2002 Ford Ranger

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT PASSED INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTING ON THE AXLE AND THE SUBFRAME ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE SLOWLY BACKING UP THE THROTTLE UNEXPECTEDLY WENT TO WIDE OPEN THROWING GRAVEL, DIGGING HOLES AND LEAVING RUBBER BURN PATCHES. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL BEFORE HITTING A PARKED CAMPING TRAILER. LATER THE SAME DAY WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE AT A BANK THE SAME THING OCCURRED BUT MY FOOT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT. WHEN I GOT HOME AND WAS PARKING IT HAPPENED AGAIN, IN REVERSE, ALMOST RAMMING THE GARAGE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE THIS HAPPENED . FORD 2002 RANGER 4X4 AUTOMATIC TRANS.W

2002 FORD RANGER XLT, FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF SEVERE RUST THAT DEVELOPED ON THE FRONT LEFT SUB FRAME, A ARM BOLT POINTS AND CONTROL ARM POINTS. THE EXTENT OF RUST IS SO SEVERE THAT THE MECHANIC DOESN'T BELIEVE THE VEHICLE CAN BE SALVAGED, BECAUSE THERE IS A NOTHING SOLID ENOUGH LEFT TO WELD A PATCH OR REPLACEMENT PIECE TO. THE TRUCK BODY IS IN PERFECT SHAPE NO OTHER RUST EXCEPT THE FRAME. THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY VISIBLE WHEN THE FACTORY FRONT SKID PLATE WAS REMOVED BY THE INSPECTING MECHANIC. THE TRUCKS FACTORY WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF DISCOVERY EXCEEDED THE TEN YEAR TIME LIMIT, BUT WAS STILL UNDER THE MILEAGE PORTION.

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FROM A DEALERSHIP IN JAN 2010. TRUCK WAS IN GOOD SHAPE, HAD FRAME CHECK OUT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AND LOOKED VERY GOOD. TRUCK HAD ONLY 48000 MILES ON IT. IN JAN OF 2015 THE TRUCK BED SAT A LITTLE CROOKED CHECK FRAME AND SEEN A CRACK ON FRAME 3' LONG BY FRONT SHACKLE. AT THAT TIME TRUCK ONLY HAS 94000 MILES ON IT. TOOK BED OFF AND FOUND MORE AREAS THAT WOULD NEED ADRESSING SOON. I TRIED TO KEEP TRUCK UNDER SIDE CLEAN DURING THE WINTER, I GUESS THE STUFF THE STATE USES ON THE ROAD WAS TO MUCH FOR THE TRUCK.

REAR LEAF SHACKLES REPLACED, ROTTED FROM FRAME, LAST AUG 2014 TO PASS INSPECTION. THIS WINTER 2014-2015, THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER FRAME ROTTED AND FELL FROM THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE SPARE TIRE. NOW, UPON INSPECTION OF THE BED APPEARING CROOKED, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT LEAF SPRING MOUNT IS TOTALLY ROTTED. THIS HAS CAUSED THE GAS TANK MOUNTS TO THE FRAME TO BREAK. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED THE BED TO TWIST AND THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THIS VEHICLE IS NOW ONLY SUPPORTED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME.

THE TIRE IS BF GOODRICH P245/75 R16 109S. I WAS UNABLE TO SELECT THE CORRECT TIRE ON DROP DOWN BOX. REPORT AS FOLLOWS. WHILE DRIVING ON I-74 I FELT A BIT OF A BUMP, AS IF I HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING. THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED IN MY HANDS THEN WENT SHARPLY INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF CONTROL. AS THE TRUCK WAS FLIPPING I SAW THE GUARDRAIL THROUGH A SIDE WINDOW, THE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED BY THEN. THE TRUCK KEPT FLIPPING. THE TRUCK THEN LANDED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND SPUN SEVERAL TIMES, THEN FINALLY STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY SEAT BELT THEN STAND IN THE TRUCK. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR THAT WAS IN THE AIR, ABOUT 10 INCHES, ENOUGH TO LOOK OUT, SCREAM FOR HELP AND WAVE MY ARM. A MAN THEN PRIED THE DOOR OPEN ENOUGH FOR ME TO CLIMB THE TRUCK SEATS AND CONSOLE LIKE A LADDER THEN SQUEEZE OUT OF THE DOOR AND JUMP DOWN. AFTER EVALUATING THE TRUCK, THE TIRE TREAD HAD COME OFF OF THE TIRE, WHICH IS STILL ON THE TRUCK AND INFLATED.

ON 8/13/2013 THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP IN MY 2002 FORD RANGER WAS REPLACED WITH AN AIRTEX BRAND FUEL PUMP.ON 3/17/2015 I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AFTER IT FAILED,ONLY 18 MONTHS AND 5000 MILES LATER.DURING THE PERIOD OF 6/10/2013 AND 8/16/2013 AIRTEX HAD A FUEL PUMP RECALL ON THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLE MODELS,AS WELL AS HAVING RECALLED DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS SINCE.ALSO IN 12/2013 AIRTEX BEGAN OFFERING A LIFETIME WARRANTY AS OPPOSED TO THEIR PREVIOUS ONE YEAR WARRANTY.I HAVE OWNED 6 CARS AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP.I BELIEVE MY LOW MILEAGE MANAGED TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP,AND THEREFORE NEITHER ME OR MY REPAIR SHOP SHOULD BE LIABLE.I ALSO BELIEVE THE HISTORY OF FAILURE WITH AIRTEX PUMPS SHOULD MAKE THEM LIABLE FOR MY REPAIR,DESPITE ANY OUTDATED WARRANTY.I BELIEVE THEIR CONSTANT RECALLS AND OPTING TO PROVIDE A LONGER WARRANTY SUGGESTS THEY DON'T HAVE THE FAITH IN THEIR PRODUCT THEY EXPECT ME TO. I FEEL AIRTEX CUSTOMER SUPPORT FAILED TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE OR PROVIDE ANY MEANS FOR RESOLUTION.THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PUMP,NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.I STILL HAVE ALL REPAIR RECEIPTS AND THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER THAT WERE REMOVED FROM MY TRUCK.THERE IS ZERO CHANCE HOW I DRIVE,PARK OR ANYTHING I HAVE DONE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS FUEL PUMP FAILURE,I DO NOT WANT TO BE PUNISHED BECAUSE I PRESERVED THEIR DEFECT BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD,WHICH AIRTEX THEMSELVES DEEMED TO BE INSUFFICIENT,OTHERWISE WHY WOULD THEY CHANGE IT TO A LIFETIME WARRANTY? *TR