45 of the 744 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger are about the body and structure — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 123,000 miles.
45
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW, I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BUT NOW MY FRAME IS IN BAD, BAD, BAD RUSTING CONDITION AND MY MECHANIC SAID IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 82,000 MILES ON IT!!! TOYOTA STOOD BEHIND THEIR FRAMES WHY ISN'T FORD?
NHTSA complaint #11414120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR FRAME EXCESSIVE RUSTING. SPARE TIRE CARRIER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. ONE SIDE OF BUMPER FELL OFF. NOTICED WHEN I STEPPED ON IT
NHTSA complaint #11364729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME HAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION IS DETACHING FROM FRAME AND FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND WILL SEPARATE SOON. THE SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER HAVE FALLEN OFF WHERE IS WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RUST AND THE BED MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED AWAY AND NO LONGER ATTACH TO THE FRAME LEAVING THE BED WITH NO SOLID MOUNT. SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER FELL OFF ON INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11234955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
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).
NHTSA complaint #11083796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXTREMELY RUSTED CAR FRAME
NHTSA complaint #10990969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE BED OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
NHTSA complaint #10986227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE REAR FRAME OF THE TRUCK HAS ROTTED AWAY. THE REAR SUSPENSION AND BUMPER ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THE BODY ITSELF IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL I STEPPED ON THE REAR BUMPER AND IT BEGAN SAGGING DOWN AND THEN REALIZED THAT A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE FRAMES CROSS MEMBERS WERE ALREADY GONE!
NHTSA complaint #10928959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME IS RUSTING OUT EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE TRUCK LOOKS GREAT . THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN WINTER BECAUSE I HAVE A WORK CAR WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE THAT I USE FOR THIS AND THE FRAME ON THAT VEHICLE IS IN BETTER CONDITION THAN MY RANGER. WE HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 2002 AND IT'S A 1998 MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10907395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE REAR FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF BETWEEN THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES AND REAR BUMPER, THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT IF ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY, AND THE GAS TANK CROSS MEMBER IS ALSO NEARLY RUSTED AWAY,1/2 IS MISSING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE REAR SPRINGS DETACHED WHEN THE SHACKLED RUSTED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY
NHTSA complaint #10860252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HIT A DEER WHILE COMMING HOME FROM WORK AT 45 MPH AND BENT BUMPER, DENTED LEFT QUARTER PANEL,BROKE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LENS AND CRACKED PLASTIC GRILE. AIRBAGS DID NOT APPLY OR ENGAGE. I ALSO HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES TO GET MY DOOR ALARM CHIP REPLACED @ 50 DOLLARS EACH TIME. ON LAST ATTEMPT MY EXTENDED WARANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY REFUSED TO HONER THE PROBLEM AND PROMISE TO REPLACE.EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN EXSISTING PROBLEM. THIS WAS PRIOR TO HITTING THE DEER.
NHTSA complaint #10730489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME/ CHASSIS IS RUSTING. I HEARD TOYOTA WAS FIXING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRUCKS. WHY DOESN'T FORD AND OR HAVE YOU CHECKED THESE TRUCKS OUT. YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME AND SEE MINE. THANKS,
NHTSA complaint #10694430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TOOK MY 1998 FORD RANGER IN FOR AN INSPECTION ON 01/13/2015 ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE BACK OF THE FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ONLY TWO DAYS EARLIER FROM A DEALERSHIP IN VA(01/11/2015) THAT'S RUN BY A MECHANIC. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AS SOON AS I SAW MY MISTAKE, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T SEE THE RUST, AND THAT THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION IN VA ONLY TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THE FRAME IS ABOUT TO SPLIT IN HALF ITS SO BADLY RUSTED AND NOW I CANT REGISTER IT, NOT TO MENTION DRIVE IT, OUT OF FEAR OF IT SNAPPING AND ME LOSING MY LIFE. OH AND DID I MENTION I PAID $3650 FOR THIS POS?
