12 problems related to frame rust have been reported for the 2004 Ford Ranger. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Ford Ranger based on all problems reported for the 2004 Ranger.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at solomon Ford, llc (502 national pike w, brownsville, PA 15417 (724) 785-5500), the technician informed the contact that the subframe was rusted and may detached from the vehicle soon. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000.
Heavy rust on the frame. Today the spare tire fell off while going down the highway due to heavy rust. No injury to property or people from the incident.
Frame rusted out on passenger side behind front leaf sprinf mount. Also the cross member holding fuel tank where it connects to the frame is rusted out. Its only the back half of the truck rusting out this bad. Where the spare tire goes is also completly rusted out and fell off. This happened while driving on smoothly paved roads to and from work.
Rear leaf spring bracket rusted off from frame, while loaded and on route home from tree nursery. Rear frame sections rotted and cracked on vehicle with only 72000 miles, found when trying to replace blown brake line in rear drivers side (rusted).
Rear end of frame completely rusted out. Leaf springs broken. Spring shackle broke off. Brought the truck in for service unaware there was so much irreparable damage. Damages occurred while driving on a city street. Pieces of the body were missing. Exact date damages occurred is unknown.
I purchased this 2004 Ford Ranger this past winter in hopes to pull my boat to the lake with it. Yesterday. I pulled my small bass boat to lake chickamauga and back which is about a 40 minute drive. It was a straight drive on a highway only going 50 mph. When I got back my hitch, bumper and all was hanging. The frame is so rusted it broke in half. Had I not installed an after market hitch on this truck my whole bumper would have come off along with the boat that was attached and probably would have killed whoever was behind me ot not myself. I cant imagine what wouod have happened of I was on the interstate at higher speeds. The only thing holding it all together was the front bolt on the hitch when I got home. This is absolutely unsafe and I know there are many others that have problems with this same vehichles frame that have not taken the time oit of their busy schedule to complain about.
While driving, the spare tire started to fall off due to rusting away of the mounting apparatus. Luckily I noticed it when I stopped for gas (it was hanging by only a bit of still attached rusted metal below the truck) so I cut the cable with some bolt cutters to remove the spare and prevent an accident while driving. Driver's side cab mount separated due to excessive rust. Driver's side floor board fell out due to excessive rust - my foot went through the floor. Frame cracked near rear shackle due to excessive rust. Frame cracked near driver's side rear shock mount due to excessive rust - excessive play and noises caused be to discover this. Bed rusted completely out - above wheel wells on both sides, center of bed, front corners. It came off the truck in several pieces after I put my foot right through the center. The frame rust issues and spare tire falling off could be serious safety problems. I have driven a number of vehicles for many years and never experienced rust issues like on this truck. Way beyond what is reasonable and expected.
The rear bumper frame has rusted out and detached from vehicle. Loading brush into truck bed, stepped on bumper, and it collapsed. Checking the rear frame, springs, and suspension shows extended rust, making the vehicle unsafe to drive.
The rear spring shackle, bracket rusting and falling off. The gas tank brackets rusted and causiing tank too fall off the rear frame rotted making truck unsafe for driving on the road the front frame of truck is ok no problem. It is just the rear frame rusted thru. The truck was makeing a thumping noise and when I stoped I had noticed that the springs had broke thru bed of truck prompting me too inspect further why this happened and that is when I found all the other issues with the frame. And the tank.
The rear part of the frame rotted bad. . The spare tire hold fell off first. . Then not long after the rear bumper fell off on hiway . . After close inspection. . The frame is brittle like a saltine cracker. . . Plus the rear spring shacle rusted before an hed replaced. . . Actually my son was driving my truck when the bumper fell off. . . Taking rear tail pipe with it. . . When the spare tire holder fell off the day before. . It took all the emission stuff along with it. . This truck has only 150,000 miles on it . . The frame is rusted bad. . Never been in salt water. . I have trucks older than this with solid frames when 25 years old. . . . I have read on forums here after this happened and seems its a common thing with some year Rangers,,,t4ruck is in a1 shape but now useless due to poor quailty steel.
Excessive frame rust. Rails and cross bed supports. 2 of the bed mounting bolts rusted off and also the rust ate through whatever was holding the spare tire on. Not sure where or when that fell off. I was reading many articles about the 04 Ford Ranger with the same frame rot issues.
Incredible amounts of premature rust on frame and suspension parts, shackle brackets rusted away completely and had to be replaced. Frame is rusting at an unprecedented pace!?.