Faults:

I bought this car in March 2001 and began having problems in November 2002. I have had 4 visits for the Check Engine light - requiring 2 computer reprograms and 2 replacements. 7 Overdrive light visits, which resulted in a Ford Engineer flying in to replace the entire transmission. I feel this was a crap-shoot that permitted him to fix the problem because they didn't know what was causing it - fixed it none the less. 5 brake visits for pulling to the right. The most recent visit is going to require the Ford Engineer to fly in again because I have now lost my brakes intermittently. Radio went bad once, oil sensor once, and several other small items. I have been at the dealership at least once per month for the past 16 months.

General Comments:

This has been my 6th Ford product and I have always enjoyed their products for the cost and quality. However, this Ranger has fallen far short. The Ford Zone Manager has provided me a 2-year bumper-to-bumper warranty after the Overdrive problem and is considering something more due to the current brake issue. She has been most gracious and so has the dealership. It is the product that has irritated me to no end. I hate to say I wouldn't buy Ford again, but I would certainly consider it - cautiously I might add. But that's just typical for someone after having been burned. I know they typically put out good products and lemons happen to the best companies, including Toyota and Honda.

Faults:

I first took it in for a tire recall. The Firestone's had to be replaced due to the possibility of the tread separating at high speeds.

I began to get a jerking when going from a complete stop to drive, and from first gear to second. The dealership advised me that there was a service bulletin (not a recall) to replace the drive shaft if customers came in to complain about the problem.

The belts then began to squeal. I took it in for service, and was advised that there was a common problem with the belt tension springs. It was replaced with no questions asked.

I have had it in twice for condensation in the driving lights. One on each side. The entire light housing was quickly replaced for both. Unfortunately, I have condensation in the driver's side driving light, once again, which has caused the bulb to pop.

I took it in on two occasions for a rattling coming from underneath the center of the dashboard / rear part of the engine area, that I could hear, and feel in the gas pedal, whenever the RPM are just below 2000 (probably the heat shield, as it commonly is). The first time, the dealership said that it was fixed. I drove it home, only to find that it was still there. I took it to a second dealership, and was advised that the mechanic could not hear it, so it couldn't be fixed. I wondered if it ever dawned on them that a mechanic, who works around running engines all day, may not have the hearing capabilities that other people do. I directly asked the mechanic. He stated that "Ford's unwritten policy is that if a noise can't be heard when the radio is on low, they won't fix it!" I shook my head and walked away in disgust.

I have noticed over the past couple of months, that the transmission tends to slip slightly between gears. It seems as if the truck wants to use both the power from the low gear and the fuel economy of the next higher gear, because the power transfer during the shift is more prolonged than ANY other vehicle that I have driven. This may not be the transmission at all, but possibly the injectors, because the engine sometimes putters when first started and during idling.

Currently, I am having trouble with my brakes. It started when I released my emergency brake. On several occasions, the pedal released, but the vehicle would not roll until I gunned the gas. It sounded like a shotgun blast, when the pads released. The regular brakes are no better. They have never braked smoothly. As of the past couple of months, they either wobble until I come to a complete stop, or they pull the truck to a particular direction (mostly to the right).

General Comments:

Too many problems with a truck with only 28,000 miles on it. I had my last vehicle in the shop, less during a 115,000 mile span.

I know that my trucks engine will run for 200,000 miles, but I am afraid that many parts will fall off of it in the process. When the engine finally does stop, I'm not sure that the brakes will help me pull over to the side of the road.

Overall, the service has been great. Most service managers and mechanics do their best to address the problem at hand, and fix it properly. This has helped me deal with the truck's huge downfalls.