1997 Ford Ranger

I HAVE SEVERE RUSTING OF THE FRAME AND PARTS CONNECTED TO FRAME OF MY 1997 FORD RANGER, AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT ITS SAFETY ON THE ROAD/HIGHWAY. AND I ONLY HAVE 64,000 MILES ON IT! I HAVE HEARD OF SPARE TIRES COMING LOOSE AND FALLING OFF, REAR BUMPERS FALLING OFF, GAS TANKS FALLING OFF, REAR SHACKLES COMING LOOSE ETC...ON THE FORD RANGER BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE RUST. IF I WAS TOWING A TRAILER AND THE REAR BUMPER FELL OFF THERE GOES THE TRAILER TOO, A TRAILER AND/OR BUMPER THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND KILL SOMEBODY! SAME WITH THE OTHER PARTS COMING LOOSE. AND IF THE REAR AXLE BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME IT WOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT AND FATALITY. AND IF I WAS CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD THE FRAME COULD BUCKLE OR BREAK IN HALF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND FATALITY, BECAUSE THE FRAME IS HALF GONE BECAUSE OF THE RUST. ITS JUST LIKE THE FRAME RUST PROBLEMS ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND TUNDRA TRUCKS. I ALSO HEARD THAT THE SUPPLIER OF THE FRAMES FOR THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND TUNDRA, WAS ALSO THE SUPPLIER FOR THE FORD RANGER FRAMES. I THINK THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BY FORD, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORCE FORD TO RECALL MY 97 FORD RANGER, AND ALL OTHER FORD RANGERS AFFECTED BY THE RUSTY FRAMES ASAP. FORCE FORD TO BUYBACK THE TRUCKS AT KBB VALUE, OR REPLACE THE RUSTY FRAMES WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE. THE FRAME IS THE BACKBONE OF A TRUCK, ITS A CRITICAL PART AND IF IT FAILS BECAUSE OF SEVERE RUSTING, YOU HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM HERE. ITS A DISASTER JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN, AND I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACTION AND BE PROACTIVE, AND NOT WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO BE KILLED ON THE NATIONS HIGHWAYS. ONLY 64,000 MILES ON MY 97 RANGER AND BIG CHUNKS OF STEEL ARE FLAKING OFF THE FRAME AND HAVE FOR YEARS! HALF THE FRAME IS GONE ALREADY! THE FRAME SHOULD FAR OUTLAST THE BODY OF THE TRUCK, AND ITS JUST THE OPPOSITE! A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. ACTION IS NEEDED NOW. *TR

PLASTIC FUEL LINE SPLIT AT THE INPUT OF THE FUEL FILTER THAT IS LOCATED BEHIND THE ENGINE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME. WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON GASOLINE SPRAYS FROM THIS CRACK PIECE OF PLASTIC LINE. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS ELECTRIC AND ENERGIZES ANYTIME THE IGNITION IS ON THE PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK AT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK . THIS IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS AS THE SPRAYING GASOLINE COULD EASILY HIT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR EXHAUST SYSTEM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. FORTUNATELY I NOTICED THE LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN I WAS WARMING UP THE CAR ON AS COOL MORNING. AS A RESULT NO REAL DAMAGE WAS DONE. WILL COST ABOUT $350 TO REPAIR. *TR

UNDER HARD BRAKING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT DISENGAGED FROM THE BUCKLE. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT "BUCKLING" WITH THE SEAT BELT FOR YEARS. LOOKING ONLINE I SEE NUMEROUS PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. COMPLAINTS OF A SPRING IS MISSING OR BROKEN, COINS ARE STUCK DOWN INSIDE THE MECHANISM, ETC. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN! I CAN ONLY WONDER HOW MANY INJURIES OR DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED FROM SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE. EVERY DAY I GET IN MY TRUCK I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE BELT BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. SOMETIMES I JUST CHECK AFTER IT HAS ALREADY ENGAGED AND IT COMES LOOSE. THE DEALER SOLUTION IS TO PAY THEM FOR A "REPLACEMENT" ITEM, THE COST OF WHICH IS AROUND $250-300... I'LL BE PURCHASING A REPLACEMENT. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE REPLACEMENT IS OF THE SAME DESIGN. I'M ASKING FOR HELP TO REMEDY A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE GROUND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHOM LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FUEL FILTER NECK HOSE, WHICH WAS CRACKED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FUEL FILTER NECK HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NO INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE I FOUND IT IN TIME (THANK GOD)! I CAME OUT MY FRONT DOOR AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDER MY TRUCK. I TOOK IT TO CAR-X AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ONE OF MY SUPPORTS HOLDING UP MY GAS TANK. RIGHT THERE I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK! I ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO RUSTY UNDERNEATH. THEY EVEN CALLED THE DEALER, I GOT IT FROM, AND THEY TOLD THEM THEY DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. RIGHT NOW I HAVE A RATCHET BELT HOLDING IT UP BUT I'M AFRAID IT WON'T LAST THROUGH A LOT OF RAIN AND SNOW. *TR

LAST YEAR I STARTED NOTICING A GAS SMELL WHEN FILLING. BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED GAS LEAK ON GROUND WHEN FILLING. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE GAS FILL PIPE, IT HAS DETERIORATED TO AN UNUSABLE CONDITION. WHETHER THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE GASOHAUL USED IN MN. OR POOR QUALITY IN THE MANUFACTURING I COULDN'T TELL YOU,BUT WHEN I ORDERED THE PART THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEIR DELIVERY TRUCK. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE THERE IS AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE IN A GAS STATION WHILE SOMEONE IS FILLING THEIR TRUCK. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF MORE INFORMATION IS NEEDED OR WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THIS MATTER. *TR