There are 50 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2001 Ford Rangerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The rear frame rusted so bad the bumper fell off and the frame actually cracked. This is a common issue with the late 1990s & early 2000s Ford Ranger, I do not understand why this isn't a recall yet as is it very dangerous. This happened on the highway. The front end frame, engine and all the components work flawlessly while the rear frame is just crumbling in rust.
The frame is rotted and broken on both side in the rear
I noticed that there was significantly more rust than there should be. There are places where the frame has rusted through. It is a major safety concern. I researched the issue and found several others with the same concern. I also found that Toyota has previously recalled several vehicles for the same issue.
I PURCHASED A USED 2001 FORD RANGER, WENT TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND THERE WAS SEVERE RUST UNDERNEATH OF THE FRAME TO THE POINT THE INSPECTOR SAID IT WAS HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AROUND. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS FOR THE TRUCKS FRAME UNDERNEATH? WILL PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED.
THESE ARE PICTURES OF THE FRAME ON MY RANGER. THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND IT ONLY HAS 76,619 MILES ON IT. MY MECHANIC FOUND THIS WHEN I WAS HAVING THE BRAKE LINE REPAIRED AND HE LIFTED THE TRUCK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE SPARE TIRE LOOSENED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND NOTICED NOTHING BUT RUST WHERE THE FRAME FOR THE SPARE TIRE WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,092. *BF *TR
2001 FORD RANGER FRAME IS RUSTED OUT BAD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR MAKING A VEHICLE THAT THE FRAME ONLY LASTS 15 TO 17 YEARS!
BODY FRAME RUSTED TO THE POINT I NOTICED THE BUMPER WAS HANGING DOWN ON DRIVERS SIDE, AS I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY I HAD SEEN THE SHACKLE WAS BROKEN AND THE PLATE OVER THE SPARE TIRE WAS CRACKED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE THE TIRE TO FALL OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK OR BUMPER WHICH WAS NOT CONNECTED ON DRIVERS SIDE BECAUSE OF RUST ALSO FRAME HAD TO BE REPAIRED THESE ARE THE REPAIRS I HAD DONE, REPLACED REAR FRAME SECTION FROM REAR AXLE SNUBBERS TO BUMPER, REPLACED REAR SHACKLES-REPLACED RIGHT SIDE REAR FRAME SHACKLE MOUNT REPAIRED CROSSMEMBER FOR GAS TANK RIGHT SIDE-REPAIR RIGHT FRONT FRAME RAIL ROUND CONTRO; ARM TO TRANS CROSSMEMBER COST WITH LABOR $973.69
FRAME IS RUSTED BADLY AT POINTS WHERE CONTROL ARM CONNECTS TO FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS WHERE HOLDS GAS TANK. BODY IS IN PERFECT CONDITION AND ONLY ISSUE IS IN THE FRAME . IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY LONGER. IF CONTROL ARM BREAKS OFF THE FRAME COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO PASSENGERS AND OTHERS ON HIGHWAY.
FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION.
BACK HALF OF FRAME RUST OUT CROSSMEMBERS AND GAS TANK BRACKET. BECOMES UNSAFE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. *TT *TR
I TOOK MY FORD RANGER TO BE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THE REAR BUMPER MOUNT HAD TO BE FIXED DUE TO RUST. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THAT FIXED AND WHEN THE GARAGE THAT I TOOK THE TRUCK TO WENT TO FIX THE THAT PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE THE REAR FRAME WAS ROTTED. I HAD BEEN RUNNING THE TRUCK BEFORE THIS PROBLEM ARRIVED SO NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 169000 MILES ON IT AND IT WONT PASS INSPECTION. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN GOOD CONDITION. I HAVE A G M C PICK-UP WITH 230500 MILES ON IT AND THE FRAME IS STILL GOOD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE. UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS
RUSTY FRAME,
WAS CHANGING A BROKEN ADJUSTER ON REAR BRAKES AND NOTICED THE FRAME AT THE REAR SHOCK MOUNT HAS LARGE CRACKS IN IT ON BOTH SIDES. THE CONCERN IS THE STRESS PLACED ON THE CRACKED FRAME AS THAT IS WHERE MOST OF THE STRAIN IS PLACED. THAT PORTION OF THE FRAME HAS A BUNCH OF RUST CAUSING THE METAL TO PIT AND LIKELY WEAKEN. I'M SPECULATING THAT THE METAL USED WAS INFERIOR OR THAT THE SHOCK PLATE WAS MOUNTED IN WRONG LOCATION. THE FRAME WILL REQUIRE WELDING WHICH WILL NOT BE AS STRONG.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S SPARE TIRES AND HALF OF THE REAR BUMPER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS ROTTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
WENT TO HAVE THE TRUCK INSPECTED WHEN THEY NOTICE THAT WHERE THE SPARE TIRE WENT IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS ALL NOTICED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS SITTING STILL BEING INSPECTED
MY 2001 FORD RANGER XLT DISPLAYS A RUSTING FRAME THAT IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE MILEAGE OR CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRACKET HOLDING THE REAR LEAF SPRING HAS RUSTED AND BROKEN LOOSE, ALLOWING THE SPRING TO REST AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK. THIS IS THE 2ND BRACKET TO RUST COMPLETELY THRU, AND AGAIN, AS STATED, THE FRAME SHOWS SIGNS OF SEVERE DEGRADATION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES HAD RUSTED AND SEPARATED FROM THE SUB FRAME AND PUNCTURED THROUGH THE BED OF THE TRUCK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INDICATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SO SEVERELY RUSTED IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,389. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026