2003 FORD RANGER Structure Problems

CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE CORROSION FOR THE YEAR AND MILES. VERY HEAVILY CORRODED AND PITTED WHILE THE EXTERIOR IS RUST FREE. THE TRUCK IS A 2003 WITH 90000 MILES. *TR

THE UNDER-BED SPARE TIRE HOLDER ROTTED OFF THE FRAME AND DROPPED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO THE GROUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING. *TR

TRUCK MADE A CLUNKING NOISE GOING AROUND A TURN. CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE AND HANGER HAD RUSTED OFF. WHEN REPLACING FOUND THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND HANGER ALL RUSTED WHICH COULD HAVE DROPPED THE SPARE TIRE ONTO THE ROAD. ALSO THE FRAME IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND NEEDS REPAIRED. ALSO WITH IT RUSTED AT THE REAR WHERE THE HITCH ATTACHES I COULD LOSE ANYTHING I MAYBE TRAILERING. MY FRAME IS HORRIBLE FOR THE YEAR AND UNSAFE. *JA

I OWN A 2003 FORD RANGER I BOUGHT NEW. ON NOVEMBER 26 2010 I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT @ WORK AND MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS FELL TO THE FLOOR CAUSING A MINOR CRASH. THE PIVOT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEEL PEDALS IS MADE FROM CAST ALUMINUM. I HAVE BEEN A ALUMINUM WELDER FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND IN MY OPINION THIS BRACKET IS VERY SUBSTANDARD. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON RANGERS AND OTHER TRUCKS AND FORD CARS. IF I WAS ON THE ROAD THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I SENT PICTURES AND A PIECE OF THE BRACKET TO A RECALL INVESTIGATOR. HE SAID ITS NOT A COMMON FAILURE SINCE HE CANT FIND ANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

WHILE USING RAMPS TO LOAD LAWN EQUIPMENT INTO THE BED OF MY 2003 FORD RANGER PICKUP, BOTH OF THE TAILGATE LIMIT CABLES BROKE SIMULTANEOUSLY. EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED CABLED INDICATED THEY BOTH BROKE AT THE SAME LOCATION, ROUGHLY THE MIDPOINT OF THE CABLE WHERE IT IS FOLDED WHEN THE TAILGATE IS IN THE UP POSITION. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT WATER MIGHT HAVE ENTERED THE CABLE SHEATH AND RUSTED THE CABLE. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE TAILGATE DROPPING APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHED AND NEARLY CAUSING TWO PERSONS PLUS HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO FALL TO THE GROUND. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CLASSIC DESIGN FLAW. I TRIED TO GET NEW CABLES FROM FORD, BUT THEY ARE ON BACKORDER PENDING RE-DESIGN (ACCORDING TO THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AT THE FORD DEALER I WENT TO). THIS SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT NOTIFIED...

SEVERE WATER LEAK IN ROOF AND REAR WINDOW EXACT LOCATION NOT DETERMINED YET. OWNER NOTICED WATER DRIPPING ON DRIVERS SEAT. UNDER HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS THE CAB WILL FILL UP WITH WATER -ALL OVER THE FLOOR, CARPETS, MATS, ETC. WATER HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO INTERIOR AND UPHOLSTERY. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO FORD''S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS REPAIR THE LEAK AND DAMAGE TO INTERIOR. THEY TOLD ME LEAKS ARE COMMON AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. SECOND DEFECT: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY WILL EVEN GET HUNG UP IN A GEAR; CAUSES HEAVY VIBRATION UPON BRAKING. SOME STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN RECENTLY REPLACED BY OWNERS EXPENSE. *JB

THE SILVER COATING ON THE DASH BOARD AROUND THE RADIO AND AC UNIT IS RUBBING OFF. *LA

CONSUMER FEELS THAT BRACKET ON VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD.*MR WHEN THE REAR DOOR WAS OPENED, AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR OPENING A BRACKET EXTENDED FROM THE FRAME WHICH WAS USED AS A CLOSING DEVICE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE EXTENDED BRACKET WHILE TRYING TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE TRUCK.*TS *JB

CONSUMER CALLLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD, CANNOT BE VISIBLE IF THERE IS A SHADW HITTING THE DASHBOARD. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.*AK