NHTSA Complaint #10627290 — 2000 FORD RANGER

VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED SEVERE FRAME AND UNDERBODY RUST FOR SEVERAL YEARS; DURING LAST INSPECTION MECHANIC CAUTIONED THAT VEHICLE WAS BADLY RUSTED BUT STILL ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. I VISUALLY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THIS EVENING AND FOUND SEVERE DELAMINATION TO FRAME MEMBERS AND SEVERE RUSTING OF BED UNDERFRAME. CROSSMEMBER SUPPORTING BED IS RUSTED THROUGH OR NON-EXISTENT IN APPROXIMATELY 40% OF SURFACE AREA. SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTS, LEAF SPRING MOUNTS, FUEL TANK SUPPORTS, AND FUEL LINES SIGNIFICANTLY RUSTED. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO REAR BRAKE LINES FAILED AT LOW SPEED AND VEHICLE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH PARKED CARS AND ADJANCENT STONE WALL. MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED BRAKE FAILURE TO RUST THROUGH OF REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS STILL OWNED BY ORIGINAL OWNER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED SINCE NEW AND PROPERLY CARED FOR. *TR