1998 Ford Ranger complaints

WHILE TRAVELING CONSUMER PASSED OUT AND VEHICLE RAN OFF ROAD. ALSO, NOTICED FUMES INSIDE CAB. DRIVER BELIEVES THAT CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES WERE COMING INTO THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO PASS OUT. *AK *ML

THE DOME LIGHT HAS FAILED WITHIN A YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL REPAIR, SHOP CLAIMED IT WAS A COMMON DEFECT. HAVE AN E-MAIL FROM FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE URGING ME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED FOR MY OWN SAFETY AMONG OTHER REASONS. *AK

AFTER A SNOW OR A RAIN PARKING BRAKE WILL FREEZE. FORD SERVICE MESSAGE SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT PARKING BRAKE COULD NOT BE USED WHEN SNOWING OR RAINING. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK *ML

WHEN TRAVELING AT 5-10 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE DOME LIGHT AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAY ON WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WOULD NOT ADDRESS ISSUE UNTIL IT WAS CONSTANT. *AK

DUE TO DESIGN FLAW, OIL FILTER IS LOCATED UNDER MANIFOLD. WHILE REMOVING OIL FILTER, THE OWNER HAD HIS HAND BURNT BY HOT MANIFOLD. YH

I HAVE HAD TWO BLOW OUTS ON THESE TIRES SINCE I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK. THE FIRST WAS @ 10,000 MILES & THE SECOND @ 20,000 MILES. AFTER SEEING THE REPORT ON KHOU-TX IN HOUSTON I THINK MY TIRES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND A PIECE OF STONE GRAVEL HIT GAS TANK AND WENT STRAIGHT THOUGH THE TANK. GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING GASOLINE. *AK

ROTORS SEVERLY RUSTED AND WORN REQUIRED PREMATURE REPLACMENT. *MJS

SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. FRONTAL IMPACT - MY SON WAS DRIVING. *AK

WHILE CHANGING OIL FILTER, EXHAUST PIPE BURNED CONSUMER'S HAND. THIS CAUSED THE OIL FILTER TOO TOUCH THE BAR WIRE OF THE STARTER, CAUSING A SPARK TO IGNITE THE OIL, RESULTING IN A FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TRUCK LOST CONTROL ON SNOW COVERED ROAD, APPROX. SPEED:40-55 MPH.WRECKED, WENT OFF ROAD INTO DEEP DITCH, HIT HILL, TRUCK WENT UP IN AIR, ALMOST FLIPPING, CAME BACK DOWN FLATTENED TIRES ON DRIVERS SIDE, FLIPPED BACK OUT IN ROAD, SPUN AROUND AND BACK IN SAME DITCH ON PASSENGERS SIDE HEADED UP THE ROAD. AIRBAGS ON NIETHER SIDE DEPLOYED. INJURIES TO: HEAD, NECK SHOULDER, HIP, UPPER& LOWER BACK. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR, SENT TRUCK TO DEALER TO CHEK DATA ON MODULE. STATMENT WAS SIGNED TO GIVE COPY OF REPORT TO ME & NOT TO EARASE ANY DATA. SSO FAR ALL I RECIEVED WAS A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR SAYING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH AIRBAGS. *AK

DRIVER MISSED A TURN AND HIT LIGHT POLE ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 36 MPH ,REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND TRUCK STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED. HAVE HAD TWO VERY CLOSE CALLS WITH OTHER VEHICLES NEARLY BEING HIT. PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 6 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED TRUCK. HAVE HAD VEHICLE IN 7 TIMES TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS. THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BUT I KNEW BETTER. HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THIS WEBSITE AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT THOSE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE ACCELERATION WHILE IN STOP / GO TRAFFIC. VEHICLE BEEN IN /OUT OF DEALER SHOP, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING CAN BE FOUNED. DEALER WANTS CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS CHANGED VARIOUS PARTS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT END ALIGNMENT IS OUT, BUT MUST PURCHASE ADDITIONAL KITS TO BE PUT ON BEFORE ALINEMENT CAN BE SET CORRECTLY. SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS. NOW COST OF REPAIR IS EST $120. MOST PEOPLE CAN NOT AFFORD THAT AT ONE TIME AND WILL DRIVE ON MISALINED FRONT END WHICH CAN BE A BIG SAFTELY ISSUE. *AK

CLUTCH WOULD NOT FULLY DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING, AND TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. DEALER REPRESENTATIVE STATED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED, DUE TO WAY I DRIVE, WHICH IS A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, AND $623.00 TO REPAIR. TRUCK HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES ON IT. PREVIOUS TWO TRUCKS I OWNED HAD MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND OVER 140,000 MILES ON THEM WHEN I SOLD THEM AND BOTH HAD ORIGINAL CLUTCHES. I HAVE NOT CHANGED WAY I DRIVE, AND I DRIVE IN SAME AREA. BROUGHT TO AAMCO FOR SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH FAILURE. WAS TOLD BY AAMCO IT WAS PROBABLY DESIGN DEFECT DUE TO ONLY 32,000 MILES AND PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE. ALSO, AAMCO REP. STATED NEW FORD RANGER AND F-150 MANUAL TRANSMISSION USES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND HAS 3 RUBBER PLUGS IN TRANSMISSION HOUSING. AUTO TRANS. FLUID EATS AWAY RUBBER PLUGS, WHICH ALLOWS DIRT IN AND FLUID OUT, ANOTHER DESIGN DEFECT.

THE VEHICLE SHAKES SEVERELY ON A FREEWAY CAUSING A SAFETY PROBLEM TO THE DRIVER. YH

WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER MANY TIMES BUT THE ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THE COMPUTER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NLM

CAB SHAKES SIDE TO SIDE. SOURCE SEEMS TO BE FRONT DRIVE TRAIN.

