62 complaints reported

2001 Ford Ranger Structure

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
62
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

May 2022

The rear frame rusted so bad the bumper fell off and the frame actually cracked. This is a common issue with the late 1990s & early 2000s Ford Ranger, I do not understand why this isn't a recall yet as is it very dangerous. This happened on the highway. The front end frame, engine and all the components work flawlessly while the rear frame is just crumbling in rust.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2022
Oct 2021

The frame is rotted and broken on both side in the rear

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2021
Jul 2021

I noticed that there was significantly more rust than there should be. There are places where the frame has rusted through. It is a major safety concern. I researched the issue and found several others with the same concern. I also found that Toyota has previously recalled several vehicles for the same issue.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2021
Jul 2019

I PURCHASED A USED 2001 FORD RANGER, WENT TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND THERE WAS SEVERE RUST UNDERNEATH OF THE FRAME TO THE POINT THE INSPECTOR SAID IT WAS HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AROUND. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS FOR THE TRUCKS FRAME UNDERNEATH? WILL PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2019
Jul 2019

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK USED. THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE THAT I'VE HAD THE FRAME RUST OUT. I JUST HAD SOME WORK DONE TO THE TRUCK AND MY MECHANIC SAID THAT A CHUNK OF THE FRAME FELL OFF WHEN HE LIFTED THE TRUCK TO DO WORK TO THE BRAKE LINES. I'VE ALREADY HAD WELDING WORK DONE TO THE TRUCK RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T DISCLOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTING OUT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE. THE ATTACHED IMAGE IS FROM WHEN I HAD THE WELDING WORK DONE THE FIRST TIME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2013
May 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE SPARE TIRE LOOSENED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND NOTICED NOTHING BUT RUST WHERE THE FRAME FOR THE SPARE TIRE WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,092. *BF *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2019
Apr 2019

THE SALT ON THE ROADS RUSTED THE FRAME HORRIBLY CAUSING HOLES AND WEAK POINTS THROUGH THE BODY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2010
Mar 2019

THESE ARE PICTURES OF THE FRAME ON MY RANGER. THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND IT ONLY HAS 76,619 MILES ON IT. MY MECHANIC FOUND THIS WHEN I WAS HAVING THE BRAKE LINE REPAIRED AND HE LIFTED THE TRUCK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2019
Oct 2018

FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2017
Aug 2018

BODY FRAME RUSTED TO THE POINT I NOTICED THE BUMPER WAS HANGING DOWN ON DRIVERS SIDE, AS I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY I HAD SEEN THE SHACKLE WAS BROKEN AND THE PLATE OVER THE SPARE TIRE WAS CRACKED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE THE TIRE TO FALL OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK OR BUMPER WHICH WAS NOT CONNECTED ON DRIVERS SIDE BECAUSE OF RUST ALSO FRAME HAD TO BE REPAIRED THESE ARE THE REPAIRS I HAD DONE, REPLACED REAR FRAME SECTION FROM REAR AXLE SNUBBERS TO BUMPER, REPLACED REAR SHACKLES-REPLACED RIGHT SIDE REAR FRAME SHACKLE MOUNT REPAIRED CROSSMEMBER FOR GAS TANK RIGHT SIDE-REPAIR RIGHT FRONT FRAME RAIL ROUND CONTRO; ARM TO TRANS CROSSMEMBER COST WITH LABOR $973.69

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2018
Jan 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. *TT *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2017
Jan 2018

FRAME IS RUSTED BADLY AT POINTS WHERE CONTROL ARM CONNECTS TO FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS WHERE HOLDS GAS TANK. BODY IS IN PERFECT CONDITION AND ONLY ISSUE IS IN THE FRAME . IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY LONGER. IF CONTROL ARM BREAKS OFF THE FRAME COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO PASSENGERS AND OTHERS ON HIGHWAY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
Dec 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S SPARE TIRES AND HALF OF THE REAR BUMPER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS ROTTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2015
Oct 2017

BACK HALF OF FRAME RUST OUT CROSSMEMBERS AND GAS TANK BRACKET. BECOMES UNSAFE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
Aug 2017

