2002 Ford Ranger

BROUGHT TRUCK INTO SERVICE CENTER FOR NOISE IN FRONT. RAISED TRUCK TO INSPECT---- COMPLETE UNDERCARIAGE RUSTED BEYOND BELIEF,FRONT TO REAR BOLTS, NUTS, BRACKETS,FRAME, SHOCKS, ETC. MAIN CONCERN IS FRAME, BRAKE LINES --- HAD TO HAVE REAR LEAF SPRING SUPPORT AND BRACKET REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS READY TO BREAK. HAD SHOCKS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY COULD BUST AT ANY TIME. THIS IS A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 32,000 MILES --- BODY STILL LOOKS GREAT BUT UNDERNEATH IS QUESTIONABLE IS THERE A RECALL OR SOMETHING I CAN FALL BACK ON ????

A LOUD THUNK, REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DROPPED, IMMEDIATE STOP AT MECHANIC'S SHOP, EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST AND RIVETED CONSTRUCTION OF SHACKLE BRACKET HANGERS AND SHACKLE BRACKET HAD CAUSED THE SHACKLE BRACKET HANGER TO BREAK FROM THE FRAME. THE SPRING WAS SHOVED UP AGAINST THE TRUCK'S BED. AT HIGHWAY SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. MECHANIC SAID BOTH SHACKLE BRACKET HANGERS AND SHACKLE BRACKETS WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT WITH PROBABLY NEW METAL WELDED TO THE FRAME TO ENSURE THE NEW SHACKLE BRACKET HANGERS WOULD BE STABLE. ALSO, MECHANIC STATED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED TO A GREATER DEGREE THAN USUAL EVEN FOR NEW ENGLAND. WITH 107000 MILES, THIS SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE FOR US. THERE ARE ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS WAITING TO HAPPEN. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING DONE. MORE TO COME ONCE I GO TO THE WELDING SHOP TODAY (8/1/2013). READ ONLINE RANGER FORUMS TO SEE HOW PREVALENT THIS FRAME ROT ISSUE IS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF AND WAS DRAGGING UNDER THE TRUCK. LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK I NOTICED LOTS OF ROT? THIS TRUCK IS IN GREAT CONDITION NOT A SPOT OF RUST ON THE BODY BUT THE FRAME IS A ROTTED MESS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A TEN YEAR OLD TRUCK. P.S IF THE TIRE EVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE TRUCK COMPLETELY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 08/04/08 *BF THE SEALED FRONT WHEEL BEARING ABS FAILED. UPDATED 08/07/08.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE REAR AXLE FLUID. THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED AND NO OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 61,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AROUND 20 MPH THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD EXCESSIVE PRY AND COULD POSSIBLY SEPARATE. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FAILURES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44000.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. TIRES WERE ROTATED 4 TIMES, BUT THE VIBRATION STILL OCCURRED. ALSO, AT 5,000 MILES, COOLING FAN BEARING/HUB SQUEAKED BECAUSE OF MOISTURE BUILD UP. THE FAN BELT WAS REPLACED. SQUEAKING NOISE RECURRED AT 10,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP LUBRICATED THE FAN BELTS. BUT, THE SQUEAKING NOISE RECURRED AT 35,0000. THE FAN BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK