1997 Ford Ranger

REAR LEAF SPRING HANGERS/SHACKLES RUSTED OFF AS WELL AS THE FRONT ONES ON THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. SPARE TIRE CARRIER FELL DOWN DRAGGING THE SPARE TIRE ACROSS THE ROAD. ONE CROSSMEMBER HOLDING UP THE FRONT OF THE GAS TANK IS READY TO GO. BOTH GAS TANK STRAPS ROTTED OFF. TOYOTA WAS MADE TO FIX THESE ISSUES. WHY NOT FORD? I WORK AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACING ROTTEN FRAMES ON TUNDRAS, SEQUOIAS, AND TACOMA VEHICLES. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE AS BOTH THE FRAMES FOR TOYOTA AND FORD ARE BUILT AT THE SAME FACTORY IF I AM CORRECT? THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD ALL TIMES THE ABOVE LISTED FAILED. SOME TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY, OTHERS IN TOWN. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE SELLING THIS VEHICLE TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHEN IT'S READY TO GO.

REPORTING NUMEROUS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED USED ---ORIGINAL OCCURRENCE DATE NOT CERTAIN BUT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS MECHANICAL FAILURES OCCURRED THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITIES. THE FAILURES INCLUDE BUT NOT EXCLUSIVE TO ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND LEAKED ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID --REAR BODY SUPPORT SYSTEM GAVE OUT DURING DRIVING AND REAR WHEELS AND AXLES NOT ATTACHED TO BODY ---VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND WENT OFF INTO SHOULDER--RADIAL AXIAL ARM RUSTED AWAY AND STEERING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING. GAS LEAKS FROM TOP OF TANK IF FILLED TO FULL --LEAKS ON TO GROUND AND COULD RESULT IN GAS FIRE AND EXPLOSION --DO NOT FILL TANK MORE THAN 3/4 ! ALL BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE REPLACED AND FREQUENT CHECKS OF STEERING AND SUSPENSION. I AM REPORTING THIS TO MAKE OWNERS AWARE AND TAKE PRECAUTION TO PREVENT INJURY OR DEATH.. *TR

WHILE WORKING ON AND DOING AN UNDERBODY INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SPRING HANGER IS ALMOST ROTTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. IT IS A CAUSE FOR ALARM FOR ME AND ANYBODY DRIVING NEAR ME ON THE HIGHWAY. IF NOT FIXED IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A DEADLY ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ROTTED AS WELL. FRONT SUSPENSION IS ROTTING AS AT A FAST RATE. THE TRUCK SEEMS TO JUMP INTO OTHER LANES AFTER HITTING POT HOLES OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS. *TR

WHILE GOING DOWN HILL AND AROUND A CURVE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM REAR AND FELT BACK OF TRUCK MOVE SIDE WAYS. A SHORT TIME AFTER, ANOTHER LOUD NOISE FROM REAR AND REAR OF TRUCK DROPPED LOW . I LOST CONTROL AND WENT ONTO SHOULDER AND SLOWED DOWN WAS ABLE TO RECOVER AND AT SLOW SPEED WENT HOME. ON INSPECTION FOUND BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING FORWARD SHACKLE SUPPORTS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. WAS LUCKY NOT GOING FASTER AS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN VERY SERIOUS CRASH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND WARN OWNERS OF POSSIBLE FAILURE OF LEAF SPRING. AND LOSS OF CONTROL TRUCK IS PARKED AND NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. *TR

FORD RANGER 1997 REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. HEARD LOUD BANGING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. INSPECTED TRUCK AND FOUND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SPRING MOUNTS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. FRONT SPRING MOUNTS ALMOST RUSTED AWAY -NEAR LOSS OF REAR AXEL AND SUSPENSION !!! VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IF HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN TOTAL LOSS OF REAR SUSPENSION. ALSO DROPPING AXEL WITH LEAF SPRINGS NOT GOOD FOR ANY TRAFFIC FOLLOWING VEHICLE. MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AS NO OTHER RUST APPARENT ON TRUCK OUTSIDE OR ELSEWHERE UNDER TRUCK. INFERIOR METAL USED FOR SPRING MOUNTS WHICH IS APPARENTLY VERY PRONE TO RUST COMPARED TO REST OF TRUCK. HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL FORD RANGER OWNERS BE NOTIFIED AND ADVISED TO HAVE SPRING MOUNTS INSPECTED BEFORE FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURS. CAN NOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT THERE WERE NO SYMPTOMS NOTED BEFORE FAILURE, AND NO APPARENT RUST ON TRUCK TO INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, BOTH REAR SPRINGS FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE PURCHASED IT. THE DEALER ADVISED IT WAS THE CONTACTS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES INCLUDING A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND MUFFLER FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 119,000.