2001 Ford Ranger Suspension

so I recently purchased this truck thinking it was all safe, the pictures were too good to be true thats for sure, When I brought the truck back the old owner even drove with me knowing what he just sold me. The next day I was so happy so I get it registered and insured and I was so eager to hope in and drive around in my new "safe" truck I also went out with my loved one and it sickens me that the old owner was ok with selling me a not so safe truck and I could have died if the frame bracket broke or the frame cracked while i was driving but when I started to look under I saw the problem and I was scared I saw that the upper control arm bracket mount was rusted and the strut tower as well it had a Hole forming and a crack on the strut tower. I also found out that there was a crack in the frame and i've looked up online and it seems that the frame and other components rust I don't know what to do. Im also a college student who is trying to get into the mechanic world and this scares me with how many trucks like this are out on the road.

The rear leaf spring shackle rust causing the leaf spring to go through the bed. When going highway speeds the vehicle shakes and not safe to drive over 60.

Frame rusted in several places behind the cab at the rear spring shackles. Frame cracked both sides and bed is up against the cab and ready to break in two. Ford will not do anything. 145 k miles and the rest of the truck is in very good shape everything works except the cruise and is a loaded edge…..very upset just had a transmission rebuilt in it. Love the truck all the one I have looked at have the same issues over several years on fb marketplace and cannot find a good frame in any salvage yard. Didn’t Toyota’s have the same issues and they had a recall. Why doesn’t Ford have one? Call Ford directly and they won’t do a thing. Tried selling as is and replacing but can’t get a buyer for what I have in the truck. Trying to find a good frame to fix it now, but there are none out there. Very Dissatisfied.

THE FRAME ON THIS TRUCK HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REAR BUMPER ACTUALLY FELL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. I TOOK OFF THE BED AND CUT OFF THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME AND WELDED ON A NEW REAR SECTION AND PUT ON NEW LEAF SPRING HANGERS AND RE INSTALLED THE BUMPER A FEW YEARS AGO AND RE COATED THE FRAME WITH PAINT BUT NOW IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE IT AS THERE ARE ACTUAL HOLES RUSTED THRU. IT NEEDS A FRAME REPLACEMENT OR IT JUST A PARTS VEHICLE.

FRAME RUSTED EVEN THOU WE PAID FOR UNDERCOATING NO ACCIDENT TRYING TO PREVENT ACCIDENT WITHOUT SCRAPING THE VEHICLE CAN SEND PICTURES, BUT THIS FORM DOES NOT WORK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE BY THE WHEEL BEARING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE FRAME AND THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED, CAUSING THE LEAF SPRINGS TO DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.

FRAME BAD.SPARE TIRE FALL OFF AND BACK BUMPER FALL OFF.SPARE TIRE FALL OFF WHEN I WAS PARKING IN A PARKING SPACE.FRAME IS IN VERY BAD CONDITON.

I OWN A 2001 4X4 FORD RANGER XLT. BODY, INTERIOR PERFECT CONDITION. ALWAYS GARAGED, JUST OVER 100K MILES WON'T PASS INSPECTION. FRAME ROTTED OUT! FORD SHOULD REPLACE THIS FRAME OR BUY BACK THE TRUCK. IT IS USELESS TO ME IN THIS CONDITION. I WAS TOLD THAT REPAIRS COULD COST UP TO $2000 OR MORE. I FEEL RIPPED OFF BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THIS IS MY LAST FORD.

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THAT I FILED EARLIER TODAY. I OWN A 2001 FORD RANGER 4X4 XLT. BODY AND INTERIOR ALL PERFECT. NO RUST ON BODY. FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN BACK OF AREA THAT REAR SHACKLES ARE ATTACHED TO. SHACKLES THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO. TRUCK WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND I AM TOLD COST OF REPAIRS COULD BE AROUND $2000 OR MORE. THE MILEAGE ON THIS TRUCK IS JUST OVER 100K. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I'VE OWNED MANY FORD VEHICLES, SOME A LOT OLDER THAN THIS TRUCK AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

THIS 2001 FORD RANGER TRUCK'S BODY AND INTERIOR ARE PERFECT. THE FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED AND NO ONE WANTS TO PASS IT FOR INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF THE FRAME. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE TRUCK HAS 103,000 HIGHWAY MILES AND IS MECHANICALLY PERFECT. I FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD EITHER REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRAME OF THE TRUCK OR BUY IT BACK FROM ME. THIS TRUCK WAS MY SECOND VEHICLE AND I NEED SOMETHING DONE WITH IT.

