1999 Ford Ranger

I PURCHASED NEW, A 1999, FORD RANGER, 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK ON NOVEMBER 16, 1998, [XXX]. TODAY, I ONLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE ALTHOUGH I WILL BE REPLACING THE REAR BRAKES A SECOND TIME IN NEARLY 3 YEARS. IN JANUARY OF 2003, IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC ON A SNOWY MORNING, I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I DIDN'T FEEL THE BRAKES CATCH AND HOLD THE WAY THEY SHOULD. CONSEQUENTLY, IT TOOK A LONGER DISTANCE FOR ME TO STOP. BRAKES ARE AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO MY SAFETY AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF ALL OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO HANKS GARAGE, INC. (5928 ACKLEY ROAD, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44105, 216-883-0345). I WAS TOLD THAT MY REAR DRUM BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN WORKING AT ALL. IN FACT, THE REAR BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN WORKING AT ALL FOR SOME TIME AS WAS EVIDENT BY THEM BEING COMPLETELY FROZEN AND RUSTED THROUGH. ALSO, THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE NOT WORKING. MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME HOW THE SPRINGS AND SHOES WERE RUSTED AND CRUMBLED, FELLING IN TO PIECES. THAT DISCOVERY WAS UNSETTLING TO SAY THE LEAST FOR A VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAD 29,611 MILES AT THAT TIME. I AM LUCKY THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING REAR BRAKES ON THESE VEHICLES. AT THAT TIME THE TRUCKS ODOMETER READ ONLY 29,611 MILES. CLEARLY THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLES REAR DRUM BRAKING SYSTEM. THAT DEFECT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. SAFETY FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAYS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR DESIGNS AND SAFETY QUALITY. TODAY, AGAIN, I AM HAVING A TROUBLE WITH THE REAR BRAKES. IT SEEMS TO BE TAKING ME A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP SAFELY. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT LED ME TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO THE REPAIR SHOP IN 2003. I HAVE ONLY PUT SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 10,000 ADDITIONAL MILES ON MY TRUCK. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS 39,973. IT IS LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE ALL THE COMPONENTS RUST AND DETERIORATE A SECOND TIME. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDO

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE 4X4 HIGH LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE SELECTOR SWITCH STILL IN THE 2-WHEEL DRIVE POSITION. STOPPED THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY AND RESTARTED THE TRUCK. ONCE MORE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED, WHEN THE 4X4 HIGH LIGHT AGAIN FLASHED ON AND OFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 50+ MPH THE TRUCK SLAMMED INTO 4X4 LOW. THE SELECTOR SWITCH REMAINED IN THE 2-WHEEL DRIVE POSITION.

DT: THE THROTTLE GETS STUCK INTERMITTENTLY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON OR OFF OR THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT CHECKED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, OTHER MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT IT BUT COULD NOT SEEM TO PIN POINT THE PROBLEM, BUT SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE PC VALVE AND THE FILTER. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM. *AK

CONSUMER REQUEST ASSISTANCE RE THE DIFFICULTY HE IS EXPERIENCING IN GETTING FORD TO REPLACE THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON HIS 1999 FORD RANGER. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD REPLACE THE RECALLED TIRES AT ANY TIME, FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER HE HAS SINCE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT TOO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED AND HE MUST PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES HIMSELF. *NM

DT: PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 6/2/05 WHEN THE WIRE THAT HOLD THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE BROKE AND THE TIRE FELL TO THE GROUND. OWNER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING AROUND A CORNER ABOUT 5 MPH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. REGULARLY MAINTAINED. *AK CONSUMER IS NOT MAKING A COMPLAINT BUT IS JUST REPORTING A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE DESIGN OF THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER.*SB *NM