1998 FORD RANGER EV — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER EV. ON OCTOBER 23, 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY OF 2008. SHE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ

I PURCHASED A VEHICLE WITH AN EXPRESS 45 DAY GUARANTEE. WITHIN THE 45 DAYS I WAS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT SHIFTING RIGHT, IT WAS OVERHEATING, LEAKING OIL AND RADIATOR FLUID. SINCE THE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK INTO THE COMPANY FOR REPAIRS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IT IS NOW FOUR MONTHS LATER AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WITH ALL THE BAD REPAIRS AND INSTALLS DONE ON THE VEHICLE IT'S LIFE EXPECTANCY IS NOW SHOT. THE COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER COMPARABLE VEHICLES TO PUT US IN AND IS REFUSING TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK FOR THE PRICE I PAID ON IT.

CONSUMER CAN REMOVE THE KEY AND STILL TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

THE BELTS CUT THROUGH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE FROM THE INSIDE. FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE TIRES HAVE THREE CUTS IN THEM SO DEEP THE BELTS CAN BE SEEN. I REPLACED THE TIRES BECAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL SCARE. I STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES THOUGH.THE TIRE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE BELT HAD SEPERATED AND CUT THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE. DRIVING IT FELT LIKE THE TIRE WAS FOLDING OVER ITSELF ESPECIALLY WHEN I TOOK A TURN.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND FIXED IT WHAT THE POSSIBLE CAUSE COULD BE, AND THE ANSWER GIVEN WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." THIS DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE SINCE THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED BY THIS DEALERSHIP SINCE NEW, AND HAS NO SEVERE USE, OR UNUSUAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. MOST MILEAGE HAS BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WITH NO APPRECIABLE LOAD. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HAS APPROXIMATELY 150 OF THESE MACHINES ON A LONG TERM LEASE WHICH WILL EXPIRE AT APPROXIMATELLY FEB 2001. *AK