Rear brakes rusted, holding springs rusted, support pins fell out and caused brakes to drag and become worn and overheated way before their time causing replacement about 30,000 miles before they should have been. Could have caused brakes to lock while driving.

- Ware, MA, USA

Recently I encountered a problem with my 2004 Ford Ranger. The harmonic balance pulley came apart. The website carcomplaints.com has at least 14 incidence of harmonic balance failure on other Ford models. Can you investigate this issue and verify my findings? in my opinion, the problem has serious safety ramifications because of the systems involved. The harmonic balance pulley driving the serpentine belt that power the steering and brake pumps. The loss of both pumps has the potential of causing an accident. The loss of the serpentine belt will also cause over heating. I believe Ford should inspect and make repairs to this component on its vehicles without charge to the customer.

- Green Cove Springs, FL, USA

On Saturday, June 20th my wife drove down our driveway and lost her brakes. The driveway is pitched about 15 degrees so the truck, a 2004 Ranger with 60,000 miles, picked up speed. Pumping didn't help. She steered the curve thereby not flying into the shed; she aimed at a 10 foot deep flowering bush to avoid the stone wall and the truck went through, missed the ash tree, and came to a halt 200 feet down in the meadow. There had been no warning that the brakes were about to fail, no softness that either of us noticed, no warning light. The diagnosis at the dealership is that the master cylinder 'failed'; no lines broken, no fluids having leaked. I called Ford and was told that since the car was out of warranty there was nothing Ford would do, except report the incident to the engineering department to record for future reference. A master cylinder should outlive the rest of a vehicle. There can be no excuse for this. It is not just one of those things, like a flat tire.

- Hortonville, NY, USA

04 Ford truck Ranger( Ford refused to honor warranty)* the consumer reported a binding/seizing problem with the rear brakes. The dealer was unable to duplicate the consumers concern. The second incident the rear brakes seized to the point where the consumer was unable to drive the vehicle. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealer. The cost for new brakes was $777.96. The dealer replaced the wheel cylinders, brake shoes and drums. The emergency brake cable was replaced

- Altamont, NY, USA

When the consumer attempted to apply the brakes, the vehicle failed to stop completely. The consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The cause has not been determined at this time.

- Hull, MA, USA