1998 Ford Ranger complaints

MY 1998 RANGER WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AGAIN DUE TO FRAME RUST. NOT JUST IN THE REAR BUT ALL OVER. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE. *JS

THE FRAME IS HAVING SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS HEAVY RUST AND ROT COMPROMISING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TRUCK. IN FACT A SHOCK MOUNT JUST BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND THE RESULTING LOUD BANG CAUSED ME GREAT STRESS WHILE DRIVING. AFTER PULLING OVER AND LOOKING I COULD SEE THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD ROTTED SO BAD AS TO BREAK OFF THE AXLE HOUSE.AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURES HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE,GAS TANK AND ENTIRE SUPPORT SYSTEM. *TR

UPON ACTIVATING TURN SIGNAL ON A DARK MORNING, THE HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY FAILED. ACTIVATING THE DIM/BRIGHT LEVER PROVIDED INTERMITTENT ACTIVATION. UPON RELEASE OF THE DIM/BRIGHT FUNCTION THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT REMAIN ON IN EITHER DIM OR BRIGHT MODE. OTHER USERS OF VEHICLE REPORT COMPLETE HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THEY TOO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTORE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY AFTER SEVERAL FRANTIC SECONDS OPERATING THE LIGHT SWITCH OR THE DIMMING LEVER WHILE TRAVELING IN THE DARK. *TR

PARKED OUT ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND 9 PM. FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND PUT IT OUT AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AROUND 9:25 PM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT RETURN THE CONTACTS CALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,348.

I HAVE A 1998 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB, MY FRAME HAST RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING MY BED TO BE UNATTACHED. *TR

THE FRAME ON MY 1998 FORD RANGER IS BASICALLY RUSTED THROUGH. MY BROTHER'S 1999 FORD RANGER HAD TO HAVE THE FRAME REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. *TT

GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTED THROUGH AND GAS TANK FELL OUT. I FIXED IT BY INSTALLING MY OWN STRAPS BOUGHT AT A HARDWARE STORE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TT

SPARE TIRE CARRIED UNDER TRUCK COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND SPARE FELL ON HIGHWAY AND REAR FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTING AWAY. ORIGINAL RIMS HAD TO BE CHANGED ALSO BECAUSE THEY RUSTED SO BAD WOULDN'T HOLD AIR. *TR

1998 FORD RANGER HAS SECURITY ISSUE WHICH ALLOWS ANY INDIVIDUAL TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR STUFF MISSING. ALL IT TAKES IS A SCREW DRIVE UNDER THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON TO MOST ALL RANGERS AND IT IS HARD TO REPORT ANY LOSS WITHOUT PROOF THAT THERE WAS ILLEGAL ENTRY BECAUSE THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THIS MUST NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS. *TR

1998 FORD RANGER HAS SECURITY ISSUE WHICH ALLOWS ANY INDIVIDUAL TO USE A TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND NO ONE WOULD EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR STUFF MISSING. ALL IT TAKES IS A SCREW DRIVE UNDER THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS COMMON TO MOST ALL RANGERS AND IT IS HARD TO REPORT ANY LOSS WITHOUT PROOF THAT THERE WAS ILLEGAL ENTRY BECAUSE THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THIS MUST NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS. *TR

FRAME ON MY 1998 FORD RANGER RUSTED INTO AT THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES, AND BUMPER. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TRUCK TO DO THIS. THE STEEL CROSSMEMBER THAT RUNS BEHIND THE CAB OVER THE GAS TANK FROM SIDE TO SIDE IS ALSO COMPLETELY GONE FROM RUSTING AWAY. THEY MUST HAVE RECEIVED A BAD BATCH OF STEEL WHEN MAKING THIS YEAR. THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER IS ALSO RUSTED AWAY, PLACED THE SPARE TIRE IN THE BED SO THAT IT WOULD NOT FALL OFF WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I SUSPECT THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON FOR THIS YEAR. *TR

