1994 Ford Ranger

NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE IF THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DURING TURNING, STOPPING AND GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. FIGURED IT WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMPLE AND TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS A RUSTED FRAME MOUNT AND TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP. SO I DID AND THE SECOND OPINION WAS THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY IN TWO JUST IF FRONT OF THE RIGHT SHOCK MOUNT. I CLIMBED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IT TRULY IS RUSTED COMPLETELY INTO TWO PIECES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS KEEP THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WHERE IT BELONGS. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PARKED FOR NOW. WHERE DO I TURN NOW? NO PUN INTENDED.

JM AUTO SALES AT 12248 N. 600 E. DEMOTTE, IN 46310, SOLD ME AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, HE ASSURED ME THAT HE SERVICES ALL HIS VEHICLES BEFORE HE SELLS THEM BECAUSE HE WANTS HIS CUSTOMERS HAPPY, WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC HE TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, CENTER LINKS, WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND EXHAUST FLANGE MANIFOLD, ITS UNFAIR FOR THIS BUSINESS TO SELL A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD, THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE UNSAFE AND DECEPTIVE ACTS AND PRACTICES ACT. IF HE SERVICES THE VEHICLE HE WOULD KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM AND NOT PUT THEM FOR SALE. *TR

PURCHASED A VERY NICE 1994 FORD RANGER XLT WITH APPROX. 63,709 ORIGINAL MILES THE FRAME PERCHES AND LEAF SPRING PURCHASES ARE LIKE SWISS CHEESE THE SCALE ON THE FRAME IS TERRIBLE THE MECHANIC COULD NOT SAFELY PUT THIS TRUCK ON A LIFT LOOKS LIKE TRUCK UNDERNEATH WAS DIPPED IN RUST ANY INFORMATION OR REPLY WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

PREMATURE SEVERE RUST ON UNDER BODY OF FRAME AND JUST ABOUT EVERY COMPONENT CONNECTED TO THE FRAME ITSELF, INCLUDING BODY MOUNTS, LEAF SPRING BRACKETS, STEERING COMPONENTS. WITHOUT PROPER KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ACTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE RUST CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING, CONTROL, AND SHIFTING LOADS AS REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKET HAS ALREADY FAILED AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE. BODY MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED LEAVING THE CAB WITH POTENTIAL TO FALL OFF, OR SHIFT DURING A SIMPLE DRIVING MANEUVER . FRAME HAS PANCAKES OF RUST FLAKING OFF AT THIS TIME IN IT'S AGE (NOW 18 YEARS). THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE TO INTERNET FORD TRUCK CLUB MEMBERS WITH SEVERE RUST THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME AND IT'S COMPONENTS ATTACHED TO IT. *TR

3 OUT OF 4 LEAF SPRING BRACKETS (THOSE THAT ATTACH THE LEAF SPRING TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK) RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE SEVERING THE CONNECTION OF THE LEAF SPRING TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THE 4TH BRACKET WAS ALSO REPLACED AT THE URGING OF MY MECHANIC SINCE IT APPEARED TO BE CLOSE TO BREAKING AS THE OTHER 3 DID. THESE BRACKET FAILURES WERE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AND PUT THE SAFETY OF ALL PASSENGERS AT RISK FOR PERSONAL INJURY. I PERSONALLY KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR FORD RANGERS. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPAIR THEIR TRUCKS COMPENSATION SHOULD BE MADE.

I KEPT HEARING A SQUEAK IN THE REAR END. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK I FOUND THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT REAL BAD. PIECES ARE FLAKING OFF. HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR HANGERS ON LEAF SPRINGS AND SHACKLES DUE TO THEM BEING RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND I WILL ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE FRONT SPRINGS. MY EXHAUST IS THE ORIGINAL AND THE TRUCK HAS 147,000 MILES ON IT. I WOULD EXPECT THE EXHAUST TO RUST OUT BEFORE THE FRAME BUT I GUESS I AM WRONG. I AM STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY KIDS. I STILL HAVE THE PIECES THAT WERE REPLACED. TRUCK WAS ALSO ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH AN UNDERCOATING ON THE FRAME. I GUESS THIS DID NOT HELP. *TR

REAR LEAF SPRING REAR BRACKETS & SUPPORTS RUSTED & DETACHED FROM FRAME. FRAME VERY RUSTED. FRONT-SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKETS APPEAR IN NEAR-DAMAGE CONDITION. 1994 RANGER EXT CAB, XLT, 4L, 2WD. MFG IN 1993, 138K MILES. DEALER REFUSES HELP. DAMAGED DISCOVERED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED D/T LOSS OF REAR END CONTROL. *JB. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