1995 Ford Ranger

I HAVE HAD A VERY BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE SUSPENSION ON MY 1995 RANGER. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD A PASSENGER WITH ME WHEN THE REAR SPRING BRACKETS GAVE OUT ON ME, DROPPING MY REAR END DOWN AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE TRUCK, I SAW THAT BOTH FRONT AND REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKETS HAD SHEARED AND WAS NOW IN TWO PIECES. THE ONLY BRACKET NOT DESTROYED WAS THE PASSENGER FRONT. ALL THE BRACKETS WERE RUSTED OUT AND GAVE WAY. I HAVE OWNED OTHER RANGERS AND THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT HAS DONE THIS TO ME. I HAD TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BRACKETS AND REAR SHACKLES. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM. THE METAL WAS THIN AND OF VERY LOW QUALITY. I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE FIELD FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE DEFECTIVE UNITS REPLACED, BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED DUE TO THE FAILURE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT HIGH FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I FEEL THAT IT FALLS WITHIN THE SAME AREA AS THE STICKING ACCELERATOR CABLE ON THE IMPORTS. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING ANY FOLLOWUPS ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHIME BOX IN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WOULD EMIT A VERY LOUD NOISE THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN OFF. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE CHIME BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN A LOUD DRAGGING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT BOTH FUEL STRAPS WERE CORRODED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL STRAPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,271.

COMPLETELY RUSTED FRONT RADIAL ARM BROKE IN HALF WHEN BREAKING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT; RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE SWERVING COMPLETELY INTO THE ONCOMING LANE; FORTUNATELY NO ONE APPROACHING. I HAD TO CREEP HOME AT 10 MPH WITH TRUCK JERKING THIS WAY AND THAT AS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WENT HAYWIRE. IN THE PAST YEAR ALL FOUR LEAF SPRING SUPPORTS SEPARATELY GAVE WAY BECAUSE OF RUSTED SUPPORTING BRACKETS. IF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN LOADED IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE OVERTURNED OR MADE THE TRUCK GO OUT OF CONTROL! RUSTED FRONT AND REAR BRAKES LINES TWO YEARS AGO BLEW OUT AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS TRUCK NEVER PLOWED SNOW AND ONLY ONCE IN MANY YEARS WAS EVER FULLY LOADED. OTHER FRAME MEMBERS ARE OUTRAGEOUSLY RUSTED AND MIGHT BE DANGEROUS.

VEHICLE IS A 1995 FORD RANGER XL. AS OF JULY 2010, THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE REAR BUMPER HAD STARTED TO SAG BUT I DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT AS THE TRUCK STILL DROVE FINE AND THERE WERE NO ROT HOLES UPON VISUAL INSPECTION. 8 MONTHS LATER, I HIT A POT-HOLE AND THE BUMPER LET GO COMPLETELY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT WAS STILL HELD UP BY THE PASSANGER SIDE ALTHOUGH IT WAS BARELY ON THERE. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH MORE AND THE BACK PORTIONS OF THE FRAME WERE COMPETELY ROTTED AWAY (NON-EXISTANT). I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH, IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER FORD RANGER OWNERS TOO. THIS IS ALSO VERY SCARY BECAUSE THE ROT GOES UP TO THE LEAF SPRING MOUNTS. IF THE A LEAF SPRING MOUNT LETS GO, THE TRUCK WILL SUDDENLY DROP TO ONE SIDE AND THERE IS AN EXTREMELY HIGH RISK OF A ROLL OVER OR MAJOR ACCIDENT AT A MINIMUM. (I READ STORIES ABOUT THIS ONLINE WHICH SCARE ME) I TOOK A PIECE OF METAL AND HAD IT WELDED ON TO HOLD THE BUMPER WHICH WORKED BUT IT IS NOT THAT STRONG AND WILL NOT ABSORB A REAR END COLLISION AS THE FRAME IS GONE. IT ALSO DOES NOT HELP THE LEAF SPRING MOUNTS WHICH ARE STILL VERY WEAK AND WILL BREAK OFF SOON. MY TRUCK FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE ROT PROBLEM AND I HAVE BEEN WARNED NOT TO DRIVE IT. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO CORRECT IT EXCEPT REPLACE THE FRAME. THE PROBLEM IS YOU CANT JUST GO BUY A NEW FRAME AND A REPAIR WILL BE VERY COSTLY. IF THIS HAPPENS, YOU MOST LIKELY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET A NEW VEHICLE. MY TRUCK HAS HAD AN EASY LIFE (NO TOWING OR EXCESSIVE LOADS) AND STILL HAS THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT SEE THIS COMING AND DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET A NEW VEHICLE AND CANT SELL THIS ONE FOR MUCH SINCE THE FRAME IS GONE. ITS A CATCH-22. THIS DESERVES A RECALL AS IT CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND PEOPLE CAN BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF IT IS NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY. *TR

FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH WIRING OR IMPROPER LOCATION. WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN MY VEHICLE THE SWITCH ACTIVATES AND SHUTS OFF FUEL. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE,SON, BROTHER, AND MYSELF. ON VERY BUSY HIGHWAYS, PARKING LOT ENTRANCE, AND INTERSECTIONS. HAD PART REPLACED ONCE AT QUITE AN EXPENSE STILL HAVE PROBLEM. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ALONE EVEN OFF ROAD WHEN I WOULD EXPECT AN OCCURRENCE. WIFE AND FRIEND ALMOST GOT REARENDED AT BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED CREATED A SERIOUS TRAFFIC PROBLEM. MY SON WAS IN AREA SHOPPING AND WENT TO ASSIST MOTHER HELD DOWN RED TOP OF INERTIA SWITCH. VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN TILL NEXT INCIDENT WHICH THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL EVEN AFTER REPLACED. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND NOT BE SUSPECTED AS CAUSE BECAUSE OF SWITCHES INTENDED USE. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 7/23/2010 AGAIN WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON HIGHWAY AT BUSY TIME OF DAY. *TR

1995 FORD RANGER, 150-ODD MILES. NO INDICATION THE FAILURE WAS COMING. THE GAS PEDALS BRACKET IS SPOT WELDED TO THE FLOOR, AND THE WELDS BROKE BETWEEN APPLYING A LITTLE GAS WHILE BACKING UP AND SWITCHING GEARS TO GO FORWARD - THE GAS PEDAL "DISAPPEARS" FROM UNDERFOOT AND ENDS UP LAYING FLAT ON THE FLOOR ON ITS SIDE, THE BRACKET DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR. *TR

PURCHASED RANGER SPLASH IN 2001 WITH 74,000 MILES. IT STARTED DINGING AS IF THE DOOR WAS OPEN WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION NON-STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH THE DOOR SHUT. THIS IS A LOUD, PIERCING DING. I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AND 75,000 MILES LATER IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. THE DOME LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS THE FUSE IS REMOVED. THE SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. THE WIPERS OCCASIONALLY COME ON AT FULL SPEED AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THE LIGHTS OCCASIONALLY STOP WORKING THEN START WORKING AGAIN ON THEIR OWN. THE PAINT PEELED OFF THE HOOD. THE OLD STARTERS WENT BAD CONSTANTLY. TRUCK WOULD START IN COLD WEATHER BUT NOT WARM WEATHER BECAUSE PIECES OF THE STARTER WOULD CHIP OFF. THE SWELLING IN THE HEAT MADE THESE CHIPS GET STUCK AND KEEP TRUCK FROM STARTING. AFTER SEVERAL STARTERS WERE REPLACED, THEY FINALLY DEVELOPED A NEW KIND. IT HAS SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE BUT IT HAS 180,000 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL RUNNING...WITH ITS OWN LITTLE PERSONALITY. *TR