NHTSA Complaint #10072739 — 2002 FORD RANGER

THE RADIATOR ON MY 2002 FORD RANGER HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MARCH 5, 2004. ON MARCH 17, 2004 A 30" X 7" X 6" PLASTIC DEFLECTOR LOCATED BEHIND THE RADIATOR DROPPED AND CAUGHT A RIDGE ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD SENDING THE TRUCK INTO A SNOW COVERED EMBANKMENT. WHEN I WENT TO WHALING CITY FORD AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND SAID THEY MUST NOT HAVE PUT THE DEFLECTOR BACK ON PROPERLY THEY SAID THE DEFLECTOR MUST HAVE COME OFF AS A RESULT OF STRIKING THE EMBANKMENT. THEY CLAIM THAT MARKS ON THE DEFLECTOR SHOW IT GOT DAMAGED AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, OTHER THAN WHAT HAPPENED TO THE END THAT DROPPED TO THE ROADWAY, THE MARKS ON THE DEFLECTOR ARE FROM HAVING TO TWIST AND TURN THE DEFLECTOR TO BREAK IT OFF FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRUCK SINCE THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITH THE DEFLECTOR HANGING HALF WAY OFF AND SCRAPING ALONG THE ROAD SURFACE. THE RADIATOR DID NOT GET DAMAGED AND THE RADIATOR IS FORWARD OF THE DEFLECTOR. THE IMPACT WITH THE EMBANKMENT WAS SO SLIGHT THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THAT WOULD NOT HAVE KNOCKED A PROPERLY SECURED PART OFF THE TRUCK. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE BUMPER FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE EMBANKMENT. FURTHERMORE, THE SIDE OF THE DEFLECTOR THAT DROPPED HAD A PLASTIC PIN (MEANT TO HOLD THE DEFLECTOR IN PLACE) STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THREE HOLES WHILE THE OTHER TWO HOLES APPEAR TO HAVE HAD NOTHING IN THEM. WE FILED A COMPLAINT ON FORD'S WEB SITE ON 12 APR 04 AND THEY HAVE, AT THIS WRITING, REFUSED TO HELP. THEY HAVE ALSO REFUSED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WE SUBMITTED BY E-MAIL. WE HAVE THE FAILED PART AND ARE WILLING TO SHOW IT TO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED. *AK