REAR BRAKES LOCKUP EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THIS CAUSES SLIDING ON WET PAVEMENTS. AS OF NOW I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

1998 FORD RANGER WITH FRAME RUST. REAR SHACKLES HAVE RUSTED AND FALLEN OFF. *TR

TRUCK WAS PARKED AT THE VETERINARIAN AND I HAD GONE INSIDE WITH MY TWO DOGS. AFTER ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES SOMEONE OUTSIDE WAS BLOWING THERE CAR HORN. THE RECEPTIONIST LOOKED OUT AND THEN TOLD ME MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. I RAN OUTSIDE AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE USED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS BUT THAT DID VERY LITTLE. THE FIRE TRUCK GOT THERE AND GOT THE FIRE PUT OUT. THEY CUT THE HOOD OPEN TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT.

98' FORD RANGER: HAS A CRACKED FRAME ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE. TRUCK MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN DRIVING AND I AM AFRAID IT MAY BECOME WORSE OVER TIME OR COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN IN UNSAFE SPEEDS. I CAN NOT SELL IT, AS I WAS TRYING TO USE THE MONEY FOR A NEW VEHICLE DUE TO A NEW BABY IN OUR FAMILY. NO ONE WILL BUY SUCH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. ALSO SEAT BELTS WILL NOT STAY LATCHED? ALSO THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT MELTS RIGHT THROUGH THE COVERING, WHERE TEMPERATURES MAKE THE PLASTIC COVER BUBBLE AND MELT.

DISPITE PROPER MAINTENCE, I OBSERVED BODY RUST AND DECAY ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY TRUCK FRAME. ALSO THE BRAKE LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO CORRUSION AND RUST INTO THE FRAME. SPARE TIRE BRACKETS HAVE RUSTED INTO AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. ALSO EVAP CANASTER BRACKET RUSTED INTO AND THE EVAP CANASTER FELL OFF.

I STARTED THE TRUCK, ALL GAUGES READ OK, BACKED IT OUT ONTO THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED T DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. I SHIFTED INTO 3RD AND IT FELT SLUGGISH, (LIKE BRAKE DRAG) I LOOKED DOWN AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR INFORMATION, AND FOUND NO RESPONSE FROM THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE. I PROCEEDED TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR, BUT BY THE TIME I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULDN'T PROCEED TO RUN. I CHECKED THE OIL DIP STICK TO FIND THE OIL LEVEL IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT THE MOTOR REFUSES TO TURN OVER. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS TO THIS DAY. *TR

1998 FORD RANGER, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE ON VEHICLE. *BF AFTER THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, IT WENT THROUGH THE GAS TANK CAN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0294-89 UPDATED 05/03/10 *BF UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF THE REAR AXLE PINION FROZE, THE DRIVE SHAFT TWISTED AND BROKE IN TWO. UPDATED 05/28/10

MY 1998 FORD RANGER XLT SO FAR HAD 2 COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURES DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE SPIRAL PROTECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES WHICH KEEPS THE HUMIDITY TRAPPED AND THUS CORRODES THE LINES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING OUT WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN YET NO BRAKE FUNCTION IS EXPERIENCED. AS THIS PROBLEM HAS A CLEAR TECHNICAL REASON IN THE FORM OF THE BRAKE LINES, IT IS SYSTEMIC IN ALL SUCH VEHICLES. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY MY CAR MECHANIC SHOP WHICH IS FREQUENTLY REPAIRING FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NO EARLY WARNING INDICATION AND IS NOT DETECTED BY THE YEARLY INSPECTION. *TR

ENGINE SURGES WHEN FOOT IS OFF ACCELERATOR. ENGINE GOES TO HIGH RPM AND MUST BE TURNED OFF WITH IGNITION KEY TO KEEP IT FROM EXCEEDING RPM LIMITS. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH NO FIRM PARAMETERS FOR OCCURRENCE. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO MATS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK AND DRIVERS FEET ARE FLAT ON THE FLOOR NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR, BRAKE, OR CLUTCH. DEALER HAS REPLACED THROTTLE BODY TWICE BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR AT LEAST 18 MONTHS. *TR