REAR SPRING SHACKLES RUSTED SO BAD THEY BROKE APART AND STARTED TO COME THROUGH THE CARGO BED. NOW THE ENTIRE REAR SECTION OF THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED I AM AFRAID TO USE THE TRAILER HITCH. FRONT SECTION IS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 55000 MILES ON IT AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE OWNED FORDS ALL MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS BEFORE. I CAN UNDERSTAND SOME BOY PANEL RUST, BUT TO HAVE THE FRAME COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATE IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. FORD NEEDS TO BE REQUIRED TO FIX THESE TRUCKS OR BUY THEM BACK AT A FAIR MARKET VALUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2014
Jun 2017

I TOOK MY FORD RANGER TO BE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THE REAR BUMPER MOUNT HAD TO BE FIXED DUE TO RUST. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THAT FIXED AND WHEN THE GARAGE THAT I TOOK THE TRUCK TO WENT TO FIX THE THAT PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE THE REAR FRAME WAS ROTTED. I HAD BEEN RUNNING THE TRUCK BEFORE THIS PROBLEM ARRIVED SO NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 169000 MILES ON IT AND IT WONT PASS INSPECTION. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN GOOD CONDITION. I HAVE A G M C PICK-UP WITH 230500 MILES ON IT AND THE FRAME IS STILL GOOD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE. UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
Jan 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES HAD RUSTED AND SEPARATED FROM THE SUB FRAME AND PUNCTURED THROUGH THE BED OF THE TRUCK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INDICATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SO SEVERELY RUSTED IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2015
May 2016

THE FRONT CROSS FRAME HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE AS HAS THE REAR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2014
Feb 2016

WAS CHANGING A BROKEN ADJUSTER ON REAR BRAKES AND NOTICED THE FRAME AT THE REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAS LARGE CRACKS IN IT ON BOTH SIDES. THE CONCERN IS THE STRESS PLACED ON THE CRACKED FRAME AS THAT IS WHERE MOST OF THE STRAIN IS PLACED. THAT PORTION OF THE FRAME HAS A BUNCH OF RUST CAUSING THE METAL TO PIT AND LIKELY WEAKEN. I'M SPECULATING THAT THE METAL USED WAS INFERIOR OR THAT THE SHOCK PLATE WAS MOUNTED IN WRONG LOCATION. THE FRAME WILL REQUIRE WELDING WHICH WILL NOT BE AS STRONG.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2016
Nov 2015

WENT TO HAVE THE TRUCK INSPECTED WHEN THEY NOTICE THAT WHERE THE SPARE TIRE WENT IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS ALL NOTICED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS SITTING STILL BEING INSPECTED

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2015
Sep 2015

THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. REAR LEAF SPRINGS FRAME CROSS MEMBERS, CAB MOUNTS, I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2006
Apr 2015

I HAVE A 2001 FORD RANGER 4X4. THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND HAS ROT ALL OVER IT. THE TRUCK WAS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY OVER NIGHT, I CAME OUT TO GO CLEAN MY TRUCK AND THE SPARE TIRE WAS ON THE GROUND. I TAKE SUCH GOOD CARE OF MY TRUCK, BUT THE REAR END IS JUST KILLING ME. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. -THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2014
Mar 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,389. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2015
Mar 2015

MY 2001 FORD RANGER XLT DISPLAYS A RUSTING FRAME THAT IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE MILEAGE OR CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRACKET HOLDING THE REAR LEAF SPRING HAS RUSTED AND BROKEN LOOSE, ALLOWING THE SPRING TO REST AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK. THIS IS THE 2ND BRACKET TO RUST COMPLETELY THRU, AND AGAIN, AS STATED, THE FRAME SHOWS SIGNS OF SEVERE DEGRADATION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2015
Oct 2014

MY FRAME HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MOSTLY ALL OF MY UNDERCARRIAGE BOLTS AND SUPPORTS HAVE ROTTED THROUGH THE FRAME THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FRAME METAL TO MAKE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS> INCLUDING GAS TANK FILLER PIPE, GAS TANK SUPPORT STRAPS, SHOCK SUPPORTS,MUFFLER MOUNTS,SIDE STEP UPS, AND SIDE PANEL: BRACKETS. THIS TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AND I FEEL A FRAME SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 13 YEARS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 FORD RANGER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2014

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2001 Ford Ranger has 62 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.