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

- Mattawamkeag, ME, USA

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).

- Kansas City, KS, USA

The spare tire mounted under the bed rusted off and fell off unto the highway.

- Worcester, MA, USA

Rear frame rails have rusted through in multiple areas. Right rear shock mount to frame has broken off and left a large hole in the frame rail. Right side rear frame rail has a large crack completely through it.

- Waukesha, WI, USA

2001 Ford Ranger. Consumer writes in regards to defective tire mount. The consumer stated the full sized spare tire on the truck, was mounted under the cargo bed. It was being held in place by a stranded steel cable, one end of which was attached to a swaged steel fitting which went through the central hole of the spare, the other end to a winch which lowered and raised the spare. Recently while driving, the consumer heard a thump and saw the spare tire had fallen out of its storage place and was sitting in the roadway behind him. When he inspected the mechanism, he found the swaged joint between the steel fitting and the cable had corroded and failed. Fortunately, when the failure occurred he was driving at a slow speed through a parking lot and no damage was done.

- Gloucester Point, VA, USA

2001 Ford Ranger with 86866K. In around Sept 2010 I heard a thump and banging from the back. Upon home I looked under I saw that the shackle mount rotted and broke on the driver side. The passenger side did not break but not any better then the one that broke. I bought the shackle and the shackle mounts. After I removed the shackle mount on the passenger side I saw rot through the frame as well heavy flaking rust thro-out the entire frame. I called Ford and they said in a nut shell too bad.

- Windham, NH, USA

My 2001 Ford Ranger pickup with 89,000 miles which is always parked in the garage at night had both tailgate cables snap in the middle while my knees were on it. I was reaching for some groceries inside the canopy and both cables snapped, causing my knees to be hurt and my tailgate dented on the bumper. I went to gresham Ford parts department and they told me it was common. I also read other peoples experience on the same issue. Although the tailgate cables are covered in a rubber/plastic coating, the ends are open leaving water to access at these points and to pool in the middle when the tailgate is shut. Thus leaving the braided cable to rust in the middle. It was suppose to hold 500 pounds of pressure and it broke on my 180 pound weight. It could have caused more injury if I had been standing or loading something heavier on the tailgate. GM and Chevy had a recall on this exact same issue. They replaced the cables with a sealed end.I called Ford on Nov 24, 2008 and they said that there wasn't any recall and couldn't help me. This problem needs to be fixed before someone else gets killed. I was injured and my truck has dents because Ford refuses to address the issue. They could issue new cables during maintenance visits or inform owners before someone else gets hurt.

- Gresham, OR, USA

Paint clear coat is chiping and peeling around most of the vehicle.

- South Pasadena, CA, USA

Date of purchase smelled rubber on the drivers front wheel. Truck bounces all over continues to do so, this causes poor steering control as well. Brakes alternates from grabbing or slow in working, PCM has been reprogrammed, yet the whinning in the engine or drive train continue. Suspension very weak, vehicle leans to the right on the curves and steering control is dangerous.

- Falls, PA, USA