THE REAR BUMPER IN MY 1998 FORD RANGER (80K MILES) IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF, AS THE REAR OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED & BROKEN. I HAVE CABLES HOLDING IT ON NOW. I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE & BRACKET RUSTED OFF THE FRAME AND BROKE IN TWO. THE SPARE TIRE ALSO LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM RUSTED BRACKETS. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF FORD RANGERS IN WHICH THE REAR BUMPER ACTUALLY DID FALL OFF, OR THE SPARE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MUCH WORSE THAT THE TOYOTA TRUCKS. IN FACT SOMEONE SAID THAT THE FORD FRAMES WERE BOUGHT AT THE SAME FACTORY AS THE TOYOTA'S, BUT I DO NOT KNOW FORE SURE. EVERYTHING ELSE ON MY TRUCK IS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION, NOT A SPECK OF RUST ON THE BODY, AND IT RUNS GREAT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. *TR

THIS IS A 98 FORD RANGER XLT WITH 73,000 MILES, MY PROBLEM IS THE TURNING SIGNALS FROM MY 98 FORD RANGER, EVERYTIME THAT I TURNED MY TRUCK ON IT MAKES A SQUEAKING SOUND AROUND MY STEERING WHEEL, THEN RIGHT AWAY MY LEFT TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT TURNS ON BY ITSELF, RIGHT AWAY WHEN THE LEFT TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT TURNS ON BY ITSELF THE SQUEAKING SOUND GOES AWAY, SO NOW TO QUIT MY LEFT TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT FROM KEEPING LIGHTING ON BY ITSELF I HAVE TO PUSH DOWN THE EMERGENCY BUTTON ON TOP OF MY STEERING WHEEL WHICH TURN BOTH TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS ON, THEN RIGHT AWAY I HAVE TO PUSH IT DOWN AGAIN TO TURN THEM OFF, AT THAT TIME THERE IS NO SQUEAKING SOUND, BUT AFTER 5 OR 10 MORE MINUTES THE ANNOYING SOUND COMES BACK ON AND I HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN TO TURN OFF THE SQUEAKING SOUND, IT JUST STARTED TO HAPPENED 3 MONTHS AGO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 13 HOURS, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT FILED A REPORT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 10, 2008 FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW HIS VEHICLE STILL CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK WITHIN 14 BUSINESS DAYS BY THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

I HAD DRIVEN MY 98 FORD RANGER FOR A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 10 MILES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. 2 HOURS AFTER I GOT HOME MY TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES. THE TRUCK IS TOTALED NOW. I DID NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

EVERYTIME I PRESS MY BRAKE PEDAL, THERE IS A GRINDING/PULSATING AND THE VEHICLE SLOWLY "SKIDS" TO A STOP, USUALLY ONLY 10-15 FEET AFTER I INTENDED ON STOPPING. LESS THAN ONE (1) YEAR AGO, THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON MY 1998 FORD RANGER. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ABS ON THE VEHICLE IS WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING, YET HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. HE SAID THE UNNECESSARY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED BY THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSED MY MASTER CYLINDER'S SEALS TO CRACK. I PAID OVER $400 FOR ALL BRAKE REPAIRS. TEN (10) MONTHS LATER, I'M DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT 60 M.P.H. AND MY EXIT IS APPROACHING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, I WAS AGAIN LEFT WITH NO BRAKES. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY I HAD THE SENSE OF MIND TO PUSH MY EMERGENCY BRAKE (WHICH IS AWKWARDLY LOCATED ON A PICK-UP TRUCK) AND AVOID A NUMEROUS CAR PILE-UP ON A BUSY LOS ANGELES FREEWAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEW MECHANIC AS WELL AS A PEP BOYS AUTO CENTER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER'S SEALS WERE AGAIN CRACKED, AND CHARGED OVER $400 FOR THE SAME REPAIRS AS BEFORE. I'VE SEARCHED NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUMS, AND SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND FORD RANGER OWNERS AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND HAS FACED NEAR-DEATH SITUATIONS DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE A RECALL AS IT'S THE ONLY ONE TO ASSURE THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD (AS THE BRAKES WILL NO LONGER WORK WITHOUT ANY WARNING). *TR

