1998 Ford Ranger

HAZARD OF FIRE OR EXPLOSION FROM INFERIOR PARTS. HOSES AND PIPES FROM FILLER NECK TO GAS TANK ARE BEING REPLACED BY BENEFICIAL AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE IN MOORE OKLAHOMA. TANK HAS TO BE FLUSHED AND FILTER REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO GAS FUMES AND LEAKING FUEL FROM THE DECOMPOSING FILLER NECK HOSES. I JUST HAD TO HAVE THIS DONE FOR THE SAME REASON ON MY '98 FORD E250. FORD DEALER PARTS SALESPERSON SAYS THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM(EVEN HE STATED HE ANTICIPATES THIS WITH HIS FORD TRUCK) AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED TO CORRECT THE RUBBER DECOMPOSITION WHICH ALSO CLOGGED THE FILTERS AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CAUSING CHRONIC STALLING AND ROUGH RUNNING ON BOTH VEHICLES. HAD TO HAVE FILTERS REPLACED AND INJECTION SYSTEM SYSTEM CLEANED NUMEROUS TIMES. FORD HAS REFUSED TO EVEN SUPPLY THE REPLACEMENT PARTS OR ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. LEAKING GAS AND FUMES COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH IF THIS IS NOT HANDLED. THE RECENT REPAIR TO THE E250 WAS IN EXCESS OF $200 (PARTS WERE $100+ FROM DEALER. THE REENGINEERED PARTS FOR THE FORD RANGER ARE $250+ AND LABOR WILL MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT AS THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE TRUCK BED AND TANK TO REPLACE THE PARTS AND FLUSH THE TANK. ADDITIONALLY MY DRIVEWAY IS DAMAGED FROM THE LEAKING FUEL. REFERRED TO YOU BY CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. SINCERELY, VINCE DENNIS. *NM

WHILE BACKING MY 98 FORD RANGER 4.0 SUPERCAB WITH TOW PACKAGE (WHICH HAS THE BEEFIER BRAKES) THE ALUMINUM BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE BAR THAT THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH HINGE ON, BROKE AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. THIS LEFT ME HEADING IN REVERSE WITH NO BRAKE OR CLUTCH. I WAS IN SHOCK, IMAGINE THE STEERING WHEEL COMING OFF IN YOUR HANDS WHILE DRIVING; THAT'S HOW I FELT. I DIDN'T THINK TO HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT I WAS ALREADY HALFWAY INTO THE GARAGE AND HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO REACT PROPERLY BEFORE I CRASHED INTO THE BACK WALL (CINDERBLOCK) PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE WALL WHICH KILLED THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AT THE FIRE STATION WHERE I WORK! THE POLICE DID A REPORT. HE SAW AND REPORTED THE BRAKES WERE BROKE ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T LOOK VERY CLOSELY. MANY OF MY SUPERIORS AT THE JOB SAW THAT THE BRAKES HAD BROKE AWAY AND WERE NOW DANGLING, USELESS. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED ON THE BILL THE STATE OF THE BRAKES AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. I REQUESTED THE BROKEN PARTS AND THEY ARE NOW IN MY POSSESSION. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY STATED THE OBVIOUS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO STATED THEIR WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS NOT TRUE; I KNEW ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HAS HAD THE FIRESTONES REPLACED. I GUESS THEY MEANT ON THE BRAKES. I SAID YES, BUT CERTAIN THINGS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON A VEHICLE ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD YOU WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MAY FALL OFF. JUST LIKE YOU WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY MAY BRAKE AWAY UNDER YOUR FEET. TODAY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD SAYING THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WONDER IF THERE HAS BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE MINE AND THEY ARE IN THE FORM OF "SERVICE BULLETINS" SECRET RECALLS THAT KEEP FORD AND OTHER COMPANIES FROM HAVING TO FIX MANY OF THEIR PROBLEMS. *JB THE CONSUNER HAD TO HAVE 2 BAD LUG NUTS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB

MY 1998 FORD RANGER CAUGHT FIRE ON JULY 31, 2006. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE AND THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND A WATCHFUL NEIGHBOR CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NOW, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE IS COMPLETELY CHARRED, PROPERTY ON THE HOUSE IS DAMAGED, AND THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I WILL HAVE A FIRE INSPECTOR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL SWITCH PRESENT ON MANY FORD VEHICLES. THE NHTSA IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER, AS IT HAS ALREADY RECEIVED OVER 550 COMPLAINTS FROM SIMILAR INCIDENTS. PLEASE MAKE A REPORT OF THIS COMPLAINT AND CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU. *NM

