2002 FORD RANGER Suspension Problems

Rear shake bracket rusted off

WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF A 2002 FORD RANGER XLT NOW WITH 57,000 HIGHWAY MILES, ALWAYS GARAGED/WASHED/MAINTAINED, LITTLE DRIVING IN WINTER (MOSTLY IN SUMMER), ALWAYS FORD MAINTAINED/SERVICED AT SAME DEALERSHIP, BODY/ENGINE/TRANSMISSION IN GREAT SHAPE, WILL LIKELY FAIL INSPECTION THIS SPING BECAUSE FRAME AND FRAME COMPONENTS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED OUT. - SEVERE RUST ON THE ENTIRE FRAME INCLUDING BOTH CROSS MEMBERS (ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION), ARM BOLT POINTS AND CONTROL ARMS. - FRAME ALSO HAS SEVERE RUST DOWN BOTH SIDES TO REAR BUMPER, REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTAL, LEAF SPRINGS AND ALL MOUNTS. - THE PASSENGER SIDE STEARING KNUCKLE IS DELAMINATING. - ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING: FIRST THE REAR BRAKES INCLUDING ALL AXLE COUPLINGS AND DRUM COUPLINGS; SECOND THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FAILED AT THE DISK BRAKES AND RUBBER COUPLINGS. ALL BRAKE TUBES HAD TO BE REPLACED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE WHEELS. - SERVICE MANAGER IS WORRIED ABOUT FRONT CROSS MEMBER FAILING UNDER THE ENGINE, MIDDLE CROSS MEMBER FAILING UNDER THE TRANSMISSION AND THE GAS TANK BRACKETS/STRAPS. - THE FRAME AND MEMBERS AND MOUNTS MUST BE REPLACED; THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS MECHANICALLY SOUND. SERVICE MANAGER SAID NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE TO FRAME RUST IS SO BAD PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED AND/OR VEHICAL INSPECTED BY NHTSA IF DESIRED. ALL BRAKE LINES AND COUPLINGS PERFORMED AROUND AUGUST 29, 2019.

Mileage: 57,000

REAR TIRE FELL OUT ONTO ROAD, ROTTED CARRIER , FRAME ROTTED AT AXLE, CRACKED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, REAR END SHIFTED, CAN KNOW LONGER DRIVE VEHICLE SAFELY, HAD TO BUY NEW TRUCK DAYS LATER! BODY IN GOOD SHAPE, FRAME TOTALLY ROTTED! SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME THING ON GOOGLE SEARCH. TOYOTA TOYOTA HAD SAME THING, WE CALLED ALL THEIR TRUCKS AND REPLACED ALL TRUCK F WE CALLED ALL THEIR TRUCKS AND REPLACED ALL TRUCK FRAMES FRAMES, STILL TO THIS DAY FORD HAS NOT RECOGNIZED A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THEIR FRAMES!!! THESE VEHICLES ARE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD AND A RECALL NEEDS TO HAPPEN !!

Mileage: 115,000

REAR BUMPER AND SPARE TIRE HOLDER ROTTED OFF .. REAR SHACKLES ON BOTH SIDES.. GAS TANK STRAPS AND CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS IT UP... NOW THE FRAME HAS ROTTED IN HALF RIGHT IN MIDDLE OF TRUCK... SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 224,000

I BOUGHT MY RANGER NEW, IT CURRENTLY HAS 232,000 MILES. FRAME RUST IS SO BAD IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REAR SPRING SHACKLE MOUNTS RUSTED AWAY, BED IS RESTING ON SPRINGS. RUST RAINS FROM UNDERNEATH WHEN HOOD IS ALLOWED TO CLOSE. BRAKE LINE MOUNTS ARE NEARLY GONE, AS IS GAS TANK STRAPS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN FRAME ROT THIS BAD, EVEN IN NORTHERN STATES WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED.

