1999 Ford Ranger

1999 FORD RANGER EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT RELEASE IN COLD WEATHER; HARD TO RELEASE THE REAR WHEELS AT OTHER TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN FEB 2004. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS REPLACED AS WAS THE REAR BRAKE DRUM AND PADS. THE HEAT CAUSED A BREAKDOWN OF THE BRAKE FLUID CAUSING THE REPAIR FACILITY TO REPLACE THE FLUID, ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD DONE THIS. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2004. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVVED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION IN ORDER TO PREVENT FROM HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING CHAFING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS.

I HAVE A 99 FORD RANGER XLT EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCK. IT HAS A 4.0L ENGINE WITH AC. I JUST WENT OVER 58,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK 3 TIMES ALREADY. A COMMENT MADE BY MORE THAN ONE BRAKE TECHNICIAN WAS THAT THE BRAKES ON THIS TRUCK SEAM VERY UNDER CAPACITY FOR THIS SIZE VEHICLE. THEY ARE LIKE THOSE ON A SMALL COMPACT CAR. I AM A VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVER. I DON'T RUN UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND SLAM ON THE BRAKES. WHEN I SEE A LIGHT THAT IS RED AHEAD OF ME I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND LET THE ENGINE SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN. I APPLY THE BRAKES ONLY WHEN I HAVE TO COME TO A FULL STOP. I HAD A PREVIOUS RANGER THAT THE 1ST TIME I HAD TO REPLACE THE BREAKS AT 70,000 MILES. I DON'T THINK BRAKES SHOULD BE WEARING OUT SO FAST. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE METAL FRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DETERIORATED. AS A RESULT, THE BUMPER HANGS DOWN FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WA SPARKED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF REAR BUMPER WAS HANGING DOWN BECAUSE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME WAS RUSTED. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME AND THE VEHICLE'S BODY WERE NOT RUSTED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER COULD NOT FIND TIME TO VIEW THE VEHICLE, BUT OFFERED $1000 OF THE $3500 REPAIR COST IF REPAIRED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. CONTACT REJECTED IT CLAIMING IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK

MY 1999 FORD RANGER 4X4 WITH 3.0 LITER FLEX FUEL ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING, RUNNING ROUGH AND OVERHEATING TWO DAYS AGO. I TOOK IT TO HALDEMAN FORD TO BE CHECKED. THEY TOLD ME TODAY THERE WAS WATER/COOLANT IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE CYLINDERS AND THE HEAD(S) MAY BE CRACKED, AND I NEED A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 95,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD OIL CHANGES, COOLANT FLUSHES, ETC. AT REGULAR INTERVALS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON YOUR WEBSITE, AND HEARD FROM OTHERS, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SIX CYLINDER ENGINES FORD USED IN RANGERS AND EXPLORERS. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $6400 FOR A REBUILT ENGINE INSTALLED. IT SEEMS THIS IS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT THE FOLKS AT THE DEALER SAID NO. *JB

TRANSMISSION WENT "BANG" WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE, AFTER THAT, REVERSE DIDN'T WORK. AMMCO STATES THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD. I'VE BEEN TOLD FOR YEARS NOW BY OTHER FORD TRUCK OWNERS THAT THEIR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AROUND 40,000 MILES, MINE DIED AT 60,. EVEN FORD'S SALES PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A HISTORY HERE OF FORD TRANSMISSIONS SELF DESTROYING. *JB