13 of the
744 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger are about the
seat belts — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
178,750 miles.
98' FORD RANGER: HAS A CRACKED FRAME ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE. TRUCK MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN DRIVING AND I AM AFRAID IT MAY BECOME WORSE OVER TIME OR COMPLETELY BREAK DOWN IN UNSAFE SPEEDS. I CAN NOT SELL IT, AS I WAS TRYING TO USE THE MONEY FOR A NEW VEHICLE DUE TO A NEW BABY IN OUR FAMILY. NO ONE WILL BUY SUCH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. ALSO SEAT BELTS WILL NOT STAY LATCHED? ALSO THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT MELTS RIGHT THROUGH THE COVERING, WHERE TEMPERATURES MAKE THE PLASTIC COVER BUBBLE AND MELT.
NHTSA complaint #10383860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 197,500 milesBidderford, MECrash1 killed
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW AND WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A POLICE OFFICER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAFETY BELT BEING SEPARATED. THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION WAS CAUSED BY THE SEAT HINGE FAILING, WHICH CUT THE SAFETY BELT. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,500. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/25/09.
NHTSA complaint #10256868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Humboldt, KSCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE FORD RANGER LOST TRACTION AND SLID ON THE ICE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ON IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CHILD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER HEAD. THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT IN OUR 1998 FORD RANGER THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK.
NHTSA complaint #10180604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Needles, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGERS SEATBELTS GO INSIDE OF RETRACTOR, BUT SEATBELTS DOESN'T ATTACH OR SECURE PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #894846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beaver, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER'S SIDE RESTRAINT WILL NOT RETRACT OUT. PASSENGER IS UNRESTRAINED.
NHTSA complaint #887196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chevy Chase, MDCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN. DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO RESTRAIN SO OCCUPANTS CAN REACH FOR COFFEE, ETC.
NHTSA complaint #743959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Anaheim, CACrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DUE TO A CHAIN REACTION ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SHOULDER SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #860184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manchester, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK DURING SUDDEN BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #542819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coweta, OK
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT TONGUE WILL NOT LATCH OR LOCK IN BECAUSE THE LOCKING DEVICE IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF PROTECTION.
NHTSA complaint #850823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Juan, PR
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
LEFT FRONT WHEEL BECAME UNATTACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS TRAVELING ON EXPRESSWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. SEAT BELT ALSO BECAME DISCONNECTED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #546480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Whittier, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT COMPLETELY,RESULTING IN BELT BECOMING ENTANGLED IN THE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #608764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walled Lake, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
VEHICLE HAS JUMP SEATS AND ONLY LAP BELTS, NO SHOULDER HARNESS. DEALERSHIP ASSURED US THIS WAS SAFE FOR A SMALL CHILD AT THE TIME LEASE WAS SIGNED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT MY 40 LB. CHILD IS UNSAFE WITHOUT A SHOULDER HARNESS. PLEASE CONFIRM THIS AS THE MANUFACTURER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS GIVING US DIFFICULTY ABOUT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT OUR CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #701000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riolinda, CA
SEAT BELTS
THE FRONT MIDDLE SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONS WHEN THE OCCUPANT MOVES TO THE RIGHT AND SEATBELT ADJUSTER SLIDES DOWN, WHICH WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN ACCIDENT. ALSO THE TORSION BAR RUBS AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE, RESULTING IN BRAKE LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #826324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.