Mileage: 232,000

EXCESSIVE RUST UNDERNEATH. LEAF SPRING HANGERS FAILED AT 11 YEARS/120K MILES. SPARE TIRE WINCH SEPARATED FROM TRUCK AT 14 YEARS/155K MILES. . AN EXHAUST MOUNT HAS RUSTED AWAY LEAVING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MARGINALLY SUPPORTED - UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED. LOGGING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO THE GAS TANK STRAP FAILURE. ONE GAS TANK STRAP SEPARATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK BED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO - AGE 14.5 YEARS, ~160K MILES. WITH THE SPARE TIRE, I NOTICED IT HANGING LOW (3 OF 4 FASTENERS HAD PULLED AWAY FROM THEIR MOUNTS), AND WITH LITTLE EFFORT, WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT FALL OFF. HAD THE REMAINING FASTENER FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY, OBVIOUSLY BAD THINGS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. WITH THE GAS TANK STRAP, LUCKILY IT SEPARATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE BED RATHER THAN FROM THE FRAME, AND I COULD HEAR IT RUBBING AGAINST THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE OTHER STRAP WAS ABLE TO CARRY THE ENTIRE WEIGHT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE GAS TANK.

Mileage: 160,000

WAS PULLING INTO FRIENDS DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A CRACKING NOISE WHEN I CHECKED THE LEFT REAR SPRING HANGER PULLED OUT OF THE RUSTED FRAME. I PULLED OFF THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND FOUND SEVERAL AREAS WHICH WERE SEVERELY RUSTED INCLUDING THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND THE STRAPS WHICH HOLD UP THE GAS TANK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE LIVED IN PENNSYLVANIA THE WHOLE TIME.

Mileage: 126,520

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.

Mileage: 94,000

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.

Mileage: 104,604

FRAME IS RUSTED AND ROTTING AWAY, BOUGHT IT FROM DEALER 1/21/2015. FOUND OUT TRUCK WAS IN BAD SHAPE 1/23/2015 AFTER GETTING OIL CHANGE FROM LOCAL SHOP. *TR

Mileage: 123,060

BRACKET FOR SPARE TIRE ROTTED, TIRE DROPPED OFF, NO CAR IN BACK OF ME, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN AT THE TIME, THAT HAPPENED 6 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE OTHER DAY THE FRAME CRACKED IN HALF. CAR DEALER SHIP SOLD TRUCK TO ME ROUGHLY 15 MONTH AGO TRUCK IS TOTALED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID WHOLE FRAME AND UNDER CARRIAGE IS ROTTED? HELP. EXTERIOR OF TRUCK LOOKS BRAND NEW? HELP *TR

Mileage: 139,000

I TOOK MY 2002 FORD RANGER TRUCK IN FOR INSPECTION AND I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK WAS UNINSPECTABLE BECAUSE MY FRAME,CROSSMEMBER, FRONT AARMS ARE RUSTED THIN. IT ONLY HAS 80 SOME K ON IT I ONLY HAVE IT FOR 2YEARS I DON'T DRIVE VERY FAR I BOUGHT IT WITH 74K. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 1 YR AGO . I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND THAT IT HAD SEVERE RUST PROBLEMS . THE SHACKLES FOR THE LEAF SPRING HAD COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY CAUSING THE SPRING TO REST UPON THE BOX. THE RESTRAINT FOR THE GAS TANK WAS ROTTED TO THE POINT THAT TANK WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THERE WAS SEVERE RUSTING OF THE FRAME , ESPECIALLY IN THE REAR .OBVIOUSLY, THE TRUCK FAILED INSPECTION. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

YESTERDAY I HAD SOMETHING GO WRONG WITH MY FORD RANGER AND I NEEDED TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. THIS PROBLEM WILL BE THE END OF MY WONDERFUL TRUCKS LIFE BECAUSE THE INSPECTION IS ALSO DUE AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST AND A CRACKED REAR FRAME, MY TRUCK WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. THE BODY, INTERIOR AND ENGINE ARE ALL IN GREAT SHAPE. THE SPARE TIRE SUPPORT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY EATEN AWAY AND THE GAS TANK SUPPORTS ROTTED AWAY YEARS AGO. MY MECHANIC HAD TO RIG A WIRE HANGER FOR THE GAS TANK. WHILE MY TRUCK WAS ON THE FLAT BED, THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT RANGERS ARE KNOW FOR THE FRAMES BEING EATEN AWAY. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND NOW HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. WHY HAS FORD NOT RECALLED THIS POORLY MADE FRAME JUST LIKE TOYOTA DID? IS IT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM IT??? *TR

Mileage: 140,217

TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC BECAUSE OF TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. MECHANIC REPLACED BUSHINGS AND SUPPORT RODS ON BOTH SIDES BUT THE TAPPING NOISE PERSISTED. AFTER RETURNING TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT THE BOOTS ON ALL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD ROTTED OUT AND APPARENTLY LED TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, KEPT IN A GARAGE AND HAS HAD MINIMAL USE OF ONLY 10,000 MILES OVER ELEVEN YEARS, THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NO OTHER EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THEY NEED REPLACEMENT AFTER SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I'VE ALREADY SPENT $242 FOR THE BUSHINGS AND RODS. NOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO COST ANOTHER $1000 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY BALL JOINTS. *JB

Mileage: 41,123

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHANGING FLUIDS, HE DISCOVERED A BROKEN SHOCK ON THE REAR AXLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THE FRONT SHOCK TOWER MOUNTS AND THE FRAME WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

Mileage: 171,000

WHEN PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD CRACK FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. AFTER INSPECTION, THE REAR FRAME HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE LEAF SPRING MOUNT DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE HAULING A LOAD, OR PULLING A TRAILER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT COULD HAVE LED TO A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 158,000

MY FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED DESPITE THE BODY, ENGINE AND INTERIOR BEING IN GOOD SHAPE. MY SPARE TIRE MOUNT ROTTED AND THE SPARE FELL OFF. ONE OF THE CROSSMEMBERS THAT HELD THE EVAP CANISTER COMPLETELY BROKE OFF AS I WAS DRIVING STAYING ATTACHED ONLY BY THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPLETELY SEVERED JUST FORWARD OF THE AXLE. THE LEAF SPRING IS THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT TOGETHER AND THOSE SHACKLES LOOK LIKE THEY'RE READY TO GO. FORD SUCKS! *TR

Mileage: 153,000

I NOTICED MY VEHICLE HAD A SLIGHT SAG TO IT SO I TOOK IT IN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, THE MECHANIC GAVE ME HORRIFYING NEWS, STATING MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FRAME BEING EXCESSIVE ROTTED OUT, HE SHOWED MY WHERE THE SPARE TIRE WAS BEING HELD ON THE RUST HAD EATEN AWAY THE SUPPORT AND SAID I WAS LUCK NOT TO LOSE THE SPARE ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO THE GAS TANK SUPPORTS WERE COMPLETELY GONE. THE TRUCK HAS 67K MILES. THE OUTSIDE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND CLEAN YOU WOULD NEVER TELL BY LOOKING AT THE TRUCK THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS ROTTED. I FIND IT ABSURD THAT A TRUCK WELL TAKEN CARE HAS TURNED TO THIS... THE MECHANIC SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS TO REPLACE THE FRAME, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE, SO I'M LEFT WITH A UNSAFE PILE OF RUSTED METAL. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

PER THE ADVICE OF MY MECHANIC, WHILE REPAIRING MY REAR BRAKE SEALS, THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLES, HANGERS & BOLTS REPLACED BEFORE I HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAD THE WORK DONE AND I DID NOT RE-ATTACH THE SPARE TIRE. ITS IN THE CAB. *TR

Mileage: 83,333

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 ????

