2003 Ford Ranger

THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DIDN'T RELEASE I WAS COMING DOWN THE STREET WHERE I LIVE GOING LESS THAN 15 MPH AND WHEN WE HIT THE BRAKES MY TRUCK DIDN'T STOP AND WE WENT SIDEWAYS TRYING TO STAY OUT ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THIS LAST TIME IT LOCKED UP I WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKES GOING LESS THAN 15 MPH AND I CAME WITHIN AN INCH OF HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES AND BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THERE IS SOMETHING MESSED UP IN THE COMPUTER MY ABS LIGHT NEVER EVEN CAME ON WHILE I WAS SLIDING. *TR

WHEN RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE DURING WET CONDITIONS THE LININGS STICK TO THE DRUMS, THIS IS ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM IN THE WINTER MONTHS AS THEY WILL FREEZE. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE BRAKES TO BE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE DURING THE FIRST 5 MILES (APPROX) OF BRAKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE SERVICE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE REAR WHEEL GRAB HARD AND THE ABS TRIES TO RELEASE THEM AND CAN'T. I HAVE HAD TWO FAULTS ON THE ABS DUE TO THIS. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME THING THIS HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY THAT DURING WET/FREEZING CONDITIONS I ACTUALLY USE A 4X4 WOOD BLOCK TO HOLD THE VEHICLE IN PLACE.. *TR

TWO THINGS ON MY 2003 FORD RANGER SUPERCAB 2 WD : 1.) FRONT BRAKES ARE BAD, AND CONTINUE TO BE BAD, DUE TO BAD DESIGN OF FRONT ROTORS. THE ORIGINAL OEM ROTORS FAIL, DUE TO WARPING, RESULTING IN A MOST THE AGGRAVATING PULSING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS RESULTS IN INADEQUATE STOPPING WHEN NEEDED, AND COULD CAUSE A VERY SEVERE ACCIDENT !!! 2.) THE FUEL CUTOFF SAFETY SWITCH ( WHATEVER IT IS CALLED) ABOVE THE FRONT PASSENGER LEG AREA (ON WALL -INSIDE CAB) IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO THE OCCUPANTS, DUE TO VEHICLE LOSING ALL POWER DURING OPERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NOW 10+ TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. SOMETIMES WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WITH NO WHERE TO GO WHEN ALL POWER IS LOST, GAUGES GO WACKY,LOSE STEERING CONTROL, ETC. AS SOON AS THE SWITCH IS "RESET", BY PUSHING IN ON IT FROM THE TOP OF IT, AND TURNING VEHICLE KEY TO ON POSITION FOR 3-5 SECONDS, THEN BACK OFF ( PER OWNER'S MANUAL) THE VEHICLE SEEMS FINE,,,UNTIL, RANDOMLY IT HAPPENS AGAIN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. THE MANUAL SAYS THIS SWITCH IS FOR "SAFETY" CONCERNS , WHEN AFTER AN ACCIDENT, IT SHUTS OFF FUEL SUPPLY, ETC....BUT MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT WHATSOEVER, AND THIS DEVICE IS NOW BECOMING A GREAT POTENTIAL ACCIDENT PRODUCER IN ITSELF !!!!! THE "INCIDENT DATE" IS MULTIPLE DATES !!!!! AND THEY ARE STILL CONTINUING AS OF TODAY 8 MARCH 2008 * I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THE OEM BRAKES ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE, BUT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AGAIN,,,AND AGAIN,,,AND AGAIN...WHICH IS JUST NOT RIGHT. *JB

I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKING PROBLEMS 7 TIMES NOW. THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT VIBRATION UPON BRAKING. THE VIBRATION HAS BECOME SO BAD AT TIMES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VIBRATION IS BEING CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND REPLACED AT LEAST 2 TIMES EACH. I AM NOW ON MY THIRD SET OF ROTORS. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK FROM DEALERSHIP, IT WAS OBVIOUS THE CALIPER WAS STICKING. FORD EVEN HAD AN ENGINEER LOOK AT THE TRUCK. THE ENGINEER LOOKED AT THE TRUCK 100 MILES BEFORE THE CALIPER WAS STICKING. HE COULDN'T COME UP WITH ANY REASON FOR THE WARPAGE. ON TAKING MY TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS PAST TIME, THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED GOING TO THE FLOOR AND WAS MAKING A WHOOSHING SOUND UPON DEPRESSING THE PEDAL. I WAS AFRAID IT WOULDN'T STOP. I AM NOW AFRAID OF DRIVING THIS TRUCK BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE BRAKES NEXT.

(1) I WAS IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, KEEPING WITH THE FLOW OF THE TRAFFIC. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. THE TRUCK FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. THE BRAKES FELT "GREASY" AND I HAD TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. (2) BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING? ROTORS WERE WARPED AFTER THAT. TRUCK SHUDDERED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. (3) A FORD DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS AT 25,632 MILES. AT AROUND 28,000 THE SHUDDERING HAS RETURNED DURING BRAKING. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY.

WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE WORN. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO DISPLAYED A LOUD CLUNK THAT FORD WAS UNDER THE FRONT END. THE NOISE APPEARED TO BE UPON SHIFTING ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR WHEN TURNING SHARPLY. *SC THE DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED