NHTSA Complaint #10376514 — 2002 FORD RANGER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SOUND OF SPINNING TIRES. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUE DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS AND RESTARTED, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE THE WHEELS LOCKED. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE WHEELS. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AFTER THE WHEELS WERE UNLOCKED. ALSO, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT OPERATE UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A RECALL DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V035000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DIFFERENTIAL UNIT). THE RECALL PERTAINED TO MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WHICH RESULTED TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.