NHTSA complaint #10672298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THE FRAME BROKE, BEHIND THE CAB WHERE THE BACK BED BEGINS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. EXCESSIVE ROT ALL OVER FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #10653846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
MY FORD RANGER FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY IN THE BACK AND THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE REAR SHACKLES AND SHACKLE BRACKETS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THE SPARE TIRE HAS EVEN FALLEN OFF FROM RUST. ALSO THE GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM WERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A TRUCK THAT IS NOT THAT OLD. I HAVE READ THINGS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES FRAMES THAT ARE RUSTED AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10649986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I TOOK MY TRUCK TO HAVE A POWER STEERING ISSUE EXAMINED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME OF THE TRUCK WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. I EXAMINED THE FRAME AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SIZABLE HOLES IN THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE TRUCK IS IN SOLID CONDITION, HOWEVER THE FRAME ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10632615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
MY 1998 FORD RANGER FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE GAS TANK IS READY TO FALL OFF . THE SHOCK FELL OFF. THE STRAP FOR THE SPARE TIRE IS RUSTED OFF HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
NHTSA complaint #10631723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRUCK STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #10588216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE IN BED AT 2:00 AM TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10548584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
REAR SECTION OF FRAME AT REAR BUMPER MOUNT AND SPARE TIRE HOLDER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF HOLES ALL THE WAY THRU. HAVE READ A LOT OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TRUCK IS IN VERY NICE SHAPE OTHER THAN THIS. HAVE OWN MANY MANY FORD TRUCKS OVER THE YEARS. ALL DIFFERENT YEARS FROM 1968-2008. FORD SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT FOR ITS CUSTOMERS.
NHTSA complaint #10546938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
WENT TO GET ESTIMATE ON REPLACING MUFFLER SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD NOT TO DO IT BECAUSE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND READY TO BREAK. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE JAN. 16 2001. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE REAR SHACKLES IN 2009. DOES FORD HAVE ANY RECALL ON THIS AS I HAVE READ MANY MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10546284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING. GAS TANK ABOUT TO FALL OFF. TRUCK ONLY HAS 115000 MILES????
NHTSA complaint #10538341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION MOUNT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE FROM RUST. I SHOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE AS IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE BUT THEY EITHER COULD OR WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE COIL SPRING POCKET IS CRACKED AND THE SPRING IS ABOUT TO POP OUT. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE FRAME IS BROKEN AND CRACKED IN SEVERAL AREAS DUE TO STRESS FROM FLEXING BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I ATTEMPTED TO GET A LOCAL FABRICATION SHOP WELD IT BUT THEY WILL NOT TOUCH IT. I CAN TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS IF NEED BE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT HAVE NO CHOICE. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED REAR SPRING MOUNTS AND SHACKLES BECAUSE OF RUST BUT I CANNOT REPLACE THE FRAME AND NO ONE WILL TOUCH IT.
NHTSA complaint #10514593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TRUCK IN OVER ALL GREAT SHAPE HOWEVER THE FRAME IS BEAT I KNOW FORD SAYS SALT BUT LOOKING AT THE REST OF TRUCK ONE CAN SEE IT WAS TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. LIKE TOYOTA ,WITH THEM BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ISSUES OF THEIR FRAMES I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD IS ABOVE THE RIGHT THING TO DO... IN CLOSING PLEASE LET ME KNOW, IF ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IS FORDS . THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10498246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SPOTS ALL THE WAY DOWN THE FRAME. IT LOOKS CLOSE TO BREAKING IN HALF IN SOME SPOTS. A 1998 VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MUCH RUST NO MATTER WHERE IT CAME FROM. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS VEHICLE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10493593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
REAR SECTION OF FRAME THAT HOLD SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, TIRE AND FRAME SECTION JUST MISSED A VEHICLE BEHIND ME, AT THIS SAME TIME THE FRAME BROKE OFF JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR SPRING HANGER ON THE DRIVER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10463373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MY 1998 RANGER WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION AGAIN DUE TO FRAME RUST. NOT JUST IN THE REAR BUT ALL OVER. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
NHTSA complaint #10455773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FRAME IS HAVING SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS HEAVY RUST AND ROT COMPROMISING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TRUCK. IN FACT A SHOCK MOUNT JUST BROKE WHILE DRIVING AND THE RESULTING LOUD BANG CAUSED ME GREAT STRESS WHILE DRIVING. AFTER PULLING OVER AND LOOKING I COULD SEE THE SHOCK MOUNT HAD ROTTED SO BAD AS TO BREAK OFF THE AXLE HOUSE.AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURES HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE,GAS TANK AND ENTIRE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10450527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT RETURN THE CONTACTS CALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,348.
NHTSA complaint #10424242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I HAVE A 1998 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB, MY FRAME HAST RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING MY BED TO BE UNATTACHED.
NHTSA complaint #10421286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRAME ON MY 1998 FORD RANGER IS BASICALLY RUSTED THROUGH. MY BROTHER'S 1999 FORD RANGER HAD TO HAVE THE FRAME REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST.
NHTSA complaint #10417162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.