1999 Ford Ranger

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS HANGING DOWN BELOW THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER, WHICH HELD THE MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR THE FUEL TANK, WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. IN ADDITION, THE CROSS MEMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND THE REAR FRAME WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CROSS MEMBER SUPPORT AT ATTACHING FUEL TANK STRAP FAILED DUE TO RUST, ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO HANG LOW. THE FUEL TANK IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN PLACE BY A ROPE. THE FUEL FILLER IS NOW SEPARATED FROM THE BODY. UPDATED 09/27/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS CORRODING AND THE BUMPER COULD FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE FRAME NEAR MY BACK WHEELS IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THERE IS NOW A BIG CRACK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME. THE RUST AMOUNTS ARE EXCESSIVE, AND IN MY OPINION SEEM TO BE A FAILURE IN DESIGN OF THE FRAME. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 105,000 MILES ON IT AND THE FRAME IN THAT SECTION OF THE CAR HAS SERIOUS RUST WHILE THE REST OF THE CAR LOOKS GOOD. ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS IN THE BACK HAVE A LOT OF RUST, MORE THAN CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO POOR MAINTENANCE. IF I HADN'T SEEN THIS CRACK DEVELOPING IN THE FRAME A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A FAULTY PRODUCT

LEFT SIDE OF FRAME RAIL RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT FRAME IS ALMOST BROKE IN HALF ON LEFT REAR PORTION JUST AHEAD OF REAR AXLE. SWAY ARM WAS ALSO CONNECTED TO THIS PART OF FRAME. LARGE PORTION OF FRAME RAIL IS MISSING, (APPROXIMATELY 6X6") WHICH HAS RENDERED TRUCK USELESS & UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LAST YEAR BOTH REAR SPRING SHACKLES HAD TO BE REPLACED OR REAR AXLE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. UNTIL NOW THIS VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.

1999 FORD RANGER XLT 4WD,VIN [XXX], FRAME RUSTED ALMOST IN HALF ON THE LEFT REAR, JUST AHEAD OF REAR AXLE. LARGE PORTION OF OUTSIDE FRAME RAIL IS MISSING. REAR SPRING SHACKLES REPLACE 1 YEAR AGO. TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SEVERE RUST ON THE REAR PORTION OF FRAME, WHICH RENDERS THE TRUCK USELESS. ANY HELP WITH THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I'VE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE VERY COMMONPLACE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I CANNOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR