11 of the 744 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger are about the wheels — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 132,814 miles.
11
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
WHEELS
DISPITE PROPER MAINTENCE, I OBSERVED BODY RUST AND DECAY ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY TRUCK FRAME. ALSO THE BRAKE LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO CORRUSION AND RUST INTO THE FRAME. SPARE TIRE BRACKETS HAVE RUSTED INTO AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. ALSO EVAP CANASTER BRACKET RUSTED INTO AND THE EVAP CANASTER FELL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10380366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
THE SPINDLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE SPLIT IN HALF CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. MY SON LOST CONTROL AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT BUMPER AND FENDER. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. HE HAD JUST LEFT THE FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10186310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE BACKING MY 98 FORD RANGER 4.0 SUPERCAB WITH TOW PACKAGE (WHICH HAS THE BEEFIER BRAKES) THE ALUMINUM BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE BAR THAT THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH HINGE ON, BROKE AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. THIS LEFT ME HEADING IN REVERSE WITH NO BRAKE OR CLUTCH. I WAS IN SHOCK, IMAGINE THE STEERING WHEEL COMING OFF IN YOUR HANDS WHILE DRIVING; THAT'S HOW I FELT. I DIDN'T THINK TO HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT I WAS ALREADY HALFWAY INTO THE GARAGE AND HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO REACT PROPERLY BEFORE I CRASHED INTO THE BACK WALL (CINDERBLOCK) PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE WALL WHICH KILLED THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED AT THE FIRE STATION WHERE I WORK! THE POLICE DID A REPORT. HE SAW AND REPORTED THE BRAKES WERE BROKE ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T LOOK VERY CLOSELY. MANY OF MY SUPERIORS AT THE JOB SAW THAT THE BRAKES HAD BROKE AWAY AND WERE NOW DANGLING, USELESS. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED ON THE BILL THE STATE OF THE BRAKES AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. I REQUESTED THE BROKEN PARTS AND THEY ARE NOW IN MY POSSESSION. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY STATED THE OBVIOUS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO STATED THEIR WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS NOT TRUE; I KNEW ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HAS HAD THE FIRESTONES REPLACED. I GUESS THEY MEANT ON THE BRAKES. I SAID YES, BUT CERTAIN THINGS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON A VEHICLE ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD YOU WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MAY FALL OFF. JUST LIKE YOU WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY MAY BRAKE AWAY UNDER YOUR FEET. TODAY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD SAYING THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WONDER IF THERE HAS BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE MINE AND THEY ARE IN THE FORM OF "SERVICE BULLETINS" SECRET RECALLS THAT KEEP FORD AND OTHER COMPANIES FROM HAVING TO FIX MANY OF THEIR PROBLEMS. *JB THE CONSUNER HAD TO HAVE 2 BAD LUG NUTS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. UPDATED 01/10/07.
NHTSA complaint #10176950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:RIM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ORIGINAL LEFT REAR WHEEL IS CRACKED AND RUSTING ALONG THE INNER PORTION BY THE VALVE STEM OF THE RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL DETERMINED THE RIM FRACTURED DUE TO RUSTING OF THE STEEL MATERIAL OF THE WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM ONLY EXISTED ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL RIM. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPOSED TO HARSH WEATHER OR OTHER ELEMENTS, THE RUSTING RIM ALLOWS AIR TO ESCAPE FROM THE ATTACHED TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10148092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING SUPERHEATED AND IGNITED LUBRICATION OF GREASE WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. AND WHEEL OFF WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER, EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #877492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:RIM
RIM RUPTURED AND DEFLATED, CONSUMER FELT IF HE WAS GOING ANY FASTER MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE BEAD COMING THROUGH THE CRACK IN THE RIM, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER 3 RIMS ON VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #877335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
THE TIRES NEED TO BE TRUDE AND BALANCED ALMOST EVERY MONTH, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO FORD 4 OR 5 TIMES AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT ITS EITHER THE TIRE OR RIMS AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST YEAR I'VE SPENT OVER 1,000.00 AND MORE JUST TO GET IT RIGHT AND IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. FORD IS BLAMEING FIRESTONE AND FIRESTONE IS BLAMEING FORD I NEED HELP PLEASE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/70/14 )
NHTSA complaint #730771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
THE TIRES NEED TO BE TRUDE AND BALANCED ALMOST EVERY MONTH, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO FORD 4 OR 5 TIMES AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT ITS EITHER THE TIRE OR RIMS AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST YEAR I'VE SPENT OVER 1,000.00 AND MORE JUST TO GET IT RIGHT AND IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. FORD IS BLAMEING FIRESTONE AND FIRESTONE IS BLAMEING FORD I NEED HELP PLEASE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/70/14 )
NHTSA complaint #730771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
LEFT WHEEL BROKE OFF AND THERE WAS A NOISE DUE TO A SPINDLE BREAKING,WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CURRENTLY THE NOISE HAS RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #859483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
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.
WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
NEW AUTO HUBS DONT ENGAGE,(BAD DESIGN), WRNTY FIX, STILL DOSNT WRK. ENGAGING DRIVER MOTER FAILED ON TRANSFER CASE, AND HUBS HAVE FAILED SERVERAL TIMES, COLD WEATHER AFFECTS IT ALSO. NOW IT DIENGAGES THE FRONT TIRES WHEN I CHANGE FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE, CAN HEAR NOSES FROM THE FRONT HUBS
NHTSA complaint #704469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.