2001 Ford Ranger Powertrain & Transmission Problems

ON THE DATE LISTED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THE FORD RANGER IS NOTORIUS FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE: 1. FAILING TO GO INTO REVERSE, 2. FAILING TO GO INTO FORWARD AFTER STOPPING, 3. JUMPING GEARS, OR SLOW GEAR CHANGES. THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY OTHER SHOPS AS WELL AS A GOOGLE SEARCH. IN FACT, THE PROBLEM MAY BE SEVERLY UNDER REPORTED AS FORD DEALERSHIPS MAY LIST AS OTHER PROBLEMS AND SMALLER SHOPS MAY NOT LINK THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR, SO I'M SURE FORD DOES NOT WANT TO BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL OF THE RANGERS, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES AFFECT SEVERAL YEARS OF RANGERS ON THE MARKET. PLEASE GOOGLE FORD RANGER TRANSMISSIONS, AND LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS. LOOK AT THE BLOGS AND GROUPS THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WHICH IF IT INVOLVES THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD, COULD IMPACT THE PASSENGERS IF THE PROBLEM OCCURS ON A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP OR SUBDIVISION STREETS. THIS IS A WIDEPSREAD PROBLEM THAT IS UNDER REPORTED AND IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED, AND IT NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED IN MORE DETAIL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD RANGER DOWN THE ROAD, I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS AND SOMETHING POPPED. MY CLUTCH PEDAL WAS NOW INCAPABLE OF ACTUATING THE CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS OR PUT IT IN GEAR AFTER I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO JERK THE GEARSHIFT OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP AS TRAFFIC HAD STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. WE HAD TO PUSH THE TRUCK OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. AFTER EXAMINING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I SAW THAT THE CLUTCH HYDRAULIC LINE THAT ATTACHES TO THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HAD POPPED OFF. THE ROLL PIN THAT SECURES THAT PARTICULAR CONNECTION HAD WORKED ITSELF LOOSE AND ALLOWED THE LINE TO POP OFF. THE NEXT DAY I REMOVED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER, RESERVOIR, AND HYDRAULIC LINE. ALL THE PARTS WERE STILL GOOD, SO I BENCH BLED THE ASSEMBLY, INSTALLED, AND BLED THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I READ THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND ISSUED A FREE FIX IF A CUSTOMER HAS THIS PROBLEM AND THE TRUCK IS UNDER WARRANTY. WELL, MY TRUCK ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY AND FIXING IT MYSELF WAS A HASSLE. I DON'T NEED MY CLUTCH PARTS FAILING LIKE THIS WHEN I'M CROSSING AN INTERSECTION NOR DOES ANYONE ELSE. IT'S A MAJOR DISTRACTION THAT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. EVEN IF THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T QUALIFY AS A RECALL ISSUE, THEY COULD AT LEAST MAIL ME A COTTER PIN WITH A LETTER TELLING ME TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE TSB NUMBER IS 01-24-1 DATED 10/01/2001. *TR

TRANS SHIFT PROBLEM 1ST TO 2ND SHIFT HARD SHIFT STARTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO 2001 FORD RANGER 4X4 ,STARTED ONLY DOING IT ON COLD STARTS NOW DOES IT ALL THE TIME COLD OR HOT HAVE TO LET OFF ACCELERATOR TO GET TO SHIFT OR MANUALLY SHIFT FROM SHIFT LEVER.OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES AS SOON AS IT SLAMS INTO GEAR ,TRANS SLIP. FORD HAS HAD ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH TRANS. BEEN A AUTO TECH FOR FORD FOR MANY YEARS ITS TIME TO HAVE FORD LOOK AT THE ON GOING PROBLEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER EV. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT A NORMAL EXPECTANCY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE BODY TSB MODIFICATION AND SHIFT SOLENOID FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $612.38. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,980.

