general problems of the 2001 Ford Ranger - part 1

So I recently purchased this truck thinking it was all safe, the pictures were too good to be true thats for sure, when I brought the truck back the old owner even drove with me knowing what he just sold me. The next day I was so happy so I get it registered and insured and I was so eager to hope in and drive around in my new "safe" truck I also went out with my loved one and it sickens me that the old owner was ok with selling me a not so safe truck and I could have died if the frame bracket broke or the frame cracked while I was driving but when I started to look under I saw the problem and I was scared I saw that the upper control arm bracket mount was rusted and the strut tower as well it had a hole forming and a crack on the strut tower. I also found out that there was a crack in the frame and I've looked up online and it seems that the frame and other components rust I don't know what to do. Im also a college student who is trying to get into the mechanic world and this scares me with how many trucks like this are out on the road.

The frame has rusted so bad it has completely separated from the body. The Ranger frame rusting is a known problem but it has not been recalled like the Toyota takoma has been.

Frame rusted in several places behind the cab at the rear spring shackles. Frame cracked both sides and bed is up against the cab and ready to break in two. Ford will not do anything. 145 k miles and the rest of the truck is in very good shape everything works except the cruise and is a loaded edge…. . Very upset just had a transmission rebuilt in it. Love the truck all the one I have looked at have the same issues over several years on fb marketplace and cannot find a good frame in any salvage yard. Didn’t Toyota’s have the same issues and they had a recall. Why doesn’t Ford have one? call Ford directly and they won’t do a thing. Tried selling as is and replacing but can’t get a buyer for what I have in the truck. Trying to find a good frame to fix it now, but there are none out there. Very dissatisfied.

The rear leaf spring shackle rust causing the leaf spring to go through the bed. When going highway speeds the vehicle shakes and not safe to drive over 60.

Rear frame has rusted through. Rear driver side spring mount has rusted and broken from the frame. Rear bumper mounts and spare tire mounts are rusted out. Vehicle was stationary when problem was discovered .

Takata recall. My vehicle was stationary when I got to work I nothing my rear bumper fell off with no given warning and I didn't hear it hit the ground I got home and looked under the frame and noticed the whole frame was rotten away and is not safe to drive.

The frame on this truck has rusted to the point where it is unsafe to drive. The rear bumper actually fell of the vehicle while it was being driven. I took off the bed and cut off the rear part of the frame and welded on a new rear section and put on new leaf spring hangers and re installed the bumper a few years ago and re coated the frame with paint but now it has gotten worse to the point where I can no longer drive it as there are actual holes rusted thru. It needs a frame replacement or it just a parts vehicle.

Frame is rotted everywhere for the most part spare tire is about to fail off isn't safe to haul anything in the bed.

Frame is rusting away. Both rear shock mounts. Gas tank holding straps. Both chasis rails are rusting away with big chunks of steel falling off. Trans cross member rusting away.

Frame rusted even thou we paid for undercoating no accident trying to prevent accident without scraping the vehicle can send pictures, but this form does not work.

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.

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.

Frame bad. Spare tire fall off and back bumper fall off. Spare tire fall off when I was parking in a parking space. Frame is in very bad conditon.

Severe rust on frame. Rear spring hangers broke. Spare tire holder rotted and needed to be removed. Cracked frame behind front spring hanger of right rear spring. Driveline in good condition as was the rest of the body.

I own a 2001 4x4 Ford Ranger XLT. Body, interior perfect condition. Always garaged, just over 100k miles won't pass inspection. Frame rotted out! Ford should replace this frame or buy back the truck. It is useless to me in this condition. I was told that repairs could cost up to $2000 or more. I feel ripped off by Ford motor company. This is my last Ford.

This is in addition to a previous complaint that I filed earlier today. I own a 2001 Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT. Body and interior all perfect. No rust on body. Frame is rusted through in back of area that rear shackles are attached to. Shackles themselves have been replaced two years ago. Truck will not pass inspection and I am told cost of repairs could be around $2000 or more. The mileage on this truck is just over 100k. I am very disappointed in Ford motor company. I've owned many Ford vehicles, some a lot older than this truck and never experienced anything like this.

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.

Frist, rear spring shackles rusted through had to be replaced, now rear frame where the shock tower hooks up is completely rusted through ( frame is severely rusted to on safe condition )in motion heard a loud rattle pulled over to see what it was . We have pictures but could not download them on this form.

While inspecting my vehicle before attempting to repair the bracket on the exhaust when I noticed large chips of rust and decay on the entire frame of the vehicle while the body and engine bay are completely un damaged, the rust on my vehicle is far worse then should be on my vehicle with less then 100,000 miles.

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.

I had my truck serviced and the mechanic said the left front frame holding the suspension was rusted.

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.

All 4 rear shackles have been replaced due to rusting away. Also driverside rear shock where it attaches frame rusted off. The bed has rusted off of the front 2 bed mounts.

The spare tire rusted off and fell of when driving and shock mounts also broke due to rust.

Front wheel driver's side just fell off the frame due to extensive rust. Wheel is hanging by the spring only. Inspection of the entire frame shows very extensive rust and it looks like swiss cheese.

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.

Frame in rear of truck rusted badly, rear shackle mount o pass side extremely bad with holes completely through the frame in multiple places. Rear tire carrier completely unusable.

Chassis is severely rusted. You can break chunks of metal off with bare hands. Both rear shock mounts have rusted off. Straps that hold gas tank have rusted through. Cross member holding tranny is severely rusted. Gas tank fill tube is severely rusted gas vapor return tube rusted off. Whole chassis. The whole frame is so rusted I am afraid to drive the truck. Truck only has 155,000 on it and has always been maintained (have all service records).

Passenger side rear spring shackle bracket rusted and broke off of frame. Frame, especially near rear of truck, is badly rusted.

I took my truck in for tire repair and service technician found severe rotting where leaf springs are supposed to be connected to the frame. There was a total disconnect at this location which explains the loud banging that I've been hearing. This is on the drivers side. He advised me that on the passenger side, it was the same situation but it wasn't disconnected yet. He advised me Ford Rangers have a problem with this. I went online and discovered a huge volume of complaints regarding this same issue. Some complaints said that they were driving when their truck bed gave way and collapsed while in the truck was in motion. This truck was handed down with low mileage and little reason for all that rust/rotting in the frame of the truck. I was advised that had I been carrying a medium or heavy load the bed could have given way, and that could have been in motion.

The gas tank support which was a part of the frame rusted off.

Picked up kids from bus stop (5 and 6 years age) with 2001 Ranger parked in gear on gravel driveway grade with emergency brake engaged. Loaded kids and myself, started vehicle and released emergency brake. Brake pedal went to floor, vehicle took off down hill. Pushed and pumped pedal hard to engage rear brake valve; no rear brakes. Engaged emergency brake (now at considerable speed on grade). Left rear wheel locked skidding vehicle to right side on gravel drive, corrected with steering avoiding roll over. Subsequent inspection revealed extensive premature corrosion to vehicle frame, suspension and brake components. Both front and rear brake lines compromised with catastrophic failure during emergency. My kids and I could have been killed or injured because Ford saved a few bucks using below standard imported steel. Ntsb; are you in some way being paid-off by Ford to ignore the thousands of safety complaints and incidents associated with extensive corrosion on these vehicles? do not even attempt to assign blame on salty eastern roads; many other vehicle driven under identical conditions do not fall apart so consistently and completely. Many undercarriage parts on my Ranger are not even recognizable due to near complete disintegration. My truck has an 'a' title and was rust proofed prior to delivery. I take good care of my vehicles and regularly wash undercarriage. How many people will be injured or killed before action is taken?.

Took truck in for service and was told the spring shackles were rusted and had to be replaced.

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.

Undercarriage and frame has excessive rust problems causing parts on frame to fail and fall off.