Mileage: 31,000

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

Mileage: 106,596

REAR CROSSMEMBER ROTTED OFF CHARCOLE CANISTER AND SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING WHY SHOULDN'T FORD BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN GOVERMENT MAKES TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR THERE FRAMES. *TR

Mileage: 117,000

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

Mileage: 44,994

FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING IS GOING OUT WITH JUST 77,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

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.

Mileage: 94,000

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.

Mileage: 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.

Mileage: 37,000

UPPER BALL JOINTS INADEQUATELY LUBRICATED LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE (3 IN 50,000 MILES). *JB

Mileage: 49,240

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

Mileage: 5,000

I PURCHASED A 2002 RANGER EDGE 4X4 , IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE AIRBAG SENSOR, ABS SENSOR, FRONT END HAD TOBE REALIGNED DUE TO A BAD ALIGNMENT AT THE FACTORY,THE TIRES IN THE FRONT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 4500 MILES. NOW AT 38000 MILES THE 4X4 DRIVETRAIN WAS LEAKING AT THE FRONT COVER. THE BREATHING TUBE WAS THROWING OIL OUT ONTO THE ENGINE . I WAS TOLD BY FORD COMPANY AND A FORD TECH. THAT THIS WAS A E4NGINNERING PROBLEM. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST OF 796.00. THE COVER WAS REPLACED WITH A PART THAT WAS USED PREVIOUS TO 1995, PART NUMBER IS FOF6TZ-4033-BA. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL AND CAN I EXPECT FUTURE PROBLEMS. *JB

Mileage: 38,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 - 40 MPH RIGHT REAR END COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND FELL OFF THE TRUCK. WHEN THIS OCCURRED DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, BUT DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT A PIN INSIDE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SHEARED OFF.*AK PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS

Mileage: 55,000

CONSUMER STATES TIRES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY DUE TO FRONT END SUSPENSION. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE HAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION AT 65 MPH THAT INCREASES IN SEVERITY AS SPEED INCREASES. AT 85 MPH IT HAS A VERY PRONOUNCED VIBRATION THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE DEALER ESSENTIALLY TOLD CUSTOMER THAT FORD WOULD NOT WARRANTY A VEHICLE OVER THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT. THIS WAS THE FINAL ANSWER AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONVINCE THE CUSTOMER OF OTHER CAUSES, MOST OF WHICH WERE ESSENTIALLY RIDICULOUS. (THE CUSTOMER WAS IN THE AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS FOR 17 YEARS.) THE CUSTOMER TOOK THE TECHNICIAN FOR A TEST DRIVE TO DEMONSTRATE THE SEVERE VIBRATION. THE TECHNICIAN PROPOSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE REAR DRIVE LINE. THE TECHNICIAN'S SUPERVISOR THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE HIMSELF THEN STATED THE VEHICLE DEFINITELY HAD A PRONOUNCED VIBRATION, BUT FORD WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE VIBRATION WAS DISCOVERED WHILE PASSING AN OBVIOUSLY INTOXICATED DRIVER (FOR SAFETY REASONS), THE CUSTOMER DEFINITELY CONSIDERS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER VIEWING SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS AT THE NHTSA SITE, IT IS ALL TO OBVIOUS THAT THIS ANSWER/REFUSAL IS BECOMING A VERY COMMON PRACTICE AMONG FORD DEALERS. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**769763

Mileage: 600

WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP TRUCK RATTLES WITH AN AWKWARD SOUND. DEALERSHIP HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT, BUT WITH NO SUCCESS. FORD HAS SENT OUT A TSB ON THIS, BUT EVEN THAT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE SPOKE WITH THE OWNER AND BASICALLY TOLD HIM THAT THE TRUCK WAS LIKE THAT. THE ENGINE IS 3.0 LITRE W/5 SPEED TRANSMISSION, EDGE SERIES MODEL PICKUP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS BLEW OUT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK