2000 Ford Ranger

I HAVE A 2000 FORD RANGER XLT. THE FRAME, BRAKE LINES, SHACKLES, SHOCKS, AND OTHER COMPONENTS FROM THE MID FRAME TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ARE SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF RUST AND ROT. THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE ROTTED THROUGH AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE REAR BUMPER HAS ROTTED COMPLETELY OFF THE FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE REAR SHACKLES, SPRING MOUNTS, DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND AXLE ARE SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF RUST, AND IN SOME AREAS, COMPLETE ROT THROUGH. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000 MILES AND IS OTHERWISE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. AS I RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THESE ISSUES REVOLVE AROUND THE SAFETY COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE AND IN SHORT TIME, THIS VEHICLE WILL LIKELY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD AND IN MY OPINION, THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED THIS DRASTICALLY AFTER ONLY 11 YEARS. I WOULD URGE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO CONSIDER LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION BEFORE A SERIOUS ISSUE HAPPENS. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT TIRES HAD ABNORMAL WEAR, AND THE FRONT END WOULD SHAKE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REPAIR WAS MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK

I TOOK MY 2000 FORD RANGER INTO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND HAVE THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECKED AS IT HAD A PULL TO THE LEFT. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS AND ANTI-SWAY BARS REPLACED BEFORE THEY COULD DO AN ALIGNMENT. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 42,043 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. I CONTACTED FORD HEADQUARTERS AND ASKED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT THEIR COST AND THEY REFUSED. I HAVE TALKED TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS WHO OWN OLDER FORDS RANGERS AND THEY SAID THAT THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. AT THIS POINT I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING READY TO REPLACE THE PARTS MYSELF, SO NO REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN DONE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD BOTH REAR WHEELS AND AXLES COME OFF MY 2000 FORD RANGER CAUSING ME TO GO BROAD SIDE DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 50FT. THE STATE PATROL MAN INFORMED THE TOWING COMPANY TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE GARAGE AND TEAR IT APART TO FIND THE CAUSE, HE FELT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THIS TRUCK, WE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE KING PIN IN THE REAR END BROKE CAUSING THE REAR END WHEELS AND AXLES ATTACHED TO COME OFF

CONSUMER STATES BEFORE NOW, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING FROM 35 MPH UP TO 50 MPH. NOW THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED SEVERELY ALL OVER WHEN DRIVING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED EXCESSIVE FRONT WEAR ON THE TIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND BOTH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE. *PH

AT 50,000 MILES, MY FORD RANGER BEGAN EXPERIENCING A SLIPPING TRANSMISSION AND FAILED TO START. THE PROBLEMS WERE DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED GASKET IN THE TRANSMISSION, AND A FAILED VALVE BODY PART IN THE MOTOR (WHICH WAS FIXED WITH AN "UPDATE KIT"). THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BEGINNING TO FAIL, AND A FRONT PINION SEAL HAD BEGUN TO LEAK. *AK