AFTER LOOSING THE BATTERY (POWER LOSS) MY 4X4CM (4WD CONTROL MODULE) WENT BAD ON MY 2001 RANGER 4X4 TRUCK. THIS CAUSED MY 4WD TO NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. I HAD TO REPLACE THE 4X4CM WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. FORD HAS UPDATED THE PART. THE ORIGINAL PART NUMBER IS 1L54-7H417-AC AND THE NEW UPDATED PART NUMBER IS 1L5Z-7E453-AC. *TR

LOUD SQUEALING COMING FROM THE FRONT AXLE: EXCLUDER (DUST) SEALS. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS REPLACED THESE SEALS TWICE ALREADY. NOW THEY HAVE WENT OUT AGAIN. THE NOISE IS EXTREMELY LOUD AND EMBARRASSING. I HAVE NO DOUBT I'LL GET A TICKET FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT IF AN OFFICER HEARS IT. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO DRIVE IT DUE TO THE NOISE. NOW THAT MY TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I FEAR FORD WON'T FIX THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THEM THE LAST TIME; HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CALL. ON A SIDE NOTE: I TAKE METICULOUS CARE OF MY RANGER AND NEVER ABUSE IT. THERE IS NO WAY A SEAL LIKE THIS SHOULD GO OUT THIS MANY TIMES, AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS ONCE AND FOR ALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. AFTER THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50 AND 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVS. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WHENEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE REGARDING THIS FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEY STATED THAT HE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WHICH WILL COST $1,300. THE NHTSA RECALL ID NUMBER FOR THE SPEED CONTROL WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,800. UPDATED 09/25/07 *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING, AND THE O/D LIGHT (OVER DRIVE LIGHT) STARTED TO FLASH ON MY 2001 FORD RANGER XLT 4.0 V-6 4X4 TRUCK. I HAD NO IDEA IN WHAT THAT MEANT. I DROVE TO WORK, I CALLED AROUND AND THAT IS A TROUBLE CONDITION ON THE TRANSMISSION, I SAID ON THE TRANNY IT ONLY HAS 73 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I WAS SURPRISED, AND THE TRUCK IS VERY WELL KEPT UP. I TOOK IT A WELL KNOW TRANSMISSION PLACE TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND TEST DROVE, ALONG WITH THE COMPUTER CHECK, AND IT CAME BACK WITH A READING "INCORRECT GEAR RATIO ON 3". I WAS LIKE WHAT IS THAT, HE SAID THAT IS UGLY. SO I TOOK IT AND GOT 2 MORE INQUIRIES, AND 1 FROM A DEALERSHIP. ALL THE SAME 3 RD GEAR TROUBLE. I CONTACTED FORD, AND SPOKE TO HEATHER, AND NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE SAID THAT IT WAS ONLY MY THAT HAS THE ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION NO ONE ELSE DOES. THERE WAS A TSB MESSAGE PUT OUT ABOUT THIS TROUBLE IN MAY OF 01, SO FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. ITS GOING TO NOW COST ME A MIM OF 1500.00 TO A MAX OF 2100.00 TO FIX THIS TRANSMISSION. *JB

I PARKED MY TRUCK THURSDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 8, 2007. I PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK AND REMOVED THE KEYS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY TRUCK EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, I DISCOVERED THAT THE TRUCK WAS ACTUALLY NOT IN PARK, EVEN THOU THE KEYS WERE OUT OF IT, AND THE SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWED THE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. HAD THE TRUCK BEEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE IT COULD ROLLED AWAY. I FOUND THE HEAD OF A SMALL SCREW LAYING ON MY FLOORBOARD WHICH HAVE BROKEN FROM THE SHIFTER. WHEN I REPAIRED THE TRUCK ON SUNDAY I DISCOVERED A VERY DISTURBING SITUATION WHERE THE GEAR SELECTOR IS ATTACHED TO THE TRANSMISSION CABLE. THE ASSEMBLY IS HELD TOGETHER BY A SMALL 6MM SCREW, WHICH THE HEAD I FOUND ON THE FLOORBOARDS. THIS HAPPENED AT 99K MILEAGE. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE; 2001 FORD RANGER EDGE- HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. A TSB FOR THE INITIAL PROBLEM WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND WHEN ANALYZED, THE SAME ERROR CODE CAME UP. *NM

BOUGHT 2001 FORD RANGER IN 2005, 18 MONTHS LATER GEARBOX NEEDED REBUILD DUE TO LOSS OF GEAR SELECTION ON AUTO BOX. STILL THE GEARS SOMETIMES DO NOT ENGAGE AND THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND GEAR CHANGES ARE ROUGH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. *TR

FAILURE OCCURED WHILE COMING TO A STOP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO HEAVY APPLICATION OF BREAK OR HARD STOP. THERE WAS THE METAL CLUNK SOUND, THEN WHILE MOVING FROM A STOP, THERE WAS HEAVY RATTALING AND BUMPING FELT UP THROUGH THE SHIFT LEVER. SAME COMPLAINT AS DOCUMENTED BY 10119127. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING HARD, OVERDRIVE OFF WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAID TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 79000 MILES ON IT. SHOWED THEM MAINT. RECORDS, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. $2800 REPAIR BILL FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. *NM

2001 FORD RANGER--AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, REMOVE IGNITION KEY AND IT CAN EASILY BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK. KEY IN IGNITION WITH ENGINE RUNNING, I NO LONGER HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO GET INTO ANY GEAR. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM IN FEBRUARY 2003 WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED BY LOCAL FORD DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, GOT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND PUSHED ON THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WHICH WAS TIGHT. THE CIRCULAR SOUND DAMPER BROKE OFF. THE DRIVESHAFT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. THE OWNER LATER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK THIS PROBLEM CAUSED RATTLING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME HARD TO CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMERS WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT FORD WOULD DO TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

CONSUMER STATED: THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE, PRIMARILY IN THE POWER TRAIN AREA, IT MADE NOISE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED. IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE CONSUMER REACHED UP TO 2000 RMP'S. *JB

THE CLUTCH PEDAL GETS ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CLUTCH WILL DISENGAGE. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL NOT DISENGAE AT ALL AT SOME POINT. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS YET. I HAVE NOT FIXED IT YET.

WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT I TRIED TO ENGAGE MY CLUTCH PEDAL AND GEAR BECAME STIF, AND I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 4TH GEAR. THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL DOWN TO ALMOST THE FLOOR AND NOT COME BACK UP. I GOT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NETURAL AND SAT FOR THE LIGHT. THE CLUTCH PEDAL SLOWLY RETURNED TO IT'S NORMAL POSITION, I DEPRESS IT AGAIN AND THERE WAS ALOT OF FREE TRAVEL, BUT I DID GET IT INTO GEAR AND DROVE RIGHT INTO A EARNHARDT DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS GOING BY. I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO HAVE A SIMILAR CLUTCH PROBLEM CHECK OUT LAST MONTH AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP EARNHARDT AND THEY COULD NOT FINE ANY THING WRONG THROUGH COMPUTER TESTING. THEY ARE SAYING NOW THAT IT COULD BE THE CLUTCH MASTER OR A CLUTCH SLAVE COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE A FORD RANGER 2001 HAS UNDER 36,000 MILES AND JUST OVER 3 YRS OLD. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH WESTERN NATIONAL WARRANTY SCOTTDALE, AZ 85255 THEY SAY THEY DON'T COVER THESE COMPONENTS. I NEVER RECIEVED A COPY OF THE POLICY. I AM WAITING ON THIS INFORMATION TO BE SENT TO ME. I DO NOT UNDER STAND HOW THESE COMPONENT WITH LESS THAN 36,000 MILES AND MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING GO OUT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND APPROCHING A FREEWAY ENTRANCE THE VEHICLE STICK SHIFT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. FINALLY WHEN ENTERING 5TH GEAR THE VECHILE SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE STICK SHIFT FROZE UP. I HAD TO COAST OF TO THE SIDE OF FREEWAY AND BE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAULTY MASTER AND SLAVE CILINDER AND A FAULTY CLUTCH SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEAR OLD AND HAS 53,000 MI. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A PREMATURE SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE