Two problems related to tailgate have been reported for the 2001 Ford Ranger. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2001 Ford Ranger based on all problems reported for the 2001 Ranger.
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.
Both tailgate support cables broke and dropped me about 6 inches as I was sitting on the tailgate, 10-6-2007.