1998 FORD RANGER Structure Problems

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW, I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BUT NOW MY FRAME IS IN BAD, BAD, BAD RUSTING CONDITION AND MY MECHANIC SAID IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 82,000 MILES ON IT!!! TOYOTA STOOD BEHIND THEIR FRAMES WHY ISN'T FORD?

REAR FRAME EXCESSIVE RUSTING. SPARE TIRE CARRIER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. ONE SIDE OF BUMPER FELL OFF. NOTICED WHEN I STEPPED ON IT

Mileage: 170,000

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION IS DETACHING FROM FRAME AND FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND WILL SEPARATE SOON. THE SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER HAVE FALLEN OFF WHERE IS WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RUST AND THE BED MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED AWAY AND NO LONGER ATTACH TO THE FRAME LEAVING THE BED WITH NO SOLID MOUNT. SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER FELL OFF ON INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 210,050

VEHICLE BACK BUMPER FELL OFF DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST (WHILE IN MOTION). BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS RUSTED OUT AS WELL AS HOLES IN THE FRAME (ALL IDENTIFIED WHILE STATIONARY).

Mileage: 111,150

EXTREMELY RUSTED CAR FRAME

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE BED OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

Mileage: 169,000

THE REAR FRAME OF THE TRUCK HAS ROTTED AWAY. THE REAR SUSPENSION AND BUMPER ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THE BODY ITSELF IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL I STEPPED ON THE REAR BUMPER AND IT BEGAN SAGGING DOWN AND THEN REALIZED THAT A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE FRAMES CROSS MEMBERS WERE ALREADY GONE!

Mileage: 150,000

FRAME IS RUSTING OUT EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE TRUCK LOOKS GREAT . THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN WINTER BECAUSE I HAVE A WORK CAR WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE THAT I USE FOR THIS AND THE FRAME ON THAT VEHICLE IS IN BETTER CONDITION THAN MY RANGER. WE HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 2002 AND IT'S A 1998 MODEL.

Mileage: 99,000

THE REAR FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF BETWEEN THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES AND REAR BUMPER, THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT IF ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY, AND THE GAS TANK CROSS MEMBER IS ALSO NEARLY RUSTED AWAY,1/2 IS MISSING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE REAR SPRINGS DETACHED WHEN THE SHACKLED RUSTED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY

Mileage: 150,000

I HIT A DEER WHILE COMMING HOME FROM WORK AT 45 MPH AND BENT BUMPER, DENTED LEFT QUARTER PANEL,BROKE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LENS AND CRACKED PLASTIC GRILE. AIRBAGS DID NOT APPLY OR ENGAGE. I ALSO HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES TO GET MY DOOR ALARM CHIP REPLACED @ 50 DOLLARS EACH TIME. ON LAST ATTEMPT MY EXTENDED WARANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY REFUSED TO HONER THE PROBLEM AND PROMISE TO REPLACE.EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN EXSISTING PROBLEM. THIS WAS PRIOR TO HITTING THE DEER.

Mileage: 40,000

FRAME/ CHASSIS IS RUSTING. I HEARD TOYOTA WAS FIXING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRUCKS. WHY DOESN'T FORD AND OR HAVE YOU CHECKED THESE TRUCKS OUT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME AND SEE MINE. THANKS, *TR

Mileage: 96,000

TOOK MY 1998 FORD RANGER IN FOR AN INSPECTION ON 01/13/2015 ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE BACK OF THE FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ONLY TWO DAYS EARLIER FROM A DEALERSHIP IN VA(01/11/2015) THAT'S RUN BY A MECHANIC. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AS SOON AS I SAW MY MISTAKE, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T SEE THE RUST, AND THAT THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION IN VA ONLY TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THE FRAME IS ABOUT TO SPLIT IN HALF ITS SO BADLY RUSTED AND NOW I CANT REGISTER IT, NOT TO MENTION DRIVE IT, OUT OF FEAR OF IT SNAPPING AND ME LOSING MY LIFE. OH AND DID I MENTION I PAID $3650 FOR THIS POS? *TR

Mileage: 133,933

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE FRAME BROKE, BEHIND THE CAB WHERE THE BACK BED BEGINS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. EXCESSIVE ROT ALL OVER FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

MY FORD RANGER FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY IN THE BACK AND THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE REAR SHACKLES AND SHACKLE BRACKETS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THE SPARE TIRE HAS EVEN FALLEN OFF FROM RUST. ALSO THE GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM WERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A TRUCK THAT IS NOT THAT OLD. I HAVE READ THINGS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES FRAMES THAT ARE RUSTED AWAY. *TR

Mileage: 163,121

I TOOK MY TRUCK TO HAVE A POWER STEERING ISSUE EXAMINED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. I EXAMINED THE FRAME AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SIZABLE HOLES IN THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE TRUCK IS IN SOLID CONDITION, HOWEVER THE FRAME ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

MY 1998 FORD RANGER FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE GAS TANK IS READY TO FALL OFF . THE SHOCK FELL OFF. THE STRAP FOR THE SPARE TIRE IS RUSTED OFF HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRUCK STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES. *TR

Mileage: 250

WHILE IN BED AT 2:00 AM TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

REAR SECTION OF FRAME AT REAR BUMPER MOUNT AND SPARE TIRE HOLDER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF HOLES ALL THE WAY THRU. HAVE READ A LOT OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TRUCK IS IN VERY NICE SHAPE OTHER THAN THIS. HAVE OWN MANY MANY FORD TRUCKS OVER THE YEARS. ALL DIFFERENT YEARS FROM 1968-2008. FORD SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT FOR ITS CUSTOMERS. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

WENT TO GET ESTIMATE ON REPLACING MUFFLER SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD NOT TO DO IT BECAUSE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND READY TO BREAK. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE JAN. 16 2001. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE REAR SHACKLES IN 2009. DOES FORD HAVE ANY RECALL ON THIS AS I HAVE READ MANY MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING. GAS TANK ABOUT TO FALL OFF. TRUCK ONLY HAS 115000 MILES???? *JS

THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE FROM RUST. I SHOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE AS IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE BUT THEY EITHER COULD OR WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE COIL SPRING POCKET IS CRACKED AND THE SPRING IS ABOUT TO POP OUT. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE FRAME IS BROKEN AND CRACKED IN SEVERAL AREAS DUE TO STRESS FROM FLEXING BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I ATTEMPTED TO GET A LOCAL FABRICATION SHOP WELD IT BUT THEY WILL NOT TOUCH IT. I CAN TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS IF NEED BE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT HAVE NO CHOICE. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED REAR SPRING MOUNTS AND SHACKLES BECAUSE OF RUST BUT I CANNOT REPLACE THE FRAME AND NO ONE WILL TOUCH IT. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

TRUCK IN OVER ALL GREAT SHAPE HOWEVER THE FRAME IS BEAT I KNOW FORD SAYS SALT BUT LOOKING AT THE REST OF TRUCK ONE CAN SEE IT WAS TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. LIKE TOYOTA ,WITH THEM BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ISSUES OF THEIR FRAMES I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD IS ABOVE THE RIGHT THING TO DO... IN CLOSING PLEASE LET ME KNOW, IF ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IS FORDS . THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 100,000

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SPOTS ALL THE WAY DOWN THE FRAME. IT LOOKS CLOSE TO BREAKING IN HALF IN SOME SPOTS. A 1998 VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MUCH RUST NO MATTER WHERE IT CAME FROM. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS VEHICLE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 131,800

REAR SECTION OF FRAME THAT HOLD SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, TIRE AND FRAME SECTION JUST MISSED A VEHICLE BEHIND ME, AT THIS SAME TIME THE FRAME BROKE OFF JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR SPRING HANGER ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 131,000

MY 1998 RANGER WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AGAIN DUE TO FRAME RUST. NOT JUST IN THE REAR BUT ALL OVER. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE. *JS

Mileage: 129,000

THE FRAME IS HAVING SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS HEAVY RUST AND ROT COMPROMISING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TRUCK. IN FACT A SHOCK MOUNT JUST BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND THE RESULTING LOUD BANG CAUSED ME GREAT STRESS WHILE DRIVING. AFTER PULLING OVER AND LOOKING I COULD SEE THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD ROTTED SO BAD AS TO BREAK OFF THE AXLE HOUSE.AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURES HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE,GAS TANK AND ENTIRE SUPPORT SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT RETURN THE CONTACTS CALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,348.

Mileage: 98,000

I HAVE A 1998 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB, MY FRAME HAST RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING MY BED TO BE UNATTACHED. *TR

Mileage: 118,214

THE FRAME ON MY 1998 FORD RANGER IS BASICALLY RUSTED THROUGH. MY BROTHER'S 1999 FORD RANGER HAD TO HAVE THE FRAME REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. *TT

Mileage: 117,000

SPARE TIRE CARRIED UNDER TRUCK COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND SPARE FELL ON HIGHWAY AND REAR FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTING AWAY. ORIGINAL RIMS HAD TO BE CHANGED ALSO BECAUSE THEY RUSTED SO BAD WOULDN'T HOLD AIR. *TR

Mileage: 84,728

FRAME ON MY 1998 FORD RANGER RUSTED INTO AT THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES, AND BUMPER. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TRUCK TO DO THIS. THE STEEL CROSSMEMBER THAT RUNS BEHIND THE CAB OVER THE GAS TANK FROM SIDE TO SIDE IS ALSO COMPLETELY GONE FROM RUSTING AWAY. THEY MUST HAVE RECEIVED A BAD BATCH OF STEEL WHEN MAKING THIS YEAR. THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER IS ALSO RUSTED AWAY, PLACED THE SPARE TIRE IN THE BED SO THAT IT WOULD NOT FALL OFF WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I SUSPECT THAT THIS WAS VERY COMMON FOR THIS YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 188,000

