1998 Ford Ranger complaints

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT 225/70R15.*AK

STRUCK PIECE 2X4 LUMBER ON ROADWAY. TIRE CAME APART. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT WAS ROAD HAZARD AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I ORDERED A TIRE FROM NTB IN ST. PETERS ,MO AFTER 4 WEEKS THEY SIAD THEY COULD NOT GET DELIVERY ON THE TIRE, I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR THE TIRE AND THEY SHOWED THIS SIZE WITH SIGNIFICANT BACKORDER. I FINALLY CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR FIRESTONE AND THEY FINALLY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THEY HAD LOCATED ONE TIRE AT FIRESTONE DEALER IN ST. CHARLES MO NOW I SEE REPORTS ON THE 15 INCH TIRE FAILURE AND MY FAILURE OF THE 16 INCH APPEARS SIMILAR. THE FIRESTONE CUSTOMER RELATION PERSON SAID THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TIRES AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THEM. I HAVE SENT FIRESTONE EMAILS BUT AM ONLY GETTING THERE STANDARD RECALL INFORMATION. TRACKING NUMBER IS WT20000817_0000000126( DOT NUMBER: VN08 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

TIRE FAILURE CAUSED TRUCK TO VEER INTO DITCH-REPLACED ALL TIRES WITH LARGER SIZE FOR SAFETY( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235/70/16 )

I ALSO PUCHASED ANOTHER SET OF THE SAME SIZE THAT I HAD TO REPLACE DATE OF REPLACEMENT 8-16-2000 BECAUSE OF VIBRATIONS COMING FROM TIRES/REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES AND VIBRATIONS ARE NO LONGER NOTICEABLE /THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE BALANCED 3 TIMES BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265X75R15 )

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 5 CAR PILE UP ACCIDENT, CONSUMER'S CAR WAS THE LAST CAR HIT. WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES BODY WENT FORWARD AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, AND IS VERY UNSAFE.*AK

THIS TIRE HAD A FOOT LONG SPLIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TREAD EXPOSING THE STEEL BELT. I DID NOT STRIKE NOR ABUSE THE TIRE IN ANY MANNER TO CAUSE THIS. THE TIRE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THIS TIRE REPLACED ALSO WITNESSED MANY OTHER TIRES OF THE SAME TYPE WITH I. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2FC TIRE SIZE: P22570R14 )

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON ALL TIME. A COUPLE OF TIMES SMOKE CAME FROM DOME. TRUCK HAS BEEN SEEN BY DEALERSHIP ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES. LIGHT STAYS OFF FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND COMES RIGHT BACK ON. PLEASE LIST ANY OTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BOTH FRONT TIRES HAVE REGULAR PERIODIC RAISED TREAD PORTIONS, NOTICED INCREASE IN TIRE NOISE. HAVE NEVER SEEN TIRE WEAR LIKE THIS IN 34 YEARS OF DRIVING.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R14 )

HAVE TO ADD AIR SEVERAL TIMES ON REAR TIRES SINCE WE PURCHACED( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225R7015 )

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P265/75R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THE THIRD TIRE WAS A REPLACEMENT TIRE. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT RADIAL TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 14,000 MILES AND THE FRONT, LEFT TIRE SPLIT APART WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL FREEWAY CONDITIONS.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P205/75R14 )

PLEASE ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TROUBLE WITH THEIR FORD RANGER FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES. MY BAD EXPERIENCE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING A STRAIGHTAWAY ON THE LOCAL HIGHWAY (H3) AT APPROX. 55-60 MPH. IT WAS AROUND 10:30 AM AND THE TEMP WAS 80-85 WITH SUNNY SKIES. I HAD EARLIER NOTICED STRANGE WEAR PATTERNS, BUT MY DEALER INFORMED ME THIS WAS NORMAL. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY CAME APART LEAVING ONLY THE SIDEWALLS -- THE TREAD DETACHED COMPLETELY. AT THE TIME I ASSUMED IT WAS MERELY A BAD TIRE AND PURCHASED AN IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT (AT A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER) TO MAINTAIN A COMPLETE SET. THE DEALER KEPT THE FAULTY TIRE SO I CANNOT PROVIDE IT FOR INSPECTION. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED ALTHOUGH IT WAS QUITE SCARY WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL. THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY DANGER OF ROLLOVER, BUT MY PICKUP BED WAS EMPTY AT THE TIME SO I'M UNSURE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER WITH A FULL LOAD. I'M PRETTY SURE I HAVE NO LEGAL RECOURSE AGAINST THE MANUFACTUROR, BUT MY EXPERIENCE IS SIMILAR TO THE RECENT REPORTS I'VE BEEN HEARING. I HOPE THIS INFO ASSISTS YOU IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. THE REMAINING TIRES ON MY TRUCK ARE EXHIBITING STRANGE WEAR PATTERNS AND AN ALIGNMENT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE PROBLEM. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFO PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. THE THOUGHT THAT THESE TIRES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATHS IS VERY DISTURBING CONSIDERING I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY DAILY AND HAWAII IS TYPICALLY HOT AND SUNNY. THANK YOU, JIM DELACY( DOT