AT 40,000 MILES AND NOW AT 81000 MILES I NEED THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS ON ANY CAR UNDER 150,000 MILES MY ENTIRE LIFE, THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE, THIS IS A '98 FORD RANGER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW AND WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A POLICE OFFICER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAFETY BELT BEING SEPARATED. THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION WAS CAUSED BY THE SEAT HINGE FAILING, WHICH CUT THE SAFETY BELT. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,500. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

WHILE ON FREEWAY LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CENTER DIVIDER. VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS. THE TIRE FAILURE APPEARS AS TREAD SEPARATION. *TR

THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENS ARE SEVERELY CLOUDY, A LOT WORSE AS TIME TIME GOES ON....YEARS AGO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK THEY WERE CLEAR, NOW THEY ARE VERY - VERY OPAC, CLOUDY, SO BAD THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE HEADLIGHT BULB ! THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM! SO MANY, IN FACT THAT THE PART STORE AFTERMARKET INDUSTRIES HAVE COME OUT WITH A RESTORATION KIT . I AM SURE THAT THE CLOUDY, OPAC LENS DO SEVERELY LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED THROUGH THE LENS. MY OPINION ON THIS IS THAT THE TYPE OF PLASTIC SELECTED BY FORD SEEMED FINE BACK IN 1998 BUT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS THE PLASTIC DETERIORATES. MY RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURES REPLACE THEM. BY, I DID BUY THE KIT FROM A PARTS STORE AND IT IS CALLED HEADLIGHT RESTORER / DEFOGGER KIT. MYHEADLIGHT.COM . MY BROTHER AND I HAND BUFFED HIS 2001 JEEP HEADLIGHTS AND IT TOOK US ALMOST 2 HOURS ! IT DID HELP THE AMOUNT OF LIGHTING! P.S. SORRY, HAVEN'T GOT SPELL-CHECK.... *TR

RECALL # 05S28 - FORD HAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO THE DEALER THE NECESSARY PART (WIRING WITH A FUSE) TO REPAIR A DEFECT (SPEED CONTROL SWITCH)THAT I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST OF 2007. NOW FORD TELLS ME THAT THE NECESSARY PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE BEFORE JUNE OF 2008! *TR

EVERY 4 MONTHS I HAVE TO CHANGE MY SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE THE CERAMIC PART KEEPS BREAKING. *TR

RECALL 05S28 CRUISE CONTROL FORD RANGER 1998 RECEIVED A NOTICE AUG 2007. HAVE TRIED TO HAVE WORK PERFORMED THREE TIMES. THEY TELL ME THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE,MAYBE LATE APRIL. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE UP A SIMPLE LINE WITH A FUSE OR EVEN INSTALL A FUSE IN AN EXISTING LINE. SEEMS AN INORDINATE TIME LAG TO GET A REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, BOB BUCCI *TR

SITTING IN FRIENDS DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, NO KEYS. HAD BEEN THERE FOR 2 HOURS. NEIGHBOR WAS THE ONE WHO NOTICED THE FIRE AND NOTIFIED US. WE COULD HAVE LOST THE TRUCK SITTING NEXT TO IT ALONG WITH THE HOUSE. MY HUSBAND PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE FIREFIGHTERS TOLD US THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY CAUSE BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS WHICH PUTS US WITHOUT A VEHICLE WHICH I HAD JUST PURCHASED FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND STILL HAVE HEARD NOTHING BACK FROM THEM. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE 7-10 DAYS BEFORE I HEAR FROM THEM. IN THE MEAN TIME I AM STRANDED AND NO WAY TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK OR SCHOOL. THIS HAS DEFINITELY PUT MAJOR STRESS ON MY WHOLE FAMILY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO RETURN IN DECEMBER OF 2007. WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED IN DECEMBER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,950. UPDATED 04/03/08. *LJ

