Rear end (?) whines at various speeds,transmission slips. Dealer rebuilt differential, problem persists, dealer now has vehicle installing a new transmission trying to fix problem. Brake pedal pulses (not ABS)and steerings wheel shudders (left/right) when brakes are applied at all speeds. (not reported to dealer, have since found out that this is a common problem with this vehicle). Oil filter- to remove filter it must be wedged past the solenoid/starter. It come in contact with the exposed wires/lugs? On the starter. There is nothing protecting this exposed area. My dealer has been extremely courteous and understanding in dealing with the transmission/differential problem. I have not received any information from ford regarding these problems.through research on the internet I have come to believe that the problems described here are not limited to my experiences. Thank you.
1998 Ford Ranger transmission complaints
Page 3 of 3: complaints 41 to 59 of 59, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Vehicle would lose power. Engine felt like it had died. An intermittent problem. When in lower gear only, would die out. Have been to dealer's twice.
Grinding noise when shifting between 2, 3. And 4. Rebuilt transmission. Vehicle lost 1st & 2nd gear. Towed. Dealer said nothing wrong with transmission. Happened again. Dealer replaced transmission. Failure happened again. Dealer said it was the driver not the transmission. Failure part is the main blocker ring. Breaks and causes damage in transmission. Ford say's it's only my vehicle that is having this problem. That is a lie. Please check out www.fordranger.com. Website for ranger owners. Go to main tech boaard. See how many people are having the same problem I'm having. It took me 8 months just to get a new transmission. The did not have a transmission for my truck in the us from sept 98 until may 99. That is ridiculus. Please address this problem. The same problem is evident in 99 rangers also. Thank you.
Rear driveshaft exhibits a clunking noise/feeling upon acceleration from stop. Begins at around 10,000 miles on new vehicle.
Load sqeal heard when starting out from a stop and I think I can hear it in second and third gear, but not certain as the engine noise covers the sound. In searching the internet I did find another customer complain similar to mine. Also I found a service bulliten #2521 that states that the parts catalog book references an incorrect clutch part number for some vehicles with the 3.0l engines. Is it possible that my truck had the wrong part in it originally or they put the wrong part in ( througout bearing replaced july 1999) when they fixed it. This is the second time that I am having this problem and I will be contacting another dealer with this problem, as I was not completely satisfied with the service that I got from the dealer that I bought the truck from. Please advise. Thanks, jay grover
While shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear there is a grinding noise.
Front seat is distorted and sinking/collapsed, repaired several times and continues to collapse. Mjs the consumer was writing a complement to the dealership.
Load 'squeal' heard when releasing clutch pedal between 1st-2nd, 2nd-3rd, 2wd & 4x4 high. Will be serviced for the 3rd time march 1999. First two inspections resulted in replacement of pressure plate(2) and flywheel (1).rear drum brakes failed to release after emergency lever pulled. Owner had to apply unacceptable gas pedal pressure to move vehilce, resulting in a loud 'clunk' when drum brakes finally released.
Vehicle had been off for 5 hours and suddenly started up by itself. Then took off and hit a garage. Owner had to jump in vehicle and and take car out of first gear.
Driving on i90 west with no problems nor warning the rear end suddenly locked up completely, severing the driveshaft and rotating the differential so that it embeded itself in the spare tire (mounted under the vehicle). Result was an immediate loss of control, vehicle swerved to the left and ran off the freeway into the median. Rear wheels were completely locked up and un-movable. Investigated by wsp (report # 0570977). Clearly an extremely unsafe vehicle defect. Ford dealership (evergreen in issaquah, wa) mechanics all concurred they had never seen anything like it.
Engine head failed twice. Yh
Vehicle rolled backward while parked hitting another vehicle. Mjs
Wheel bearings failed.
Transmission gears failed. Mjs
When applying the brakes the pedal went to the floor ,the driver tried to pump the brakes, but vehicle kept going. Owner had to use emergency brakes to stop the vehicle. Dealer said the axle bent, causing the brakes to go out.
Standard transmission model is parked on a slight grade the vehicle will roll, neither the transmission nor the engine will hold the vehicle
Drive shaft failure.
Rear differential locked up at 50mph, causing vehicle to skid and throw it off road down into an embankment. One occupant was injured. Vehicle was totalled. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem.
Consumer said that his truck is all messed up due to transaxle failure.
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