2002 FORD RANGER Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SOUND OF SPINNING TIRES. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUE DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS AND RESTARTED, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE THE WHEELS LOCKED. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE WHEELS. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AFTER THE WHEELS WERE UNLOCKED. ALSO, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT OPERATE UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A RECALL DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V035000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DIFFERENTIAL UNIT). THE RECALL PERTAINED TO MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WHICH RESULTED TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE VIN WAS...

1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NORMAL EVERYDAY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION VIA HIGHWAY AND SURFACE STREETS. 2)FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES: THE REAR LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL UNIT OF MY 2002 FORD RANGER FX4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP ABRUPTLY NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE REAR LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL UNIT EXPLODED CAUSING THE GEARS TO BREAK AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING. I HAD CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (TORSEN) OF THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND STATED THE UNIT I HAD WAS RECALLED ACCORDING TO THE SERIAL NUMBER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEGELANTLY DID NOT RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THE RECALLED DIFFERENTIAL UNITS. 3) THE TRUCK'S REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND GEAR WAS REPLACED WITH OEM RING AND PINION GEARS, BEARINGS AND SIMILAR TYPE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER (DETROIT TRUETRAC) FROM WHICH WAS ORGINALLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. COST $1,400.00.*CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING AND CLUNKING NOISE. HE ALSO NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CASE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V035000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DIFFERENTIAL UNIT). THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL COULD BE CHANGED AT A CHARGE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - WHILE DRIVING THE REAR OF THE TRUCK SHOOK PROFUSELY. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY DETERMINED THAT THE REAR AXLES WERE CRACKED AND THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO ADMITTED THERE WAS A RECALL BUT STATED THAT IT HAD EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP EXPLAINED THAT THE RECALL HADN'T EXPIRED IT JUST DIDN'T EXIST FOR THE CONSUMER'S RANGER. THE SERVICE REP WHEN ON TO TELL THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL WAS FIR 2002 RANGER 4X4 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *NM

2002 FORD RANGER FX4- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 65K MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. DROVE VEHICLE NORMALLY, STARTED NOTICING "CLUNKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT THAT WAS VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING AXLE TO LOCK UP. PARTS REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC AT THE COST OF APPROX. $1500. SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL #02V035000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION VERSION. *NM

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 02V035000; FORD ISSUED AN REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL CASE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT HAS A BENT AXLE IN WHICH IT COULD BREAK. THE VIN IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *NM *NM

I PURCHASED A 2002 RANGER EDGE 4X4 , IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE AIRBAG SENSOR, ABS SENSOR, FRONT END HAD TOBE REALIGNED DUE TO A BAD ALIGNMENT AT THE FACTORY,THE TIRES IN THE FRONT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 4500 MILES. NOW AT 38000 MILES THE 4X4 DRIVETRAIN WAS LEAKING AT THE FRONT COVER. THE BREATHING TUBE WAS THROWING OIL OUT ONTO THE ENGINE . I WAS TOLD BY FORD COMPANY AND A FORD TECH. THAT THIS WAS A E4NGINNERING PROBLEM. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST OF 796.00. THE COVER WAS REPLACED WITH A PART THAT WAS USED PREVIOUS TO 1995, PART NUMBER IS FOF6TZ-4033-BA. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL AND CAN I EXPECT FUTURE PROBLEMS. *JB

THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING LEAKED FLUID. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

RECALL 02V035000; WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED A LOW HUM COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. HUM STARTS TO GET LOUDER. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DEALER STATED REAR END WAS BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK