1998 Ford Ranger SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

REAR BRAKES LOCKUP EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THIS CAUSES SLIDING ON WET PAVEMENTS. AS OF NOW I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY 1998 FORD RANGER XLT SO FAR HAD 2 COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURES DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE SPIRAL PROTECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES WHICH KEEPS THE HUMIDITY TRAPPED AND THUS CORRODES THE LINES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING OUT WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN YET NO BRAKE FUNCTION IS EXPERIENCED. AS THIS PROBLEM HAS A CLEAR TECHNICAL REASON IN THE FORM OF THE BRAKE LINES, IT IS SYSTEMIC IN ALL SUCH VEHICLES. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY MY CAR MECHANIC SHOP WHICH IS FREQUENTLY REPAIRING FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NO EARLY WARNING INDICATION AND IS NOT DETECTED BY THE YEARLY INSPECTION. *TR

EVERYTIME I PRESS MY BRAKE PEDAL, THERE IS A GRINDING/PULSATING AND THE VEHICLE SLOWLY "SKIDS" TO A STOP, USUALLY ONLY 10-15 FEET AFTER I INTENDED ON STOPPING. LESS THAN ONE (1) YEAR AGO, THE BRAKES WENT OUT ON MY 1998 FORD RANGER. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ABS ON THE VEHICLE IS WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING, YET HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. HE SAID THE UNNECESSARY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED BY THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSED MY MASTER CYLINDER'S SEALS TO CRACK. I PAID OVER $400 FOR ALL BRAKE REPAIRS. TEN (10) MONTHS LATER, I'M DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT 60 M.P.H. AND MY EXIT IS APPROACHING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, I WAS AGAIN LEFT WITH NO BRAKES. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY I HAD THE SENSE OF MIND TO PUSH MY EMERGENCY BRAKE (WHICH IS AWKWARDLY LOCATED ON A PICK-UP TRUCK) AND AVOID A NUMEROUS CAR PILE-UP ON A BUSY LOS ANGELES FREEWAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEW MECHANIC AS WELL AS A PEP BOYS AUTO CENTER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER'S SEALS WERE AGAIN CRACKED, AND CHARGED OVER $400 FOR THE SAME REPAIRS AS BEFORE. I'VE SEARCHED NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUMS, AND SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND FORD RANGER OWNERS AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND HAS FACED NEAR-DEATH SITUATIONS DUE TO THIS MANUFACTURING ERROR. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE A RECALL AS IT'S THE ONLY ONE TO ASSURE THE PROBLEM IS FIXED AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD (AS THE BRAKES WILL NO LONGER WORK WITHOUT ANY WARNING). *TR

BRAKE PEDAL FELL OFF WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT.CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.*AK

BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE ABS LOCKS UP AND SKIDS EVERY MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN IN THE RAIN. THE DEALER AND MECHANICS HAVE BOTH VERIFIED THAT THE BRAKES WORK FINE. THE PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT TO DEMONSTRATE. WHEN THE BRAKES WARM UP THEY OPERATE FINE. *JG

ABS LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

REAR WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON WET ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BRAKE LINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED EVERY 40 THOUSAND MILES DUE TO SHOCKS RUBBING ON LINE. DUE TO LOST OF BREAK FLUID. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NEED TO REPLACE BRAKE LINE EVERY 40,000. RUBS AGAINST REAR SHOCK CAUSING A HOLE THAT LEAKS BRAKE FLUID. *AK

REAR BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING ON REAR SHOCK ABSORBER WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO SHOCK ABSORBER. ALSO, WOULD CAUSE BRAKE LINE TO CHAFE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WOULD PERFORM REPAIRS UNDER CONSUMER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY.FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

BRAKE PEDAL BINDS WHEN VEHICLE IS HOT. BRAKES INEFFECTIVE WHEN COLD.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT BRAKES FAIL BECAUSE THEY LOCK UP UPON STOPPING, AND VEHICLE HAS ONLY REAR BRAKES TO STOP WITH. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 5 CAR PILE UP ACCIDENT, CONSUMER'S CAR WAS THE LAST CAR HIT. WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES BODY WENT FORWARD AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, AND IS VERY UNSAFE.*AK

ROTORS SEVERLY RUSTED AND WORN REQUIRED PREMATURE REPLACMENT. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING REAR BRAKES TO LOCK UP, RESULTING IN A CRASH. DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND TRUCK STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED. HAVE HAD TWO VERY CLOSE CALLS WITH OTHER VEHICLES NEARLY BEING HIT. PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 6 WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED TRUCK. HAVE HAD VEHICLE IN 7 TIMES TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS. THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BUT I KNEW BETTER. HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THIS WEBSITE AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT THOSE PEOPLE. YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS. *AK

SELF ADJUSTING BRAKE KITE IS NOT INSTALLED CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO WORN OUT. YH

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. FAILED TO BOUNCE BACK LIKE ABS BRAKES WERE SUPPOSE TOO. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MASTER CYLINDER/FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. BRAKE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED OWNER BRAKES WORK WITH PEDAL TO FLOOR. DUE TO LACK OF BRAKING POWER, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AT 5-10 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE MAKING A SLOW STOP STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE. BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND REPLACED TWO TIMES. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THEM AGAIN. *AK *ML

PROBLEM WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES GRABBING WHEN TRYING TO APPLY SLIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE, AGGRAVATED IN DAMP WEATHER. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT INTO COLE WHITNEY FORD FOR REPAIR WAS 2/19 /98 MILEAGE 12282. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY A BUILD UP OF BRAKE DUST THAT WHEN WET WOULD CAUSE LOCK UP. THEY BLAME IT ON THE NON ASBESTOS CONTENT OF THE SHOES. ALL THEY DID WAS CLEAN OUT THE DRUMS AND SAND THE SHOES. THEY SAID THERE IS NO KNOWN REPAIR OTHER THAN THIS.I HAVE NOW MOVED TO BANGOR SO I HAVE MY TRUCK SERVICED AT DARLINGS FORD 403 HOGAN ROAD BANGOR MAINE 04401 PHONE 1-800-540-1339. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN FEB. 98 I'VE HAD THE TRUCK IN TO DARLING'S TWICE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . THEY TREATED THE PROBLEM IN THE SAME WAY, STILL NO PERMANENT FIX. I ASKED IF FORD WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT AND I SHOULD TALK TO THE DEALER AS THEY MAY DO IT AS A SIGN OF GOOD FAITH. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE AS I TRAVEL 60 MILES TO WORK IN ALL WEATHER AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES GRAB WHEN DRIVING ON ICE . I'VE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF NEARLY LOSING CONTROL WHEN APPLYING VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS IN THE SUMMER DURING DAMP WEATHER ON NEARLY DRY ROADS WHEN THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM TO COME IN AND GREATLY INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE LAST FORD TRUCK I OWNED WAS A 1987 MODEL IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS FINALLY CURED BY INSTALLING BRAKE SHOES CONTAINING ASBESTOS BY ME. I 'M TOLD BY DARLINGS THESE TYPE OF BRAKE SHOES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.I SHOULD THINK THAT AFTER 11 YEARS FORD COULD COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM.I THINK THIS IS AN ACCIDENT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THE BRAKES ACTED UP AGAIN LAST WEEKEND AND I'M TAKING IT IN TO DARLINGS AGAIN MONDAY 03/15 99 , PROBABLY ANOTHER TEMPORARY FIX.

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ,THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND SKIPS ACROSS THE ROAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CHANGED THE DRUMS BUT ONCE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION.

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS UP ON WET PAVEMENT WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED. THE PEDAL IS HARD WHEN APPLIED IT ONLY GOES HALF WAY DOWN, VEHICLE WILL SLIDE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE, HOWEVER VEHICLE STILL LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY. *AK