NHTSA Complaint #761703 — 2000 FORD RANGER

RECEIVED THIS VEHICLE ON -1/16/2000 EVERY THING RAN GOOD FOR 6 MO. THE ENGINE STARTED A TO EXHIBIT A ENGINE SPARK KNOCK (PING NOISE). I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN NUMUS NUMEROUS TIMES. EACH TIME THAT I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS A FAILURE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES TELLING DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY CONCLUDED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO RUN THE VEHICLE WITH A MORE EXPENSIVE FUEL. WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATION. THIS IS IN CONTRADICTION IN OF SERVICE MANUAL WHICH STATES THESE VEHICLES CAN BE OPERATED ON A NORMAL OCTANE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED NEW. THE PING IS MORE APPARENT IN WARM AND DRY CLIMATES. THE DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS THAT EVERYTHING IS IN SPECS. PING FROM AN ENGINE IS NOT A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION. I HAVE WROTE LETTERS TO THE MAIN CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAU FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. ALSO TO THE LEAD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DEALERSHIP. STILL AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IN FACT EVEN WITH THE HIGHER OCTANE FUELS THE 2.5 ENGINE IS STILL PING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. NOW THEY ARE STATING TO ME, THAT THIS PROBLEM IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE WARRANTY?*AK