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ,THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND SKIPS ACROSS THE ROAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CHANGED THE DRUMS BUT ONCE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION.

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OUTSIDE OF STORE . PARKING EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T ON, AND VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE ROOLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT INTO THE STREET. THEN ROLLED BACK TO THE SAME STREET AND THEN RAN INTO A 12FOOT DRAINAGE DITCH. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT TONGUE WILL NOT LATCH OR LOCK IN BECAUSE THE LOCKING DEVICE IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS CUTTING OFF, AND THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL DUE TO THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR GOING OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS FIVE TIMES. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE CLUTCH THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT INDICATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MAKES CHIRPING NOISE ABOUT HALF THE TIME WHEN STARTED; TWO AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERS HAVE NOT FOUND THE CAUSE

TRUCK CAME WITH FACTORY INSTALLED ON AND OFF SWITCH FOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG WHICH WAS TURNED OFF WHEN IT DEPLOYED DURING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

I SENT A LETTER WITH MORE DETAILS ON THIS INCEDENT AND OTHERS! THIS IS MY MAIN CONCERN THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND AM AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT AND OR A DEATH OF ME OR ANOTHER DRIVER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE!

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS UP ON WET PAVEMENT WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED. THE PEDAL IS HARD WHEN APPLIED IT ONLY GOES HALF WAY DOWN, VEHICLE WILL SLIDE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE, HOWEVER VEHICLE STILL LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE98V02100 IN MAIL & CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL FOR THE TIRES. LATER, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & WAS GIVEN SAME INFORMATION. HAS NOTICE IN HAND. *AK

ENGINE CONTINUALLY STALLING, HESITATION AND SURGING, UNABLE TO RECTIFY SINCE PURCHASE. MJS

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT APPROX 65MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER. NO PRIOR WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

IDLE AIR CONTROL--IDLE OPERATION WAS ERRATIC, DEALER FOUND A BAD IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE.

PASSENGER DOOR--GETS STUCK.

MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR.

DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN AFTER A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 23-27 MPH IMPACT WITH TRUCK, RESULTING IN $3600 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END ALONE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HIT WINDSHIELD. *AK

REAR END (?) WHINES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS,TRANSMISSION SLIPS. DEALER REBUILT DIFFERENTIAL, PROBLEM PERSISTS, DEALER NOW HAS VEHICLE INSTALLING A NEW TRANSMISSION TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM. BRAKE PEDAL PULSES (NOT ABS)AND STEERINGS WHEEL SHUDDERS (LEFT/RIGHT) WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS. (NOT REPORTED TO DEALER, HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE). OIL FILTER- TO REMOVE FILTER IT MUST BE WEDGED PAST THE SOLENOID/STARTER. IT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE EXPOSED WIRES/LUGS? ON THE STARTER. THERE IS NOTHING PROTECTING THIS EXPOSED AREA. MY DEALER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY COURTEOUS AND UNDERSTANDING IN DEALING WITH THE TRANSMISSION/DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM FORD REGARDING THESE PROBLEMS.THROUGH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED HERE ARE NOT LIMITED TO MY EXPERIENCES. THANK YOU. *AK

THE SPARE TIRE IS A 15 INCH TIRE WHILE THE REGULAR TIRE SIZE IS 16 INCHES. THIS MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL/CRASH. *AK

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 20 TO 40MPH AND APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL, VEHICLES DOES NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. OWNER HAS TO WAIT AT LEAST 2 MINUTES BEFORE ACCELERATOR KICKS IN. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE CAUS EOF THE PROBLEM.

VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER. ENGINE FELT LIKE IT HAD DIED. AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WHEN IN LOWER GEAR ONLY, WOULD DIE OUT. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER'S TWICE. *AK

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

THE THROTTLE BOX LINKAGE STICKS AND MAKES THE ACCELERATOR DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS...ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING OUT. THE THROTTLE BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IS STARTING TO STICK AGAIN

REAR DRIVESHAFT EXHIBITS A CLUNKING NOISE/FEELING UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. BEGINS AT AROUND 10,000 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE.

LOAD SQEAL HEARD WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP AND I THINK I CAN HEAR IT IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, BUT NOT CERTAIN AS THE ENGINE NOISE COVERS THE SOUND. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I DID FIND ANOTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAIN SIMILAR TO MINE. ALSO I FOUND A SERVICE BULLITEN #2521 THAT STATES THAT THE PARTS CATALOG BOOK REFERENCES AN INCORRECT CLUTCH PART NUMBER FOR SOME VEHICLES WITH THE 3.0L ENGINES. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT MY TRUCK HAD THE WRONG PART IN IT ORIGINALLY OR THEY PUT THE WRONG PART IN ( THROUGOUT BEARING REPLACED JULY 1999) WHEN THEY FIXED IT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I WILL BE CONTACTING ANOTHER DEALER WITH THIS PROBLEM, AS I WAS NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE THAT I GOT FROM THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS, JAY GROVER

THE VEHICLE STALLS AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO FORDS ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN THE SHOP MANY TIMES AND FORD HAS DUPLICATED THE MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM OR COME UP WITH ANY FIX. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 4 MONTH DURING THE LAST YEAR.

LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FELL OFF DUE TO MISSING SCREW DURING MANUFACTURING. MJS

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS. THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, WITH A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE AS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILED (ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPT. OF THE FORD DEALER). THE SECOND FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY, AGAIN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SAME SERVICE DEPT. REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED TONIGHT, AGAIN ON THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE -- TWICE I HAVE BEEN ABRUPTLY LEFT POWERLESS IN A FREEWAY WITH NO WAY TO MOVE THE TRUCK.