FORD SENT ME LETTER LAST FALL STATING MY FORD RANGER WAS SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL. I STOPPED BY MY DEALER EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR MONTHS AND THEY SAID NOBODY HAS PARTS, BECAUSE THE SUPPLIER WON'T MAKE THESE PARTS 'TIL EVERYTHING IS READY. I'M TIRED OF WAITING... I WANT THE GOV'T TO PRESSURE FORD TO ACT. THE RECALL I LEARNED IS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING THAT CAUSES FIRES... EVEN WHEN NOT USING CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

THE 1998 FORD RANGER WAS PART OF AN AUGUST 2007 RECALL BECAUSE OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS ISSUE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD SINCE THEN, THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, DON'T PARK VEHICLE NEAR A STRUCTURE, BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED, AND PARTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY. WELL, IT'S NEARLY GROUND HOG'S DAY, AND GUESS WHAT? NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO SUPPLY PARTS. FORD NO DOUBT IS STILL BUILDING NEW VEHICLES AND PUTTING WIRING HARNESSES IN THEM, BUT THEY DON'T TAKE THE RECALL SERIOUSLY. NO WONDER THEY'RE NOT A VIABLE AUTOMOBILE ENTITY ANY MORE. BRING ON THE EUROPEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKAGE INTO CAB OF 1998 FORD RANGER CAUSED SEVERE SLEEPINESS WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK AND WHILE AT HOME. EACH DAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH I WAS EXPERIENCING DIZZINESS, SLEEPINESS AND NAUSEA. I HAD A SMALL ACCIDENT WHEN I FEEL ASLEEP WHILE STOPPING FOR A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I REPORTED MY DIZZINESS AND SLEEPINESS TO MY SUPERVISOR WHO NOTIFIED OUR MEDICAL DEPARTMENT AND THEY SENT ME HOME. I HAD A MEDICAL STRESS TEST PERFORMED; IT WAS OK', A SLEEP STUDY PERFORMED AND THE CARDIOLOGIST INCREASED MY DOSAGE OF A BETA BLOCKER. I WAS FINALLY RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK TWO MONTHS LATER. I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SHORTLY AFTER I WAS SENT HOME AND THEY REPORTED THERE WAS NO CO LEAKING INTO MY CAB. I TRIED DISCUSSING MY PROBLEM WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT THEY SAID THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT'S ALL THEY COULD DO FOR THE CARBON MONOXIDE WAS ENTERING INTO MY CAB FROM THE EXHAUST OF OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I FINALLY FOUND AND BOUGHT A DIGITAL CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WHICH WOULD READ ANY LEVEL OF CO DETECTED. THE FIRST DAY I DROVE TO WORK IT INDICATED 18 PPM CO POISON AND ANOTHER 16 PPM CO POISON ON THE DRIVE HOME AFTER WORK WHICH TOTALED AROUND 34 PPM PER DAY FOR OVER A MONTH. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY DOCTOR AND REQUESTED A BLOOD GAS TEST WHICH INDICATED A HIGH LEVEL OF CO IN MY BLOOD. IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE PULMONARY DOCTOR THAT

1998 FORD RANGER SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE CALLED THE DEALER WHEN THE RECALL WAS RECEIVED AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER RAPIDLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MINUTES TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR BECAME LOOSE. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE CLAPPING SCREW ON THE SHAFT SENSOR AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR HIS VEHICLE (ITEM NUMBER 10000592). HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,300. UPDATED 04-09-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOOSE CAM SHAFT SENSOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY SNAPPED, WHICH SHE BELIEVED WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HAZARD SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE GARAGE AND THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