THE CAB OF MY 1998 FORD RANGER TRUCK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SEAL OVER THE PASSENGER DOOR, BUT THE WATER IS RUNNING IN THE CAB ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW AND THE SEAL IS TIGHT ON THE WINDOW. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE WATER IS GETTING IN ALONG THE SEAM OF THE CAB ROOF JUST BEHIND THE DOOR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAB. THE WATER HAS FOUND ITS WAY UP INTO THE FELT AND ROOF INSULATION AND LEFT WATER MARKS BUT (THANKFULLY) NO SEPARATION OF THE ROOF FELT FROM THE CAB BODY YET. I DID USE GE SILICONE CAULK TO FILL IN THE SEAMS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAB, AND IT DID REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER GETTING IN, BUT YESTERDAY IT RAINED AND I NOTICED THAT THE WATER IS STILL GETTING IN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAB ROOF. I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE INSPECTED THE DOOR SEALS AND THEY SEEM PLIABLE AND FIRMLY AFFIXED TO THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE KNOWING BECAUSE THE WATER HAS RESULTED IN TWO SHORTS IN THE TRUCK'S INTERIOR LIGHTING CAUSING ME TO PULL THE FUSE FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. WHEN THE CAB GETS WET INSIDE, THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN L TURN THE TRUCK OFF. THE REMOVAL OF THE FUSE, ALTHOUGH GIVING A REMEDY TO THE DOME LIGHT PROBLEM, HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AT NIGHT WITH NO INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE FLOOR OR DOME. QUITE FRANKLY, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE WITH ALL THIS DAMPNESS IN THE CAB. *NM

TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN LEAVING A PARKING LOT THE SPARE TIRE AFFIXED UNDER THE TRUCK BED OF MY 1998 FORD RANGER PICKUP WITH 79,000 MILES FELL OFF. WHEN I RETRIEVED THE TIRE AND METAL PIECE THAT HOLDS THE TIRE I OBSERVED THAT THE CABLE HAD APPARENTLY SNAPPED. HAD I BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE OR OTHER MAJOR HIGHWAY SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THEY HAD NO OTHER REPORTS OF THIS TYPE FAILURE AND I WAS TO PAY A DEALER TO REPLACE THE DEVICE AND RECEIVE A 1 YEAR WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF THE TRUCK INDICATE TO ME THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT JUST WEAR AND TEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS HAPPEN, BUT A LIFE OR LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN LOST. I AM DEBATING AS HOW BEST TO SECURE MY SPARE AND CURRENTLY JUST CARRY IT IN MY TRUCK BED AND BRING IT INTO MY HOME AT NIGHT TO PREVENT THEFT. THE CABLE IS STILL IN THE TRUCK MECHANISM AND I HAVE THE METAL PIECE THAT HOLDS THE TIRE IN PLACE. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK RESPONDED WITH AN "OH WELL", FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOOK AN INTEREST, BUT AS NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THEY SAY NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE ARE IN THEIR RECORDS TOO BAD FOR ME. THEY REFERRED ME TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN TOWN WHO WANTS $100 TO FIX IT. I WILL NOT PAY THEM OUT OF SPITE AND WILL TRY TO DETERMINE ANOTHER SAFE METHOD OF CARRYING MY TIRE. I DO NOT TRUST THEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ORIGINAL LEFT REAR WHEEL IS CRACKED AND RUSTING ALONG THE INNER PORTION BY THE VALVE STEM OF THE RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL DETERMINED THE RIM FRACTURED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE STEEL MATERIAL OF THE WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM ONLY EXISTED ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL RIM. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPOSED TO HARSH WEATHER OR OTHER ELEMENTS, THE RUSTING RIM ALLOWS AIR TO ESCAPE FROM THE ATTACHED TIRE. *NM

1998 FORD RANGER HAD THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH REPLACED 3 OR 4 TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS. THE DOOR AJAR IS LINKED TO THE DOME LIGHT. IF THE DOOR AJAR SWITCHES BECOME CORRUPTED OR MALFUNCTION, THE DOME LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON. THE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE DOME LIGHT OFF WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE FIRMLY CLOSED AND LOCKED. THE GLARE FROM THE DOME LIGHTS MAKE DRIVING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH NO REPAIR FACILITY CLOSE BY.*JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1998 FORD RANGER ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISE AND THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD CONSIDERABLY LESS POWER AFTER THE LOSS OF THE SPARK PLUG. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG EARLIER TODAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUG FAILED IT WAS HANGING BY ITS WIRES. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED FORD AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THIS POINT. *AK (11/15/05) *SC