TIRE EXPLODED AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF DRIVING. AIR PRESSURE HAD BEEN CHECKED TWO DAYS BEFORE AND WAS PROPERLY INFLATED. ASKED TIRE DEALER ABOUT POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE TIRE AND HE SAID THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIRE LEFT TO DETERMINE CASUE OF FAILURE. TIRE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE HAD "SHREDDED"( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THIS IS MY SON'S TRUCK. WITH ALMOST 18,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK, THE TIRE POPPED AND ABOUT 18" OF TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. HE WAS JUST COMING OFF A STOP SIGN AND WAS GOING BETWEEN 20-25 MPH. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. WHEN I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED, THE MECHANIC TOLD US ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES ON THE TRUCK WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS A TREND AND DIDN'T THINK TO REPORT IT.( DOT NUMBER: )

CUSTOMER NO SERVICE AT FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER, WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE DEALER KNEW MY TIRES WERE CHOPPING BADLY AS WRITTEN IN THE WORK ORDER AND ONLY HAVING 4837 MILES DID NOTHING. CURRENTLY I HAVE 12,478 MILES ON THE TRUCK BUT CANNOT DRIVE OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE TRUCK VIBRATES SEVERLY. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT IN THE TIRE BUSINESS BUT OFFERED TO PRORATE AND SELL ME NEW TIRES.THEY WAITED TILL MY TIRES WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THEY WERE WORKING WITH FIRESTONE TIRE.FIRESTONE TIRE ALSO REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING.I HAVE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY NEW TIRES AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TOO.IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING MY TRUCK LIKE THIS BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE, I HAVE TO DRIVE IT.THE TIRES ARE SEVERLY CHOPPING, SMALL AND LARGE TREAD DEFECTS / GOUGES THRUOUT. TREAD AREAS ARE LIFTING UP.THEY SAY TO KEEP ROTATING THE TIRES AND IT WILL WEAR THEM DOWN. I HAVE DONE THAT AND IT GET'S WORSE.NOW WHAT?? THANK YOU. *AK,( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P22570R14 )

TIRE BLEW OUT (DISINTEGRATED) ON FREEWAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235/70R15 )

THREE TIRES HAVE HAD FAILURES ON THE HIGHWAY. 2 REPLACED W/PARTIAL WARRANTY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265-75R-15 )

WHILE TRAVELLING ON THE I-5 IN FRESNO AT APPROXIMENTLY 70 MPH I HEARD A LOUD POP/BURST AND THE VEHICLE REAREND SLID TO THE LEFT INTO THE CONCRETE CENTER DIVIDER I MOMENTARILY LOST CONTROL AND THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF MY TRUCK SCRAPED ON THE CENTER DIVIDER, AFTER GAINING CONTROL I MOVED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SECTION OF MY CAR WHILE MOVING TO THE SHOULDER. I GOT OUT AND SAW THAT MY RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD "EXPLODED" AND ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS THE BEADING, MELTED TO THE RIM, AND THE TREAD WRAPPED AROUND MY RIGHT REAR AXEL. I CHANGED THE TIRE AND PROCEEDED HOME. NO ONE WAS INJURED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WE WERE IN A RAINSTORM ON I-95 TRAVELING 70 MPH, WE SLOWED TO 55 IN THE RIGHT LANE AND THE TIRE STARTED TO WOBBLE, THEN IT BLEW. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE. IF THE PAVEMENT HAD BEEN DRY. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING 75MPH. IT COULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE. THE TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT THE SIDEWALL ALL THE WAY AROUND. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WHEN THE TIRES ARE ROTATED EVERY 6,000 AS ORDERED.WE FEEL THIS IS A TIRE DEFECT. ESPECIALLY SINCE WE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

FRONT 2 TIRES ALREADY HAD TO BE REPLACED (~$190) AND BACK 2 NEED TO BE REPLACED NOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 22570R15 )

TIRE DISINTEGRATED AT 80 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R15 )

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND REAR LEFT TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE STARTED SMOKING AND COMPLETLY CAME APART. OTHER THREE SOUNDED FUNNY ON THE HIGHWAY. HE REPLACED THE OTHER THREE TIRES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ANDTAILGATE DOOR JUST OPENED ON ITS ON. THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES.*AK

THE TRANSMISION TORQUE CONVERTER SEEMS TO WHINE FROM APROX. 2,500 RPM UNTIL GEAR SHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN OVERDRIVE IS DISENGAGED ABOVE 50MPH THE TRANSMISION SLAMS. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY UPON DELIVERY OF VEHICLE RESULTING IN 1 ELONGATED RIM. AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER 3 TIMES. TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM THAT IT WAS WITHIN "FORD" SPECS, YET MIRACULOUSLY IT IS COLD AGAIN FOR APPROX 1-2 MONTHS.

