2000 Ford Ranger

I HAVE A 2000 RANGER AND WAS TOLD BY A REPAIR SHOP THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE REAR SHACKLES AND LEAF SPRING HANGERS BEING COMPLETELY ROTTED OFF THE FRAME. THE WHOLE REAR FRAME IS ROTTED ALSO AND BARELY HOLDING THE REAR BUMPER ON. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT ALMOST EVERY RANGER LIKE MINE HAS THIS PROBLEM, BOTH OLDER AND NEWER YEARS. THIS ISSUE IS SO BAD THAT AUTO PARTS STORES ARE KEEPING THESE PARTS IN STOCK. THESE TRUCKS ARE NOT SAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED ESPECIALLY IN STATES WHICH DO NOT HAVE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS LIKE MINE, MICHIGAN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT ON BOTH SIDES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

WHILE USING ON RAMP AT APPX 40MPH HEARD LOUD BANG AND TRUCK SHIFTED APPX 5FT INTO NEXT LANE THK GOD LANE WAS VACENT. RECOVERED AND CAME TO STOP ON SHOULDER, NOTED REAR SPRING SHACKLE BROKE FROM FRAME, THIS TRUCK CAME FROM PA. NOW IN AZ. NEED TO FIND DONOR TO DO FRAME SWAPP LUCKILY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND ONE IN AZ. OR SCRAPP TRUCK WITH ONLY 58K BOX A ACTUAL MILES ON IT. *TR

THE FRAME ON THE TRUCK IS CRACKED BADLY BEHIND THE CAB ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS NOT EXCESSIVE RUST TO JUSTIFY THE CRACKED FRAME. THE TRUCK WAS IN A MINOR ACCIDENT OVER A YEAR AGO AND WAS REPAIRED COMPLETELY. THERE WAS A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE WHOLE TRUCK AT THAT TIME AND THERE WAS NO FRAME DAMAGE. THE TRUCK IS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND BEHIND THE CAB AND WE NEED TO MAKE A REPAIR TO FIX THIS BEFORE CONTINUING TO DRIVE IT. WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2000 FORD RANGER LIKE THE TOYOTA. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS TRUCK HAS FAILED N H STATE INSPECTION FOR FRAME PROBLEMS,FIRST TIME WAS FOR A RUSTED THROUGH CROSS MEMBER WHICH I HAD TO HAVE WELDED,11/17/2009. NOW I GO BACK FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION ON 11/30/2012 AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE REAR SHACKLES WHICH I SAY OK,THE REPAIR SHOP CALLS ME AND TELLS ME THE FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH AND THEY CAN NOT PUT IN THE, FRAME HAS TO BE REPLACED FROM BACK TO ABOUT 4 FEET TO THE FRONT AND AT ANOTHER COST OF 350$ THE LAST COST WAS THE SAME 350$.I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS TRUCK AND THE BODY LOOKS LIKE NEW.THE WELDING SHOP GUY TOLD ME HE HAD TO DO SEVERAL OF THESE REPAIRS TO EVEN 2002 FORD TRUCKS,I CAN NOT SEE THE REASON FOR THIS,THIS IS THE FIRST OF ANY CARS OR TRUCKS I HAVE EVER OWNED THAT HAD FRAME PROBLEMS,CAN YOU HELP RECOUP SOME OR ALL OF MY MONEY ON THIS,I AM DISABLED AND ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO THROW MONEY OUT THE WINDOW,THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR