The salt on the roads rusted the frame horribly causing holes and weak points through the body.
2001 Ford Ranger body complaints
Page 2 of 5: complaints 11 to 40 of 112, newest first, as owners wrote them.
All 4 rear shackles have been replaced due to rusting away. Also driverside rear shock where it attaches frame rusted off. The bed has rusted off of the front 2 bed mounts
2001 ford ranger frame is rusted out bad. There should be a recall on this since so many people are having the same problem. Ford should be ashamed of themselves for making a vehicle that the frame only lasts 15 to 17 years!
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
Chassis is severely rusted. You can break chunks of metal off with bare hands.both rear shock mounts have rusted off. Straps that hold gas tank have rusted through. Cross member holding tranny is severely rusted. Gas tank fill tube is severely rusted gas vapor return tube rusted off. Whole chassis. The whole frame is so rusted I am afraid to drive the truck. Truck only has 155,000 on it and has always been maintained (have all service records)
Frame is rusting away. Both rear shock mounts. Gas tank holding straps. Both chasis rails are rusting away with big chunks of steel falling off. Trans cross member rusting away
Frame has excessive rust/corrosion.
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
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.
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.
Back half of frame rust out crossmembers and gas tank bracket. Becomes unsafe
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.
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
Bought a used 2001 ford ranger after driving it for a month or so shocks were really bad looked underneath to find two clean cracks through from near back shocks not sure if bad shocks are to blame or weak frame
Serious structural frame rust affecting areas related to suspension (shocks, brackets/shackles of leaf spring) while the rest of the truck, including the body is generally unaffected by any serious rust.
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.
Rusty frame,
I bought my ranger 12 months ago. 6 months ago I noticed the bed of the truck was starting to lean to the left. Also the spare tire came up missing. I thought it was stlolen but upon inspection it had simply rusted the holder under the truck and fallen off. 3 months ago the truck started making a grinding noise upon braking. The right front a arm had rusted and broken off the frame. A mechanic had to weld a piece of metal to the frame because there was nothing to weld to. Then I finally decided to look under the truck and was shocked at what I found. The bed floor was nearly non excistant. Rusted almost completely gone. The spring shackle on the right which is attached to frame with a bracket were sticking up against the bed liner, the bracket completely gone. The tube that holds the right shock absorber is completely rusted off, the shock absorber just hanging there. Mechanics have told me theres no way to repair because theres no viable metal left to weld to. Its simply rusted away. So now im left with over 3 more years of car payments on a vehicle that's useless. I will upload pictures as soon as I can. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford ranger. While servicing the vehicle, the contact noticed that the frame was corroded and fractured. In addition, the suspension was corroded. The vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.
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.
The front cross frame has rusted to the point of being unsafe as has the rear
Spare tire assembly rusted completely tire and full assembly fell off on on highway created a hazard and almost an accident. The truck was in motion doing about 50 MPH.
To begin when I got the truck the air bag light would never go off when ever I turned them on and off. Which made me wonder weather they were ever really off and considering you can't fit a car seat in the back seat I had to put it in the front seat. Then when my wife was driving the spare tire fell off the truck while she was going down the road. Here recently she was driving and some one stopped her to tell her that something fell off the truck about 2 foot long. She called me and said the truck was still running so I told her to just try and make it home and I would look at it because I didn't think it was that serious. Once I started looking at it, a canister had come loose from the truck because the frame broke in half where the canister was connected to the truck because the truck was so rotted. She got the truck inspected in october. I feel that the dude that inspected it should have noticed the frame almost broke in half. I am very disappointed with this truck I have done nothing but put money into it.
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
Noted piece of metal dangling from rear of truck. Took vehicle to my mechanic and was shown that driver side gas tank strap had rusted away from mounting bracket. Toured underneath vehicle while it was on lift and was astonished to see the rust thru on all components of underbody. Frame, fuel and brake lines, mounting brackets etc. Mechanic unable to find a secure part of frame that would hold temporary repair. {auto body mechanic made temp repair}. The deterioration of this vehicle goes way beyond normal wear and tear. I have maintained this vehicle through its 80,000 miles and the body and paint look perfect. It is a life safety catastrophe waiting to happen. I babied this truck and planned on keeping it many more years. I can't even sell it now due to complete deterioration from premature rusting.
I had my truck serviced and the mechanic said the left front frame holding the suspension was rusted.
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).
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
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.
The entire frame has rusted out. Rear leaf springs frame cross members, cab mounts, I would never buy another ford.
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