Problems · by component
1998 Ford Ranger suspension problems
50 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Ranger cite suspension, 8% of all 597 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
50
8% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the suspension
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“4WD STOPPED WORKING SOME TIME AGO, SERVO/ACTUATOR SEEMED TO BE FREE, RECENTLY STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES IN THE FRONT RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE HUB IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. SORT OF POPS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP HVAC DOES NOT WORK, FAN SPEED ONLY INTERIOR COURTESY STOPPED WORKING”
“THE FRAME HAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION IS DETACHING FROM FRAME AND FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND WILL SEPARATE SOON. THE SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER HAVE FALLEN OFF WHERE IS WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RUST AND THE BED MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED AWAY AND NO LONGER ATTACH TO THE FRAME LEAVING THE BED WITH NO SOLID MOUNT. SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER FELL OFF ON INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING.”
“VEHICLE BACK BUMPER FELL OFF DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST (WHILE IN MOTION). BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS RUSTED OUT AS WELL AS HOLES IN THE FRAME (ALL IDENTIFIED WHILE STATIONARY).”
“"FRAME RECALL ? " WHILE DRIVING FRAME BROKE IN HALF, BOTH SIDES. SINCE OWNING I HAVE REPLACED LEAF SPRING AND SHOCK BRACKET,AND ALSO REMOVED SPARE TIRE BRACKET BEFORE IT FELL OFF IN ROADWAY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!!!”
“THE BACK SECTION OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED OFF THE SPRING HANGERS ARE RUSTED OFF THE FUEL TANK CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED OFF AND THE TIRE HANGER IS RUSTED OFF THE SHOCK MOUNTS ARE ABOUT RUSTED OFF AND THE SPRINGS ARE BENT BECAUSE THE BRACKETS RUSTED OFF”
“DRIVING ON HI WAY, EVAP CANISTER ROTTED OFF, AND ALSO LOST MY SPARE TIRE, I HAVE PATCHED FRAME 13 TIMES NOW WAITING FOR A RECALL TO COME OUT AND YET STILL HAVNT HEARD OF ONE. TRUCK NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. . HOPING ANYWAY POSSIBLE THAT THEY WILL THROW A RECALL OUT THERE FOR US RANGER OWNERS. THANKYOU.”
Showing 6 of 50 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.