1993 Ford Ranger

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1993 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME CRASHING DOWN AND SEVERED THE BRAKE LINE, THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING CORRODED REAR SHACKLES. THE FRONT AND REAR SHACKLES WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BRAKES. *AK UPDATED 2/27/2007 -*NM

TL* - THE CONTACT'S 1993 FORD RANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 84000 AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 11/7/06 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. THE THROW-OUT BEARING WAS REPLACED ON 11/9/06. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND CLEAR. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED SO THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED.*AK UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB

UNEXPECTED FIRE UNDER HOOD AFTER TURNING THE DEFROSTER SWITCH ON. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING GARAGE MY NEPHEW WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME TURNED THE DEFROSTER SWITCH ON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS SMOKE BELLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS INTO THE FORD RANGER PK/U CAB. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE LOT AND SOMEONE RAN UP TO HIM AND TOLD HIM TO GET OUT OF THE PK/U BECAUSE HE SAW FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE GUY WAS CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHED. HE TOLD MY NEPHEW TO SLOWLY LIFT THE HOOD WHILE HE BEGAN TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FLAMES WHERE VERY INTENSE THAT IT MELTED THE HEATER CORE COVER, WIRING, THE A/C MOTOR AND FAN AND PAINT ON THE INSIDE AND OUT SIDE OF VEHICLE. IT ALSO MELTED THE INSIDE OF THE DASH BOARD WHERE THE ON THE OTHER SIDE WOULD BE YOUR GLOVE COMPARTMENT. IN THE MEANTIME NEPHEW CALLED 911 AND FIRE DEPT WAS DISPATCHED AND THEY GOT THERE FEW MINUTES LATER AND THE FIRE HAD BEEN PUT OUT ALREADY BUT AS A PRECAUTION THEY FOAMED THE CAR ENGINE AND UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. HE WAS TOLD TO NOT START THE TRUCK AGAIN AND HAVE IT FLAT BEDDED TO GARAGE FOR INSPECTION AND POSSIBLE REPAIR. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOOK REPORT WHICH WILL TAKE 7-10 DAYS TO GET INSPECTOR HERE IN FL TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. THIS WAS A 1993 FORD RANGER, 2 DOOR,STAND BED, 4CYL, MANUAL. THIS TRUCK JUST BURST INTO FLAMES WITH THE ONLY CAUSE THAT MECHANICS HAVE FOUND SO FAR WAS THE MOTOR BURNED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND HEATED SO MUCH THAT IT MELTED THE BRACKETS HOLDING IN PLACE AND WHEN IT HIT THE HEAT CORE IT MELTED IT AND ALSO THE FAN MOTOR IS MELTED AND ADHERED PERMANENTLY TO THIS HEAT CORE NOW ON THE OUTSIDE. MY BROTHER OWNS THIS VEHICLE SINCE I GAVE IT TO HIM 1 YR AGO BUT THEY ARE STILL FAMILY AND THEIR SAFETY IS A CONCERN TO ME. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND THIS IS AS THE MECHANIC CLAIMS ALMOST 99% SURE IT IS DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSIVE EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY FOR A FEW MINS IF THAT TO DUE SO MUCH DAMAGE LIKE IT DID. *JB

GAS LEAKS FROM THE FILLER NECK AND TANK WHEN REFUELING. THE SCENT OF GASOLINE LINGERS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER FILLUP. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LOST ABOUT 1/2 TO 1 GALLON. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A POSSIBLE FIRE SINCE THIS OCCURS AT THE GAS STATION, FROM STATIC ELECTRICITY OR HEAT FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR USED OFF ROAD. I AM A PERSONAL FRIEND OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER, WHO SOLD THE TRUCK TO MY BROTHER WHOM I OBTAINED THE TRUCK FROM. *NM

REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKETS ( WHICH ATTACH LEAF SPRINGS TO THE FRAME) HAVE RUSTED OUT AND LEAF SPRING AND AXLE CAME LOOSE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MI. IT BROKE AS I WAS PULLING IN TO MY DRIVEWAY. BOTH BRACKETS ON RIGHT SIDE WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS BRAKE LINES WHICH WERE TORN LOOSE. MECHANIC SAID LEFT SIDE BRACKETS WERE READY TO BREAK ALSO AND WILL BE REPLACED AS SOON AS HE GETS THEM ORDERED. HE SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON REPAIR ON FORD RANGER PICKUPS. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB

DT: A RECALL WA SISSUED BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. WHEN APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKE IT DIDN'T WORK AND IT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY. THIS WAS FOR A MANUEL TRANSMISSION WHEN PARKING ON A HILL. HAD TO LEAVE THE GEAR AND TURN THE WHEELS DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY PARKED. AND HOPE OF COURSE IT WOULDN'T ROLL INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS RECENTLY HAPPENED ON JULY 25, 2005. *AK

DETERIORATION OF CAB MOUNTS AND ALL LEAF SPRING MOUNTS. ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONE REAR HANGER OF THE RIGHT LEAF SPRING HAD TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SPRING WAS RESTING ON THE PICKUP BED. ALL PARTS FELL APART WHEN BEING REMOVED AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE. REPLACEMENT HAD TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS FOUND AS IT AFFECTED THE HANDLING ABILITY OF THE TRUCK.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF AN EMERGENCY BRAKE PROBLEM. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 94V169001 CONCERNING EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE: MECHANICAL. CONSUMER WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE RECALL. WHEN CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT DROPPED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, IF HE REPEATED THIS IT WOULD EVENTUALLY CATCH. *AK PARKING BRAKE PEDAL OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT ENGAGE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY. *TC