2001 Ford Ranger

SEVERELY RUSTED FRAME RAILS, REAR BUMPER IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF OF VEHICLE!! I JUST ARRIVED BACK IN MASSACHUSSETTS FROM WINTER IN SOUTH CAROLINA, STARTED TO PREPARE MY FORD RANGER TO GO BACK ON THE ROAD, OBSERVED THAT THE REAR BUMPER APPEARED TO BE HANGING LOWER THAN NORMAL. I TUGGED ON THE REAR BUMPER AND FOUND THAT I COULD EASILY MOVE IT UP OR DOWN, CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR FRAME RAILS WERE SO RUSTED THAT THE BUMPER IS IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF OF THE VEHICLE, SPARE WHEEL WELL AND LIFTING MECHANISM ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AS WELL. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RECEIVER UNLATCHES SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE RED BUTTON DOES NOT FULLY RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE UNIT WHICH MAY CAUSE THE UNLATCHING. BODILY INJURY COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL ON SOME 2001 FORD RANGERS FOR THE SAFETY BELT BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE IS NO OUTSTANDING RECALL OR PROGRAMS ON THIS UNIT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, COMING UP TO A THIRD SPEED BUMP. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND MY ENGINE REVVED AND STARTED GOING FASTER. I HIT THE BRAKES AND MY TRUCK SPUN OUT, OFF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. THE SEAT BELT HARNESS DID NOT LOCK UP; THE SHOULDER STRAP STAYED LOOSE, AND MY HEAD WAS BEING HIT AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN, SOMEHOW I FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. 05/17/13 I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO GET THE RECALL FIXED, AND GET EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS 2001 FORD RANGER EDGE, REGULAR CAB FROM A DEALER IN CONNECTICUT. THE EXTERIOR BODY PANELS THEMSELVES LOOKS IMMACULATE NOT A SPOT OF RUST ANYWHERE, HOWEVER, AFTER I HAD DRIVEN HOME THE VEHICLE AND HAD MY FAMILY MECHANIC LOOK IT OVER HE DISCOVERED THERE ARE TWO LOCATIONS WHERE THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED/ ROTTED THROUGH (OVER 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER) ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE, ADJACENT TO THE GAS TANK. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS VERY WELL CARED FOR. THIS MECHANIC THEN TOLD ME THAT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THIS VEHICLE BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS BORDERLINE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FRAME WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,238.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDED ENGINE STALL DURING HIGHWAY AND UPHILL DRIVING. STOPPED AT FUEL STATION TO FILL TANK; WHEN TANK APPROACHED FULL; SOUND OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE NOTED FOLLOWED BY LARGE FUEL SPILLAGE FROM TANK AREA (SATURATED TRUCK RT REAR UNDERBELLY, GROUND, REAR TIRE, MY SHOES AND LOWER PORTION OF PANTS). SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVEALED GAS TANK STRAP DETACHED FROM FRAME DUE TO SEVERE AND WIDESPREAD FRAME ROT. TANK APPARENTLY HANGING FROM REMAINING CORROSION DAMAGED STRAP AND FUEL FILLER NECK (CAUSED TANK TO TILT BACKWARDS; STARVING ENGINE OF FUEL DURING UPHILL OR DYNAMIC DRIVING). FUEL FILLER NECK WAS ALSO SEVERELY ROTTED AND FINALLY FAILED DURING FUEL FILL CAUSING ENTIRE TANK LOADED WITH 16 GALLONS FUEL TO BECOME DETACHED AT SHARP ANGLE. FOLLOWING INCIDENT; VEHICLE PROFESSIONALLY INSPECTED REVEALING EXTENSIVE FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENT DISINTEGRATION DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF FORD DESIGNED SUB-STANDARD MATERIALS. LARGE AREAS OF MATERIAL MISSING FROM BOTH FRONT FRAME MEMBERS (REAR OF ENGINE), LARGE HOLES IN FRAME AREAS FORWARD OF REAR WHEELS (WHERE FUEL TANK STRAPS ATTACK), SEVERE AND WIDESPREAD FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENT CORROSION. VEHICLE CONDEMNED BY INSPECTION PERSONNEL; NOW SITS IDLE IN DRIVEWAY. RANGER PURCHASED NEW (YEAR END, 2001) WITH DEALER RUST-PROOF. VEHICLE REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND KEPT FREE FROM ROAD SALT WITH REGULAR UNDERBELLY WASH. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 120,000 MILES AND LOOKED VERY CLEAN ON EXTERIOR. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES IN MY 35 YEAR DRIVING HISTORY; NEVER HAVE I EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS PRIOR. FORD OBVIOUSLY USED ULTRA-SUB STANDARD MATERIALS IN RANGER CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENT DESIGNS; WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF UNSUSPECTING OWNERS. THIS IS CRIMINAL, IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED BY THESE DESIGN DEFECTS. *TR

2001 FORD RANGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE TIRE MOUNT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FULL SIZED SPARE TIRE ON THE TRUCK, WAS MOUNTED UNDER THE CARGO BED. IT WAS BEING HELD IN PLACE BY A STRANDED STEEL CABLE, ONE END OF WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO A SWAGED STEEL FITTING WHICH WENT THROUGH THE CENTRAL HOLE OF THE SPARE, THE OTHER END TO A WINCH WHICH LOWERED AND RAISED THE SPARE. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A THUMP AND SAW THE SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN OUT OF ITS STORAGE PLACE AND WAS SITTING IN THE ROADWAY BEHIND HIM. WHEN HE INSPECTED THE MECHANISM, HE FOUND THE SWAGED JOINT BETWEEN THE STEEL FITTING AND THE CABLE HAD CORRODED AND FAILED. FORTUNATELY, WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED HE WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE.

WENT TO REAR OF TRUCK AND FOUND BUMPER HAD BROKEN FREE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. LOOKED UNDER THE TUCK AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME IN THE REAR IS ROTTED AND THE LEAF SPRINGS ARE IN DANGER OF COMING COMPLETELY OFF. THE BUMPER IS ENTIRELY FREE FROM THE TRUCK. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME DIRECTLY OVER THE TIRE IS CRACKED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THIS IS THE WORST FRAME I HAVE EVER SEEN AND HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE 70'S AMERICAN CAR MANUFACTURERS MESS. *TR