1997 FORD RANGER Suspension Problems

REAR LEAF SPRING HANGERS/SHACKLES RUSTED OFF AS WELL AS THE FRONT ONES ON THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. SPARE TIRE CARRIER FELL DOWN DRAGGING THE SPARE TIRE ACROSS THE ROAD. ONE CROSSMEMBER HOLDING UP THE FRONT OF THE GAS TANK IS READY TO GO. BOTH GAS TANK STRAPS ROTTED OFF. TOYOTA WAS MADE TO FIX THESE ISSUES. WHY NOT FORD? I WORK AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACING ROTTEN FRAMES ON TUNDRAS, SEQUOIAS, AND TACOMA VEHICLES. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE AS BOTH THE FRAMES FOR TOYOTA AND FORD ARE BUILT AT THE SAME FACTORY IF I AM CORRECT? THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD ALL TIMES THE ABOVE LISTED FAILED. SOME TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY, OTHERS IN TOWN. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE SELLING THIS VEHICLE TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHEN IT'S READY TO GO.

REPORTING NUMEROUS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED USED ---ORIGINAL OCCURRENCE DATE NOT CERTAIN BUT OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS MECHANICAL FAILURES OCCURRED THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITIES. THE FAILURES INCLUDE BUT NOT EXCLUSIVE TO ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND LEAKED ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID --REAR BODY SUPPORT SYSTEM GAVE OUT DURING DRIVING AND REAR WHEELS AND AXLES NOT ATTACHED TO BODY ---VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND WENT OFF INTO SHOULDER--RADIAL AXIAL ARM RUSTED AWAY AND STEERING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING. GAS LEAKS FROM TOP OF TANK IF FILLED TO FULL --LEAKS ON TO GROUND AND COULD RESULT IN GAS FIRE AND EXPLOSION --DO NOT FILL TANK MORE THAN 3/4 ! ALL BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE REPLACED AND FREQUENT CHECKS OF STEERING AND SUSPENSION. I AM REPORTING THIS TO MAKE OWNERS AWARE AND TAKE PRECAUTION TO PREVENT INJURY OR DEATH.. *TR

FRAME IS NEARLY GONE / RUSTED , REAREND / AXLE FELL OUT IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. *TR

DRIVING DOWN ROAD REAR SPRING BROKE ANOTHER TIME SPAR TIRE CAME OF ALMOST CAUSING CRASH ,HAVE REPAIRED BOTH REAR SPRING BRACKETS ,TWO FRONT SUSPENSION , LOST SPARE AND FRAME ABOUT TO BRAKE AWAY . WHAT SHOULD I DO . HAVE LOT OF MONEY INVESTED . *TR

WHILE WORKING ON AND DOING AN UNDERBODY INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SPRING HANGER IS ALMOST ROTTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. IT IS A CAUSE FOR ALARM FOR ME AND ANYBODY DRIVING NEAR ME ON THE HIGHWAY. IF NOT FIXED IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A DEADLY ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ROTTED AS WELL. FRONT SUSPENSION IS ROTTING AS AT A FAST RATE. THE TRUCK SEEMS TO JUMP INTO OTHER LANES AFTER HITTING POT HOLES OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS. *TR

WHILE GOING DOWN HILL AND AROUND A CURVE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM REAR AND FELT BACK OF TRUCK MOVE SIDE WAYS. A SHORT TIME AFTER, ANOTHER LOUD NOISE FROM REAR AND REAR OF TRUCK DROPPED LOW . I LOST CONTROL AND WENT ONTO SHOULDER AND SLOWED DOWN WAS ABLE TO RECOVER AND AT SLOW SPEED WENT HOME. ON INSPECTION FOUND BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING FORWARD SHACKLE SUPPORTS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. WAS LUCKY NOT GOING FASTER AS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN VERY SERIOUS CRASH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND WARN OWNERS OF POSSIBLE FAILURE OF LEAF SPRING. AND LOSS OF CONTROL TRUCK IS PARKED AND NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. *TR

I OWN A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT 4X4 4.0LTR.MANY SHOPS HAVE WORK ON THE FRONT AXEL WHEEL BEARINGS AND SEALS AND RETAINER NUT THIS NUT TAKES A SOCKET 2.3/8 R-6 MOST SHOPS DON'T HAVE IT SO THEY USE WHAT EVER THEY HAVE,CHISELL,LOCKING PLYERS ECT...CREATING FRONT END DAMAGE TO WHEEL BEARINGS,SEALS, BRAKES,CALIPERS,BRAKE DRUMS, MOST OF AL THE TIRES..I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB ALSO DID NOT REMOVE LCKING PIN FROM SPINDEL. *TR

A FEW THINGS HERE, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT RANDOM. HAD IT CHECKED A FEW TIMES. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. DOME LIGHT/DOOR CHIME WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN DOOR IS SHUT AND/OR CAR IS TURNED ON. LEFT HAND BLINKER WENT NUTS A FEW TIME, BASICLY IT WAS BLINKING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. A FEW SECOND 'POWER LOSS' HAPPEND A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING, LOST POWER TO RAIDO, AND LIGHTS. THE REAR END BOUNCES WAY TOO MUCH WHEN I HIT A BUMP, CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND GOING OVER A BUMP VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT, AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER'S SHOP FOR REPAIRS, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP/RAILROAD TRACKS OR A RIGHT HAND TURN, VEHICLE PULLED OVER TO THE LEFT. ALSO HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION. *AK

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, EACH FOR UNEVEN WEAR ON THE TIRES AND A CONSTANT VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

POOR SUSPENSION SYSTEM CAUSING VIBRATION,BOUNCING AND UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE RESULTUNG IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.