PEDAL. FOLLOWING THIS VISIT, THE FORD HOTLINE ADVISED THAT I DRIVE THE TRUCK 1,000 ADDITIONAL MILES IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD

CONSUMER WAS PARKED WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TAILGATED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO BE PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR BAGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

AIR CONDITION CONDENSOR AND COMPRESSOR FAILED, CAUSING HESITATION OF THE ENGINE.

STRONG ODOR COMINGRIVER'S AIR BAG , CAUSED ASTHMA ATTACKS AND HAYFEVER SYMPTOMS TO THE POIN TOF BLEEDING AND LIGHT HEADINESS. THE ODOR AND SYMPTOMS ARE GENERALLY ALLEVIATED BY WRAPPING A TRASH BAG AROUND STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN.

STANDARD TRANSMISSION MODEL IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT GRADE THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL, NEITHER THE TRANSMISSION NOR THE ENGINE WILL HOLD THE VEHICLE

WHEN CONSUMER WAS AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REACHING TO 1000 RPM; CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE USED TO PULL TO THE SIDE, AND TIRES WERE ROTATED BEFORE. *AK

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATLEY 25 MPH ,CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD- ON COLLSION. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING AT A LEAST 2500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END ,AND BRUISES ON KNEES AS A RESULT OF HITTING DASH PANEL. *AK

RECALL FOR SAFETY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS NOT BEING GRANTED BY DEALERSHIP.

FLAPPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE.

DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE.

UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND MINOR COLLISION, RUST FOUND OUTSIDE BOTH THE SIDES OF THE KNUCKLE AND A MISSING BOLT.

WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE TRUCK DOES NOT DECELERATE. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK