2000 Ford Ranger Steering Problems

THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE. SOMETIMES HAVE TO MOVE AROUND BIT TO GET INTO PARK OR DRIVE. THE OTHER DAY I HAD IT IN PARK, WITH THE TRUCK RUNNING AND AFTER I WAS OUT OF IT, IT STARTED MOVING. I HAD TO RUN AROUND AND GET BACK IN TO STOP IT. LUCKILY HAD THE DOOR OPEN. NO MORE LEAVING IT RUNNING WHEN NOT IN THE TRUCK.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER OCCURRENCES. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT DRIVE THE VEHICLE TWENTY MILES THEN RETURN FOR A FOLLOW-UP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,310 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,331.

I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 - 40 MPH AND AS I CAME TO THE CREST OF A DOWNHILL SECTION, I LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES DUE TO SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE TRUCK VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A SKID. I CORRECTED AND AGAIN LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK AGAIN VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND I WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BEFORE THE TRUCK LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A LARGE TREE STUMP. THE TRUCK IS AWAITING INSURANCE ADJUSTMENT DECISION ON REPAIR.*AK

THE VEHICLE TIE RODS MADE A NOISE WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *BF *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, TURNING 180 DEGREES. *AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING 25 OR MORE MPH. VEHICLE WAS TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAD THE POWER STEERING PUM/ RACK AND PINION, AND GEAR BOX REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A POPPING NOISE. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

I OWN A 2000 YEAR MODEL FORD RANGER, AND FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WOULD HANG AND THEN POP WHEN I WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I WOULDN'T DO IT IF TURNING THE OTHER DIRECTION. I SEEMED TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND FINALLY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIX. HE CHANGED THE RACK AND PINION AND INFORMED ME THAT THE FORD RACK AND PINION HAD A REVISED DESIGN TWICE. FOR THIS REASON I HAD A FORD MOTORCRAFT PART INSTALLED RATHER THAN AN AFTERMARKET PART. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER HE FIXED MY TRUCK, ANOTHER RANGER OF THE SAME YEAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WORSE, BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS TOTALLY LOCKED IN PLACE AND WOULDN'T TURN. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL TO COME OUT, BECAUSE THIS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. SO NOW I FEEL I MUST FILE A COMPLAINT. ALSO, THERE MUST BE A RECURRING PROBLEM IF FORD HAS REPLACED THE ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION DESIGN WITH A NEW DESIGN. *JB

SOMETHING IN MY STEERING BROKE CAUSING MY TRUCK TO CRASH INTO A BRIDGE. IT LOCKED MY STEERING CAPABILITY ON THE LEFT SIDE. 2000 FORD RANGER. IT WAS TOTALED.*JB

STEERING COLUMN SHAFT UPPER WAS REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE MAKING A LOUD METAL TO METAL NOISE, AND GETTING HARD TO STEER. ALSO, PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING. DEALER AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. WHILE DRIVING ON A CLEAR DAY VEHICLE HIT A ROAD SIGN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER AS OF YET. *AK

A CLUNKING SOUND WOULD APPEAR WHEN MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP ,AND INFORMED OF A RACK AND PINION FAILURE WHICH COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

TAILGATE OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. ONE SIDE OF HANDLE PULLS UP MORE AND KEEPS THE LATCH FROM OPENING. OFTEN HAVE TO PUSH ON THE TAILGATE WITH SHOULDER WHILE PULLING LATCH TO GET IT OPEN. ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AND STEERING IS NOT PRECISE VERY WOBBLY. HAVE NOT HAD IT LOOKED AT YET BUT MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2000 RANGERS AND THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE CAN BE DEFECTIVE AND BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS IS.DT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVING 60MPH ON INTERSTATE PHEASANT FLEW LOW IN FRONT OF VERHICLE, AS THE PHEASANT DISAPEARED IN FROM MY VIEW THE TRUCK DID AN ABRUPT SWIRVE TO THE LEFT, I HAD NO STEERING CONTROL, THE TRUCK WENT FROM THE RIGHT LANE ACCROSS PASSING LANE AND HIT HEAD ON INTO FLAT CONCRETE BERRIER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, OVER $9,000 IN DAMAGE INCLUDING NEW FRAME. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BEING HOISTED ONTO ROLLBACK I NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS HANGING. THE YOKE WHERE THE TIE ROD IS BOLTED TO (CAST IRON) WAS BROKEN OFF AND I NOTICED A LOT OF PHEASANT REMAINS ON THE TIEROD AND SUSPENSION. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT A SMALL BIRD AS THIS WOULD CAUSE THE CAST IRON YOKE TO BREAK, ALSO WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT TIRE AND RIM DID NOT IMPACT THE CONCRETE BERRIER. WHEN I SAW THE PHEASANT I DID NOT REACT TO IT, I DID NOT TURN THE WHEEL OR HIT THE BRAKES, THIS MAY SOUND FUNNY BUT THE TRUCK SWIRVED LEFT DIRRECTLY INTO THE BERRIER. THE SEAT BELT SAVED ME FROM SERIOUS INJURY. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE PC THAT THE TIE ROD MOUNTS TO AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT *AK

P0WER STEERING MECHANISM IS MALFUNCTIONING, CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. CONSIDERED A ROAD HAZARD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HWY 302, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CROSSED TURNING LANE AND TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN VEHICLE PULLED TO LEFT. LEFT WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF AND TOOK BRAKES AND STEERING CAPACITY WITH IT. SIDE-SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE, JUMPED CURB AND SLID MORE THAN 50 FT. BEFORE COMING TO REST JUST TOP-SIDE OF A DEEP DRAINAGE DITCH. INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS SAY STEERING ARM KNUCKLE WAS DEFECTIVE. HAVE CONTACTED FORD VIA VOICE MAIL--HAVE NOT HAD MY CALL RETURNED. PLEASE HELP!

DRIVER IS MALE, AVERAGE HEIGHT (5'10") AND WEIGHT (170 LBS). NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND STEERING: SPINDLE: KNUCKLE CAME OFF, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. ONE INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. *AK