2001 FORD RANGER Suspensionfront Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE, LOOSE, AND WORN. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS FINE AND HE COULD NOT TELL THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE PRIOR TO THE REPAIR VISIT. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 43,000.

CONSUMER STATED THAT FRONT END IS WEARING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. RIGHT/FRONT TIRE FEELS AS IF IT IS GOING TO BUCKLE UP UNDER VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

A PIECE OF TIRE FLEW OFF AND MADE A LOUD THUD SOUND IN THE WHEEL-WELL. TIRE THEN BEGAN TO FLY APART WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. TRUCK BEGAN TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD WHEN I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES. TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM BEFORE WE COULD STOP. BELL FORD AND FIRESTONE DEALER TOLD ME THE TIRE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AS IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THEY CALLED IT A "ROAD HAZARD." "HAZARDOUS TIRES" WOULD BE MORE ACCURATE. ANOTHER COUPLE BROUGHT IN A TIRE JUST LIKE OURS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE BOTH TURNED AWAY. WE HAVE REPLACED ALL FIVE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE SITUATION AND THE DANGER WE FELT. I HAVE HAD FLAT TIRES ON THE FREEWAY BEFORE, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A TIRE DISINTEGRATE INTO HUNDREDS OF PIECES OR COME OFF THE RIM LIKE THAT. PLEASE...

I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR ONLY ONE YEAR AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS. FIRST THE TRANSMISSION WENT BEACAUSE IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 2ND GEAR AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. IT WAS FOUND TO BE INTERNAL PARTS AND EXTERNAL WIRING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THAT SAME DAY THE ALTERNATOR WENT AND LEFT ME WITH A DEAD BATTERY. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER ABOUT 3 TIMES FOR ROUGH IDLE AND HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY SAYING THE CANNOT FEEL ANYTHING AND THAT NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE ITS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TWICE I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION DUE TO A VIBRATION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRUCK. ALL ROTORS WERE TURNED AND THE FRONT WAS REALLINED. ALSO THE TRUCK SEEMS TO GO THROUGH GAS A BIT TOO QUICKLY, JUST ABOUT A BIT OVER A QUARTER TANK FOR EVERY 10-15 MILES.*AK

I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR ONLY ONE YEAR AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS. FIRST THE TRANSMISSION WENT BEACAUSE IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 2ND GEAR AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. IT WAS FOUND TO BE INTERNAL PARTS AND EXTERNAL WIRING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THAT SAME DAY THE ALTERNATOR WENT AND LEFT ME WITH A DEAD BATTERY. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER ABOUT 3 TIMES FOR ROUGH IDLE AND HAVE BEEN TURNED AWAY SAYING THE CANNOT FEEL ANYTHING AND THAT NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE ITS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TWICE I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION DUE TO A VIBRATION TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRUCK. ALL ROTORS WERE TURNED AND THE FRONT WAS REALLINED. ALSO THE TRUCK SEEMS TO GO THROUGH GAS A BIT TOO QUICKLY, JUST ABOUT A BIT OVER A QUARTER TANK FOR EVERY 10-15 MILES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD START TO VIBRATE/ SHIMMY, HIGHER THE SPEED SHIMMYING WOULD BE WORSE, CONSUMER WOULD GRIP STEERING WHEEL, AND WOULD BE HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, EACH MECHANIC JUST ROTATED THE TIRES, THIS FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK GOODYEAR REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. RTS WRANGLER P235/75R15)*JB

WHILE TRAVELING UP HILL AND MAKING TURNS CONSUMER NOTICED STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. DEALER ENCOURAGED CONSUMER TO PUT MORE MILES ON VEHICLE. *AK VEHICLE HAS ROUGH IDLE WHEN WAITING FOR A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS IN GEAR OR NOT. *YH