2001 Ford Ranger Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The brakes and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000.

TRUCK VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND A BRAKE FAILURE PROMPT THE DRIVER TO SWITCH INTO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SPUN OFF OUT OF CONTROL(BURNING TIRE) AND IT TOOK OFF VERY FAST WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. DRIVER TRIED TO STOP IT BUT NOTHING WORKED. *KB

I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, I NOTICED ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES WAS BURNING. PUT FIRE OUT AND TOWED THE PICK UP TO THE SHOP WHERE IT REMAINS. *TR

I HIT THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS GOING RELATIVELY SLOW AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. BRAKE LINE FROM ABS UNIT TO REAR BRAKE HOSE HAD FAILED. I AM SURPRISED THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN A RECALL AS I HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH FORD RANGERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. ONE RESULTED IN AS CRASH. I ALSO INFORMALLY ASK OTHER RANGER OWNERS AND MANY HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS, FOR LONGER TIME PERIODS AND FAR MORE MILEAGE WITHOUT THIS KIND OF FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO AN AUTOMOTIVE CENTER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE CONTACT WHERE THE METAL ON THE CALIPER WAS DETERIORATING AND FLAKING OFF. THE CONTACT HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES BEFORE BEING INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH EXTREME PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE WHEN THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT PULSATE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,800.

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO A LEAK OVER THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED (10 MPH), AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I THOUGHT THE BRAKING SYSTEMS IN MODERN TRUCKS HAVE REDUNDANT LINES SO THAT IF THERE IS A LEAK, ONLY HALF THE BRAKES FAIL? *TR

IN 2001 PURCHASED A NEW FORD 2001 XLT RANGER FROM A DEALERSHIP. IN MARCH/APRIL 2009, AT 76,000 MILES IT BECAME NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR BRAKELINE SYSTEM DUE TO ROT. IN DEC /JAN 2009 THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND THE REAR BUMPER BECAME LOOSE. IN THE EARLY SPRING OF 2010 THE REAR BUMPER FELL OFF IN MY HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS SET FOR SERVICE AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THE FRAME AND BED ATTACHMENT, LEAF SPRINGS AND FRAME ATTACHMENTS, MAIN FRAME, WERE CORRODED AND ROTTED WITH VISIBLE HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN UNDERTAKEN BECAUSE A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT FRAME IS UNAVAILABLE AND REPAIRS AT THIS TIME ARE UNAFFORDABLE. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES AND WITH BRAKE PEDAL CLEAR DOWN TO FLOOR, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE, SEEMING TO ACCELERATE, RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN. FIRST FEW TIMES THIS HAPPENED, THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN FRONT OF ME OR MY WIFE AT THE STOP SIGN, BUT TODAY, THERE WAS. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE DITCH TO AVOID A PILE UP. THIS OCCURRED AT 35 MPH. DAMAGED A FENCE AND PARKED TRUCK ON SOMEONE'S PERSONAL PROPERTY. MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FORD RANGER. DID NOT GET PROBLEM CHECKED OUT THE FIRST 2 TIMES, AS THIS OCCURRED WHEN WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND WAS FORGOTTEN. I WILL DEFINITELY BE TAKING IT TO THE SHOP NEXT WEEK TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT. BASED ON THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE RANGERS. HOW MANY OTHERS JUST HAVEN'T BEEN REPORTED, OR PERHAPS DIED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BRAKES AND COULDN'T REPORT THE PROBLEM??? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS OF OCTOBER 18, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AS PART OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 ON OCTOBER 17, 2007. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE DISCONNECTION OF THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CAUSED THE ABS TO FAIL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

FORD 2001 RANGER WAS NOTIFIED AUGUST 2007 OF A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE SPEED CONTROL WIRING. I WENT TO MY DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT THE EXISTING WIRING WAS UNPLUGGED, WHICH WOULD DISABLE THE CRUISE CONTROL, & THE NEW HARNESS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER. IMMEDIATELY, AFTER THE DEALER UNPLUGGED THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS), THERE WAS A FAULT LIGHT FOR THE BRAKE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. I WENT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ASK WHY, & WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO CONNECTION TO THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. THEY SAID THEY 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM, AND I DROVE HOME. IN LESS THAN TWO MILES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE NEXT MORNING, THE LIGHT CAME ON TWICE WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. AGAIN THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I HAVE VISITED SEVERAL WEB SITES WHERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE ALSO HAVING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, WHICH ONLY STARTED WHEN THE SCDS WAS DISCONNECTED, WHILE WAITING FOR THEIR NEW WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THIS WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. WHEN I RECONNECTED THE SCDS, THE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON AND THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM WORKS NORMALLY. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND TO ASK WHEN I CAN GET THE NEW WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED. I AM BEING TOLD THE TWO PROBLEMS ARE NOT RELATED, AND THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH NEW HARNESS KITS AVAILABLE. I CHOOSE TO HAVE BETTER BRAKES EVERY DAY, SO I HAVE RECONNECTED THE SCDS UNTIL I CAN GET THE NEW WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING THE SAME THING? HOW LONG IS REASONABLE FOR FORD TO DELAY GETTING THE NEW HARNESS INSTALLED? *TR

I WAS ADVISED BY THE FORD DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT A USED RANGER THAT THE REAR BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED. UPON MY OWN INSPECTION THIS PROVED NOT TO BE TRUE. DO I HAVE A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT AND WHO DO I CONTACT FOR FOLLOW UP? *JB

FELT REAR BRAKES LOCKING, TOOK OFF REAR DRUMS FOUND THE LEFT REAR BRAKE SHOES HAD FALLEN APART. THEY WERE CAUSING THE REAR DRUMS TO LOCK UP. THE SHOES FELL COMPLETELY OFF THE RIVETS AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DRUMS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT I WILL BE GOING TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND HAVE TO BE PUMPED TO WORK PROPERLY. WHEN THE REAR WHEELS WERE REMOVED, THE BRAKES FELL APART. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND SHOES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE REAR BRAKE PADS, SHOES, AND DRUMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE. THESE COMPONENTS MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE BRAKES WERE MANUFACTURED.

THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT VACUUM PRESSURE UNDER CERTAIN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO BRAKE POWER IF THE ACCELERATOR IS OPEN ENOUGH FOR THE ENGINE SPEED TO REACH 2500 RPM, DURING COLD IDLE (AFTER START UP), FREQUENTLY AFTER RAPID ACCELERATION IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE THE BRAKES ARE THEN APPLIED. DEALER AGREED THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER (TWICE), BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, AND FINALLY THE ENTIRE ENGINE. CONDITION REMAINS THE SAME. DEALER AND FORD ENGINEER NOW STATE THAT IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED - EVIDENTLY DESIGNED TO FAIL IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS.*AK

BOUGHT A USED 2001 FORD RANGER IT WAS VIBRATING WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. TOLD THE SALESMAN AND HE SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT. TOOK THE TRUCK IN, AND THEY CHARGED ME $669.00 SAID IT HAD BEEN IN SALT WATER I BOUGHT IT APRIL 12TH 2004 I DID NOT GO NEAR ANY SALT WATER THEY KNEW WHAT THE TROUBLE WAS BEFORE I BOUGHT IT ALSO SAID WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT. *AK

THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND THE TRAVEL OF THE PEDALS OVERLAPS MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO ACCIDENTALLY PRESS BOTH PETALS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS OCURRED IN THE WINTER WHEN I WAS WEARING HEAVY BOOTS BUT IS POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME.*AK

FORD RANGER 2001 4X4 PREMATURE BRAKE SYSTEM WEAR PADS TOTALLY WORN AT 19000 MILES AND ROTORS ALREADY RESURFACED TWICE. PADS REPLACED AT MY COST ON THIRD VISIT TO DEALER FOR BRAKE SQUEAL. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP. AS I WAS APPROCHING STOPPED TRAFFIC, AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE GROUND AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP BUT THE FRONT DID NOT. CAUSING ME TO ALMOST SPIN OUT ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH. THE LOCAL FORD SERCIVE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WAS DUE TO A PANIC STOP THAT THE BRAKE FLUID BOILED AND THE PADS OVER HEATED. BUT I DID NOT ATTEMPT A PANIC STOP. I WAS GOING 65 FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN THE BRAKES SIMPLY FAILED. THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR NEW BRAKE PADS, SEALS AND A COMPLETE BRAKE FLUID FLUSH. ALMOST $350 DOLLARS.

AT LESS THAN 22,600 MILES, VEHICLE USED IN LIGHT COMMUTER DUTY REQUIRED NEW BRAKES TWICE, THE MOST RECENT THE RESULT OF SEPARATION OF BRAKE LINING FROM BRAKE PAD CAUSING ROTOR TO CRACK BEYOND REPAIR DUE TO METAL-TO-METAL HEAT FATIGUE. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH NO PREVIOUS AUDIBLE OR OTHER WARNING. *JB