1998 FORD RANGER WITH FRAME RUST. REAR SHACKLES HAVE RUSTED AND FALLEN OFF. *TR

Mileage: 148,300

THE REAR BUMPER IN MY 1998 FORD RANGER (80K MILES) IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF, AS THE REAR OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED & BROKEN. I HAVE CABLES HOLDING IT ON NOW. I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE & BRACKET RUSTED OFF THE FRAME AND BROKE IN TWO. THE SPARE TIRE ALSO LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM RUSTED BRACKETS. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF FORD RANGERS IN WHICH THE REAR BUMPER ACTUALLY DID FALL OFF, OR THE SPARE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE MUCH WORSE THAT THE TOYOTA TRUCKS. IN FACT SOMEONE SAID THAT THE FORD FRAMES WERE BOUGHT AT THE SAME FACTORY AS THE TOYOTA'S, BUT I DO NOT KNOW FORE SURE. EVERYTHING ELSE ON MY TRUCK IS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION, NOT A SPECK OF RUST ON THE BODY, AND IT RUNS GREAT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

THE CAB OF MY 1998 FORD RANGER TRUCK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SEAL OVER THE PASSENGER DOOR, BUT THE WATER IS RUNNING IN THE CAB ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW AND THE SEAL IS TIGHT ON THE WINDOW. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THE WATER IS GETTING IN ALONG THE SEAM OF THE CAB ROOF JUST BEHIND THE DOOR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAB. THE WATER HAS FOUND ITS WAY UP INTO THE FELT AND ROOF INSULATION AND LEFT WATER MARKS BUT (THANKFULLY) NO SEPARATION OF THE ROOF FELT FROM THE CAB BODY YET. I DID USE GE SILICONE CAULK TO FILL IN THE SEAMS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAB, AND IT DID REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER GETTING IN, BUT YESTERDAY IT RAINED AND I NOTICED THAT THE WATER IS STILL GETTING IN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAB ROOF. I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE INSPECTED THE DOOR SEALS AND THEY SEEM PLIABLE AND FIRMLY AFFIXED TO THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE KNOWING BECAUSE THE WATER HAS RESULTED IN TWO SHORTS IN THE TRUCK'S INTERIOR LIGHTING CAUSING ME TO PULL THE FUSE FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. WHEN THE CAB GETS WET INSIDE, THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN L TURN THE TRUCK OFF. THE REMOVAL OF THE FUSE, ALTHOUGH GIVING A REMEDY TO THE DOME LIGHT PROBLEM, HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AT NIGHT WITH NO INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE FLOOR OR DOME. QUITE FRANKLY, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE WITH ALL THIS DAMPNESS IN THE CAB. *NM

Mileage: 45,000

CONSUMER STATES HIS FATHER IN LAW HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH HIS 1998 FORD RANGER AND HAD IT TO ROLL OVER 4 TIMES, BREAKING HIS NECK. CONSUMER ALSO STATES HIS FATHER IN LAW LIVED BUT HE THINKS IT IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE TRUCK THAT CAUSED THE WAS THE FACT THAT FORD MANUFACTURER TOOK B PILLAR OUT OF THE 2001 MODEL. TS

DOOR WILL NOT REGISTER AS BEING CLOSED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. DASH SENSOR STATES THAT "DOOR IS AJAR" WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. ALSO, DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF WHILE GOING AROUND TURNS. *AK THE DOOR IS AJAR STAYS ON SOMETIME AND GOES OFF IN A WHILE AT OTHER TIME. *YH

DOOR AJAR AND LIGHT STAYING ON FOR 45 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE SHUTING OFF. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK A SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LEAKING AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, PLACE WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED IS GOING TO REPLACE VEHICLE BECAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER CHIP, AND DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER BOLTS CAME OUT KNOCKING HOLE THROUGH TRANSMITION CASE.TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER HAD TO BE CUT OUT AFTER SPEED NUTS BROKE LOOSE.HEATER FAILED THREE TIMES.THERMOSTAT REPLACED TWICE DIDN'T HELP.BOLTS HOLDING COOLING FAN ON CAME OUT.SWITCH FOR DOME LIGHT FAILED, AND BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.*AK

PASSENGER DOOR--GETS STUCK.

DOOR SWITCH DEFECTIVE CAUSING DOME LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. MJS

PASSENGER DOOR FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *YC

DRIVER SIDE DOOR INOPERABLE. YH

FRAME MEMBERS AND BODY ARE DEFECTIVE. THE MACHANIC REPOSITIONED/WELDED THE FRAME BECAUSE OF A NOISE, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER DOOR HINGE BOLT CAME OFF.