SEVERE RUST ON FRAME. REAR SPRING HANGERS BROKE. SPARE TIRE HOLDER ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. CRACKED FRAME BEHIND FRONT SPRING HANGER OF RIGHT REAR SPRING. DRIVELINE IN GOOD CONDITION AS WAS THE REST OF THE BODY.

FRIST, REAR SPRING SHACKLES RUSTED THROUGH HAD TO BE REPLACED, NOW REAR FRAME WHERE THE SHOCK TOWER HOOKS UP IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ( FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED TO ON SAFE CONDITION )IN MOTION HEARD A LOUD RATTLE PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS .WE HAVE PICTURES BUT COULD NOT DOWNLOAD THEM ON THIS FORM.

TOOK TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE SPRING SHACKLES WERE RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WHEN GOING TO INSTALL TRAILER HITCH I FOUND THAT SPRING AND SHACKLE BRACKETS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF DUE TO SEVERE RUST PERFORATION. ALSO BUMPER BRACKETS ARE COMPROMISED BY SEVERE RUST PERFORATION AS WELL AS ENTIRE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE THE SAME COMPLAINT HAS BEEN REPORTED AND I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO MANUFACTURE OF THE FRAME METAL.I AM CONCERNED THAT MY BUMPER IS GOING TO COME OFF WHILE DRIVING OR SPARE TIRE OR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SURFACE RUST IS EXPECTED BUT TOTAL PERFORATION OF METAL FROM RUST ON VEHICLE THIS OLD IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IS A DEFECT IN THE METAL. *TR

DURING MY ANNUAL INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKET WAS RUSTED OFF AND PART OF THE FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY. WOULD NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION.... *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SHACKLE WELDS BROKE FOR THE LEAFSPRING SUPPORT. IT MADE A CLUNKING NOISE, SO I CHECKED IT & SEEN THAT IT WAS BROKE. WERE THEN I NOTICED THE TRUCK BOX BEING LIFTED ON THAT SIDE. *TR

FRAME RUSTED TO THE POINT OF BREAKING. *JS

TRUCK HAS 86,000 AND LOOKS LIKE BRAND NEW CONDITION, HOWEVER, THE FRAME IS BADLY RUSTED, OUR AUTO MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT THE TRUCKS LIFE IS COMING TO AN END. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION AND THEY CAN NOT COMMENT AT THIS TIME. I ASKED IF THEY WOULD HELP PAY FOR A FRAME REPLACEMENT WHICH THEY DECLINED. *TR

I BROUGHT MY 2001 FORD RANGER IN FOR IT'S ANNUAL NEW YORK INSPECTION. THE INSPECTOR POINTED OUT THAT THE FRAME WAS DANGEROUSLY WEAK DUE TO RUST BY THE REAR SHACKLE BRACKETS WHICH THE LEAF SPRING IS ATTACHED TO. I HAD THESE BRACKETS REPLACED A FEW YEARS EARLY BECAUSE ONE RUSTED OUT AND BROKE. I WOULD HAT TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY FRAME FAILED WHILE ON A INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. I AM 63 YEARS OLD AND NEVER DID I HAVE A FRAME RUST OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP WHICH WELDED NEW STEEL ON THE FRAME BOTH SIDES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,944. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/06/11

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.

I HAVE A 2001 FORD RANGER 4X THAT IS MAINLY USED FOR DRIVING TO WORK. IT IS ONLY TAKEN OFF THE PAVEMENT TO UNLOAD MATERIALS OR REMOVE WOOD, ETC FROM THE BACK OF MY PROPERTY. I HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON AT 75,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED WHEEL ALIGNMENT. SINCE I QUESTIONED THIS, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE ALIGNMENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT FOR $500, WHICH I ALSO DOUBTED. I TOLD THEM TO DO THE ALIGNMENT BUT NOT THE BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. I HAVE HAD NO REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD BUT IF THEY ARE THEN I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I AM 65 AND HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF CARS. I HAVE HAD SOME FOR NEARLY 200,000 MILES BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACEMENT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY PROVIDED NOT HELP. THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT. *TR

I GOT AN 2001 FORD RANGER USED. NOTICED SOMETHING STRANGE WITH THE HANDLING. I ALSO NOTICED A BANGING ON THE FLOOR ON ROUGH ROADS. IT TOOK ME A TWO MONTHS TO FIND THE PROBLEM. BOTH BOLTS OR THE ANTI SWAY BAR WERE BROKEN ON THE FRONT END. *TR

DT: THE CALLER SAID BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES IN THE FRONT END. THIS WAS THE ONLY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT GO BAD AT THAT MILEAGE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW IF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE LOWER JOINTS. *AK (11/15/05) THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM BOTH BALL JOINTS AND THE CV JOINT. *SC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC NOTIFIED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LOWER BALL JOINT WORE OUT.*AK