Vehicle back bumper fell off due to excessive rust (while in motion). Ball joints, tie rods, upper and lower control arm brackets rusted out as well as holes in the frame (all identified while stationary).
1998 Ford Ranger: ball joint or control arm failure
10 of the 575 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger describe ball joint or control arm failure.
- owner complaints
- 10
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- recalls
- 0
Is there a fix? 21 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below
Ball joint or control arm failure by model year
What owners say
At 40,000 miles and now at 81000 miles I need the ball joints replaced, I have never had to replace ball joints on any car under 150,000 miles my entire life, there is a problem here, this is a '98 ford ranger.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at any speed a squeaking noise came from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the upper and lower control arms, tie rods and bearings were replaced.
Passenger side lower control arm joint grease protector has deteriorated allowing moisture and dirt to enter the joint.
The vehicle made a squeak noise in the front end due to lower ball joints failure.
Consumer's vehicle didn't pass inspection last year on 3-14-2000. All 4 ball joints had to be replaced. Vehicle had 29,000 miles then. Vehicle didn't pass inspection again this year at 39,570 miles. Upper ball joints need replacing. In virginia, vehicles have to be inspected every year.*ak
Left front ball joint fell off due to missing screw during manufacturing. Mjs
Upper ball joint separated from the vehicle causing loss of control and minor collision, rust found outside both the sides of the knuckle and a missing bolt.
Upper and lower control arms are loud and make alot of noise while going over bumps or slowing down at any speed. The dealer cannot duplicate the problem.
Left lower control arm in the steering mechanism is defective, causing loud noises when making a turn or coming to a stop, a nything to do with the lower front end. Dealer said will call an engineer to inspect vehicle.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Revised procedure for adjusting alignment on all suspensions - new right hand upper control arm design for...
- Rear leaf spring noise
- Some vehicles may exhibit a squeak, snap, rattle, or clunk in the front end when turning or going over bumps
- Subject regarding rear alignment out of spec condition
- Left rear side of vehicle appears low
- Some vehicles may appear to be low in the rear
- Exhibiting very light steering vibration / shimmy / nibble at engine idle or low speeds
- Information regarding rear end sag
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 1998 Ford Ranger ball joint
Is ball joint or control arm failure a common problem on the 1998 Ford Ranger?
10 of 575 owner complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger (2%) mention ball joint or control arm failure. The model year with the most reports is 1999.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1998 Ford Ranger?
There are 0 recalls and 21 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1998 Ford Ranger
Tire blowout 53Adaptive cruise 20Fire or smoke 20Stalling 16No deployment 11Brake failure 10Grinding brakes 10Headlights 8Harsh shifting 7Hesitation 7ABS 6Loss of power 6Seat belt 6Sudden acceleration 6Knocking 5
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1998 Ford Ranger?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history