A 1998 FORD RANGER ORGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES WERE CHIPPING, DEALER REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. ALSO, THE NEW FIRESTONE TIRES WERE BUBBLING ON THE SIDE. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING REAR BRAKES TO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN A CRASH. DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST NHTSA COUNSEL. I WROTE BY EMAIL THE NHTSA COUNSEL ON 2 MAY 1999 DETAILING MY PROBLEM. I RECEIVED NO ANSWER. I WROTE AGAIN ON 7 JUL 1999, AND RECEIVED NO ANSWER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF NHTSA REALLY DOES ANSWER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO FAX YOU COPIES OF MY ORIGINAL EMAILS TO NHTSA COUNSEL IF YOU SO DESIRE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

FRONT BRAKES FAIL BECAUSE THEY LOCK UP UPON STOPPING, AND VEHICLE HAS ONLY REAR BRAKES TO STOP WITH. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE. ENGINE REPLACED STILL RATTLES. CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR.

SELF ADJUSTING BRAKE KITE IS NOT INSTALLED CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO WORN OUT. YH

PLASTIC LOCKING STRAPS FOR FUEL TANK KEPT BREAKING. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS, ON 04-07-00 & 05-17-00, AND CAUSED FUEL SPILLAGES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER MANFACTURER'S. RECALLS, AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN A VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION RAN A RED LIGHT,AND REARENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL THREE HOURS LATER WHILE PARKED AT HOME. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50-55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROLON. REACHED DOWN TO TURN A/C TO A LOWER FAN SPEED & DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM 50-85MPH. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO CALL HOTLINE & WILL CALL FORD IN THE MORNING. *AK

WHEN EXITING VEHICLE AND SHUTTING DOOR HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE GROUND. CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS KEYS. NEXT MORNING, DRIVER'S SIDE SUPER CAB WINDOW BUSTED FROM THE INSIDE. CONSUMER DID NOT SLAM DOOR, AND NO ONE BUSTED IT. IT BROKE FROM INSIDE. CONSUMER FELT WINDOW SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN THAT EASILY. *AK

DUE TO A CHAIN REACTION ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SHOULDER SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON WAS KILLED WHEN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS GOING 45 MPH AND HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. ALSO, FIRE BROKE OUT, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

STRONG ODOR OF GEAR OIL WAS FOUND COATING SOME OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND MUCH OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK FLOOR AND OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE AREA OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. PONTENTIAL OF FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM SEIZURE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL (FROM LACK OF OIL ) IS FEARED.

LEFT WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THERE WAS A NOISE DUE TO A SPINDLE BREAKING,WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CURRENTLY THE NOISE HAS RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THIS FAILURE HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT BACK IMMEDIATELY AND IT WAS CHECKED BY FORD, AND KOONS MECHANICS. THEY STATED EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. ALL KOONS DID FOR ME WAS REPLACED 4 TIRES THAT WERE WORN ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF ALL TIRES. I HAVE CONTINUED NOTIFING KOONS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING. I FINALLY FOUND OUT FROM A BACK YARD MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLE WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. I TOLD KOONS' MECHANICS THAT ,AND I ORDERED THRU AN EXTENDED PLAN THE SHAFT TWO MONTHS AGO 2/10/00 .I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM KOONS YET. I FEEL THAT THE JUMPING AND SWAYING WILL COST ME TO HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. FAILED TO BOUNCE BACK LIKE ABS BRAKES WERE SUPPOSE TOO. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MASTER CYLINDER/FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. BRAKE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED OWNER BRAKES WORK WITH PEDAL TO FLOOR. DUE TO LACK OF BRAKING POWER, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO 100MPH, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON WHICH CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ON AND UP TO 40 MINUTES. CONTACTED DEALER. THEY HAVE CLEANED THE SWITCH AND REPLACED INTERIOR LIGHTS. BUT, VEHICLE STILL HAS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. *AK

CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER BOLTS CAME OUT KNOCKING HOLE THROUGH TRANSMITION CASE.TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER HAD TO BE CUT OUT AFTER SPEED NUTS BROKE LOOSE.HEATER FAILED THREE TIMES.THERMOSTAT REPLACED TWICE DIDN'T HELP.BOLTS HOLDING COOLING FAN ON CAME OUT.SWITCH FOR DOME LIGHT FAILED, AND BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.*AK

WHILE MAKING A SLOW STOP STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND REPLACED TWO TIMES. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THEM AGAIN. *AK *ML

WHEN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER, WHILE TRAVELING 15-20 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, DAMAGES TOTALLED $3,500.00. TRUCK WAS BEING REPARIED. *AK

VEHICLE FAILED TO START NUMEROUS TIMES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. YH