NHTSA Complaint #10158884 — 2003 FORD RANGER

MY SON-IN-LAW WAS HELPING UNLOAD A BOX FROM THE BED OF MY 2003 FORD RANGER PICKUP AND WAS STANDING ON THE TAILGATE. THE COMBINED TOTAL WEIGHT WAS LESS THAN 200 LBS. WHILE HE WAS STANDING ON THE TAILGATE, BOTH CABLES SECURING THE TAILGATE SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING HIM TO FALL OFF THE TRUCK TAILGATE. HE WAS NOT INJURED. SOME SCRATCHING OF THE TAILGATE OCCURRED AS IT STRUCK THE BUMPER. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER, BUT SINCE IT IS A FEW MONTHS PAST WARRANTY (ALTHOUGH WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES). THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE CABLE REPLACEMENT. I CALLED THE FORD CONSUMER LINE, AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN REPAIRING THE DEFECT EITHER. THERE WAS NO EXISTING DAMAGE TO THE CABLES, AND THE TRUCK IS NOT USED COMMERCIALLY, NOR HAS IT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PARTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT ANY TIME. *NM