Back half of frame rust out crossmembers and gas tank bracket. Becomes unsafe

- North Huntingdon, PA, USA

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 Ford 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.

- Peoria, IL, USA

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

- Avoca, MI, USA

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.

- Telluride, CO, USA

Rusty frame,

- Lindenhurst, NY, USA

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.

- Rapid River, MI, USA

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.

- Huntington, IN, USA

The front cross frame has rusted to the point of being unsafe as has the rear

- Brooklin, ME, USA

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.

- Stratford, NJ, USA

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.

- West Columbia, WV, USA

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

- Butler, PA, USA

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.

- South Orange, NJ, USA

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

- Copley, OH, USA

The entire frame has rusted out. Rear leaf springs frame cross members, cab mounts, I would never buy another Ford.

- Hopwood, PA, USA

Frame supporting spare tire carrier fell off causing spare to drag. Also have in the past had both rear leaf spring mounts and shackles break off the frame to excessive rot.

- Lewiston, ME, USA

Entire frame rusted out-gas tank-rear shackles-bumper fell off.

- Highmount, NY, USA

I bought this 2001 Ford Ranger edge, regular cab from a dealer in Connecticut. The exterior body panels themselves looks immaculate not a spot of rust anywhere, however, after I had driven home the vehicle and had my family mechanic look it over he discovered there are two locations where the frame has completely rusted/ rotted through (over 2 inches in diameter) on the driver side of the vehicle just in front of the rear axle, adjacent to the gas tank. This vehicle only has 89,000 miles on it and was very well cared for. This mechanic then told me that this will eventually lead to this vehicle being unsafe to drive and that the vehicle is borderline unsafe to drive in its current condition.

- Franklin Square, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was found that the frame was severely rusted. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who confirmed that the frame was perforated due to rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 151,238.

- Derry, NH, USA

Symptoms included engine stall during highway and uphill driving. Stopped at fuel station to fill tank; when tank approached full; sound of structural failure noted followed by large fuel spillage from tank area (saturated truck rt rear underbelly, ground, rear tire, my shoes and lower portion of pants). Subsequent inspection revealed gas tank strap detached from frame due to severe and widespread frame rot. Tank apparently hanging from remaining corrosion damaged strap and fuel filler neck (caused tank to tilt backwards; starving engine of fuel during uphill or dynamic driving). Fuel filler neck was also severely rotted and finally failed during fuel fill causing entire tank loaded with 16 gallons fuel to become detached at sharp angle. Following incident; vehicle professionally inspected revealing extensive frame and suspension component disintegration due to premature failure of Ford designed sub-standard materials. Large areas of material missing from both front frame members (rear of engine), large holes in frame areas forward of rear wheels (where fuel tank straps attack), severe and widespread frame and suspension component corrosion. Vehicle condemned by inspection personnel; now sits idle in driveway. Ranger purchased new (year end, 2001) with dealer rust-proof. Vehicle regularly maintained and kept free from road salt with regular underbelly wash. Vehicle only had 120,000 miles and looked very clean on exterior. I have owned many vehicles in my 35 year driving history; never have I experienced anything like this prior. Ford obviously used ultra-sub standard materials in Ranger critical suspension component designs; without regard for the safety of unsuspecting owners. This is criminal, it will only be a matter of time before people are injured or killed by these design defects.

- Georgetown, PA, USA

Bought the truck and a few weeks of driving notice the bed was off center. Put truck on life and found whole frame is rusted out.

- Macedonia,, OH, USA