NHTSA Complaint #10399495 — 2000 FORD RANGER

MY 2000 FORD RANGER XLT SUPERCAB WITH A 4.0L V6 MOTOR WITH 93000 MILES HAS EXTREMELY SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME, UNDERBODY, SUSPENSION, AND FUEL TANK STRAPS. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW SEVERE IT WAS UNTIL I NOTICED THE LEFT REAR SIDE OF MY TRUCK SAGGING NOTICEABLY. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAD RUSTED AND CORRODED SO BADLY THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER PHYSICALLY CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK IS NOW RESTING ON THE DISCONNECTED SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF THE FRAME HAS CORRODED AWAY, ABOUT A 6X6 SQUARE PORTION JUST IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. I ALSO NOTICED AT THIS TIME THAT ONE OF TWO STRAPS HOLDING UP THE FUEL TANK WAS HANGING COMPLETELY LOOSE. THE MOUNT FOR THE STRAP WHICH IS WELDED TO THE FRAME WAS ALSO COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY. IF THE OTHER STRAP WERE TO FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER THE FUEL TANK WOULD NO LONGER HAVE ANY WAY OF STAYING ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL HARM AND DAMAGE THIS COULD CAUSE TO MYSELF AND/OR OTHER MOTORISTS IF I WERE DRIVING ON THE STREET OR HIGHWAY WHEN THAT OCCURRED. THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO ARE SEVERELY CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE TRUCK IS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 93000 MILES AND I CAN'T SEE HOW THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN UNLESS IT WAS CAUSED BY INFERIOR MATERIALS, CRAFTSMANSHIP OR UNDERCARRIAGE PROTECTION FROM THE FACTORY. DESPITE LIVING IN AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY WHERE WINTERS ARE TOUGH ON CARS I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE HAVING SUCH SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION EXCEPT FOR TWO PEOPLE I KNOW WERE TOYOTA TACOMA OWNERS WHO WERE SUBJECT TO THE RUST AND CORROSION RECALL FOR CERTAIN TACOMAS. IN ADDITION I HAD THE REAR BRAKE LINES RUST OUT ON ME WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING LAST SPRING. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE VEHICLE BACK HOME AND REPAIRED WITH NO HARM CAUSED. I DIDN'T NOTICE THE SEVERE RUST ELSEWHERE AT THE TIME AND SOON AFTER PASSED MA INSPECTION. *TR