I OWN A 1998 FORD RANGER. TO BEGIN THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. THEN I NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH ON THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER CAUGHT FIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT IT AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE PRIOR TO ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRING. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST OF VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE TRUCK HAD A SIMILAR OR THE SAME SWITCH AS THOSE ON THE RECALLED VEHICLES THAT HAVE CAUSED FIRES IN THE PAST. *JB

ON JULY 10, 2003 MY COUSIN'S 1998 FORD RANGERS LEFT REAR TIRE PEELED APART, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO FLIP AND BLOW-UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING, WHAT-SO-EVER. MY COUSIN AND A PASSENGER WERE BOTH KILLED. THE REAR TIRES WERE COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES. A TIRE EXPERT LATER DETERMINED THAT THIS TIRE HAD BOTH A MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN DEFECT. THE FAMILY ATTEMPTED TO MITIGATED THIS TRAGIC EVENT BY CONTACTING COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY DIRECTLY. COOPER TIRE COMPANY OFFERED NO DEFENSE, NOTHING. WE ARE NOW IN LITIGATION. I PERSONALLY ASKED COOPERS' ATTORNEYS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THEIR TIRES RUBBER. I WAS TOLD, "COOPER GETS THEIR RUBBER FROM VARIOUS SOURCES." WE REQUEST THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE COOPER TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY'S MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW IF THIS COMPANY USES UNSAFE RUBBER MADE IN CHINA IN THE MANUFACTURER OF ITS H/T DISCOVERER TIRE. WE ALSO REQUEST THE NHTSA DISCUSS WITH COOPER ITS MISLEADING USE OF THE LETTERS " H/T" WHICH SUGGEST THE TIRE IS SAFE FOR BOTH HIGHWAY AND TERRAIN (OFF ROAD) USE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE TIRE. *TR

PULLED MY 1998 FORD RANGER INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. I WAS GETTING READY TO PARK WHEN I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. STOPPED THE TRUCK. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW AN ELECTRICAL PLUG BURNING WITH FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO BLOW THE FLAMES OUT BEFORE MUCH ELSE WAS DAMAGED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL PLUG IS WHAT CAUGHT FIRE. IT ALSO DAMAGED MY RESERVOIR FOR THE BRAKE FLUID. THEY ARE REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL PLUG. OF COURSE, THIS IS AT MY OWN EXPENSE, NOT FORDS. *TR

THE SPINDLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE SPLIT IN HALF CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. MY SON LOST CONTROL AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER AND FENDER. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. HE HAD JUST LEFT THE FREEWAY. *JB

THE FORD RANGER LOST TRACTION AND SLID ON THE ICE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ON IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CHILD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER HEAD. THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN OUR 1998 FORD RANGER THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 FORD RANGER THE INTERIOR DOOM LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. FLASHING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM. WENT TO FORD DEALER (SUBURBAN IN SANDY, OR) AND THEY SAID THE 'RESISTANCE' LEVEL HAD INCREASED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO NO LONGER FUNCTION. CALLED FORD, THEY GAVE ME A "SENIOR DISCOUNT", ALTHOUGH NOT A SENIOR. SAID THAT AIRBAGS FALL UNDER 5 YEAR/50000 MILE WARRANTY. THE RANGER HAS 56,000. FORD SAID THAT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THE FUNCTION OF AN AIRBAG FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASCERTAIN IF THE AIRBAG STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALL AT ONCE OR IF MY SAFETY WAS IN JEOPARDY OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AS THE AIRBAG SLOWLY STOPPED WORKING. AIRBAGS ARE A MANDATORY SAFETY DEVICE AND SHOULD BE COVERED FROM DEFECT FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH FORD'S ATTITUDE ABOUT MY SAFETY. I HAVE THE AIRBAG MODULE AND CAN PROVIDE IT TO NHTSA TO STUDY AND DETERMINE IF THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICS OF AN AIRBAG, I WOULD ASK FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SEND IT TO YOU. *JB