1999 Ford Ranger

IT WAS REVEALED TO ME THAT MY BUMPER APPEARED TO BE FALLING OFF. A CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE REAR PORTION OF THE FRAME HAS ROTTED. THE BUMPER MOUNT HAS DETERIORATED AND NO LONGER SUPPORTS THE BUMPER. THE SHOCK MOUNTS APPEAR TO BE HAZARDOUS AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. AS I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS YEARS MODEL OF THE FORD RANGER. *TR *JS

1999 FORD RANGER WITH 130,000 MILES. LEAF SPRINGS RUSTED OUT (BOTH SIDES) AND MOUNTING BRACKETS ALSO RUSTED. WENT TO 3 AUTOBODY SHOPS AND NOBODY WOULD TOUCH IT. BUMPER JUST RUSTED OUT ON BOTH SIDES AND SPARE TIRE WELL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. BUMPER AND SPARE CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH 2, 1900 LB CHAINS. RANGER RUNS FINE JUST BODY FALLING APART. VERY CONCERNED TIRE, BUMPER MAY BECOME DISLODGED AND CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. GAS TANK ALSO RUSTED BUT NOT LEAKING SO FAR. *TR

TRUCK LOST BRAKES WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. FRAME CORROSION HAD CAUSED RIGHT SPRING HANGER TO FAIL, AND CORRODED BRAKE LINE BURST. I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE INCIDENT. MECHANIC PUT THE TRUCK ON A LIFT, AND IDENTIFIED SEVERE CORROSION TO THE BRAKE LINES, DIFFERENTIAL, FRAME, AND SEVERAL OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS. TRUCK HAD BEEN UNDERCOATED AND WASHED REGULARLY, AND HAS LESS THAN 105,000 MILES. MECHANIC SUGGESTED ALL NEW BRAKE LINES, TOTAL FRAME, AND REAR END REPLACEMENT. *TR

EXCESSIVE UNDER CARRIAGE/FRAME RUST. SPARE TIRE MOUNT RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND FELL OFF AT 30,000 MILES. LADDER FRAME CROSS MEMBERS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND FELL OFF AFTER 35000, FRONT PART OF LADDER FRAME WHERE ENGINE MOUNTS IS RUSTED 80% THROUGH BY 41,000 MILES. MOST OF FRAME IS HEAVILY DAMAGED BY EXCESSIVE RUST. UPPER BODY LOOKS FINE, NO RUST ON MAIN BODY, ONLY UNDER CARRIAGE AND FRAME. VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO COLLAPSE. *TR

MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND REPLACED THE REAR SPRING HANGERS IN10/2009. I HAVE THE TRUCK NOW. AFTER PRESSURE WASHING THE FRAME I NOTICED THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER HAS A HOLE IN IT AT THE MUFFLER. FRONT SPRING HANGERS ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY AS IS THE SHOCK MOUNTS. THE FRAME FROM THE CAB TO REAR IS EXTREMELY RUSTY AND THIN LOOKING. THE SPARE TIRE HOLDING AREA HAS A HOLE IN IT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR IN THE MUD. VERY LITTLE TIME ON THE ROAD IN THE WINTER. THE BODY IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AS IS THE FRAME FROM CAB TO FRONT. TRUCK HAS ONLY 98,000 MILES ON IT NOW. COULD THIS BE A FRAME ISSUE AS IT WAS WITH TOYOTA? SAME MANUFACTURE MAYBE? JUST A THOUGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE PLENTY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS IN THE SAME AREA.

FIRST FAILURE WAS WHERE LEAF SPRINGS ATTACH TO FRAME (REAR SHACKLES) FAILED DUE TO RUST AND PUT HOLE IN TRUCK BED. REPLACED PARTS. SECOND FAILURE IS WHEN FILLING TANK WITH FUEL; GAS HAS STARTED TO RUN OUT ON THE GROUND AT THE GAS STATION. JUST RECEIVED FILLER NECK TODAY TO REPLACE CURRENT RUSTED ONE. WHILE UNDER VEHICLE NOTICED TANK STRAP IS HANGING LOOSE NOT ATTACHED DUE TO CONNECTION POINT RUSTED OFF (SIMILAR FAILURE TO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #11V385000 FUEL TANK STRAP FAILURE). ALSO NOTICED SEVERE RUST LIKE LITTLE OR NO RUST INHIBITOR WAS APPLIED TO FRAME AND COMPONENTS. SHIELD ABOVE MUFFLER IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT, FRAME CROSS MEMBER IS FLAKING AWAY DUE TO RUST. I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE FULL DETAILS OF PROBLEMS OR CAUSE BUT RUST IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF RECALL. *TR

THE SHACKLE ON THE LEFT REAR SPRING TOTALLY BROKE OFF OF VEHICLE. THE SHACKLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS ALMOST TOTALLY DETACHED. THERE IS NO WAY TO ATTACH NEW SHACKLES BECAUSE THE TRUCK FRAME IS TOTALLY ROTTED AWAY. ALSO MUCH TO MY AMAZEMENT THE SPARE TIRE WHICH WAS SUSPENDED UNDERNEATH THE PICKUP BED IS GONE. WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED IS ALL ROTTED AWAY SO AT SOME POINT IT JUST FELL OFF WHEN WE WERE DRIVING, DON'T KNOW WHERE OR WHEN. TODAY I TALKED TO THE SERVICE DEPT OF THE FORD DEALER WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AND FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THEY SAID WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH SHACKLES ALL THE TIME. THEY RUST OUT. MY MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM SAID HE SEE THIS A LOT ON ALL MODELS OF FORDS PICKUPS. MY BROTHER IN LAW HAS A TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP WHICH JUST FAILED A SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF A ROTTED FRAME. TOYOTA IS REPLACING HIS FRAME FREE OF CHARGE. I FEEL THAT IS WHAT FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO. I THANK GOD THE OTHER SHACKLE DIDN'T GIVE WAY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.