2001 Ford Ranger engine and engine cooling problems

“TRUCK VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND A BRAKE FAILURE PROMPT THE DRIVER TO SWITCH INTO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SPUN OFF OUT OF CONTROL(BURNING TIRE) AND IT TOOK OFF VERY FAST WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. DRIVER TRIED TO STOP IT BUT NOTHING WORKED. *KB”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER XLT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE SITTING LOWER TO THE GROUND THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS REPAIRED. A FEW YEARS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY TO BE INSPECTED WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE HINGES WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK TO THE FRAME WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 01/25/11*LJ THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN EVAP LEAK.”

“I HAVE A 2001 FOCUS ZX3 - 5SP THAT TENDS TO STALL WHEN THE AC IS ON. BUT IT MAY NOT STALL DURING THE "INITIAL" USE PERIOD. WITHOUT WARNING, IT WILL STALL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. MY SERVICE SHOP CHECKED THE COMPUTER CODES FOR A PROBLEM AND NOTHING CAME UP. YESTERDAY, IT WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30MINS WITH THE AC ON (OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AROUND 80+ DEGREES). THE VEHICLE RAN FINE WITH THE RPMS NORMAL WHEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 90 MINS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART IT WOULD STALL. TO GET STARTED I NEEDED TO KEEP FOOT ON GAS PEDAL (TO MAINTAIN A HIGH ENOUGH RPM TO PREVENT THE STALL). IF I DID NOT KEEP THE RPMS UP, VEHICLE WOULD STALL. WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING, I NEEDED TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN THE RPMS. (THIS CAN BE CHALLENGING WITH A 5-SPD.) THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR OVER FOUR HOURS. IT THEN STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEM AND RAN NORMALLY. DURING THIS PERIOD I DID NOT HAVE THE AC ON. I SEE THAT THIS MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FOCUS. HOWEVER, NEITHER FORD MOTOR'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE NOR THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP (ECHELON FORD)…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VIOLENTLY AND ACT AS IF IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE REASON BEHIND THE FAILURE. SEVERAL REPAIRS, UNKNOWN TO THE CONTACT WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, TO DATE, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 02/23/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. UPDATED 08/12/10”

“2001 FORD HAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD FEEL THAT THE LEAK IS NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL LEAK WAS CAUSED BY METAL CHIP DEBRIS OR DAMAGE TO THE SEALING SURFACE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, THE ENGINE MUST BE PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 03/01/10”

“I HAVE A 2001 FORD RANGER EDGE. IT HAS A 3.0L V6 ENGINE, A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000 MILE ON IT. I RECENTLY HAD A COMPONENT FAIL IN THE INTERNAL ENGINE. IT WAS A CAM SYNCROZINER. IT COST $467.08 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM BY MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF THIS COMPONENT IS NOT FIXED IMMEDIATELY, THAT IT COULD CAUSE THE OIL PUMP TO THE ENGINE TO FAIL, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE LOSING POWER. THIS COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF BRAKES, AND STEERING. I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL OTHER RANGER OWNERS TO RECOMMEND THIS TO THE NHTSA. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND ALL 3.0L RANGER'S SHOULD HAVE THERE SYNCHRONIZER REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THIS COMPONENT FAILING COULD RESULT IN MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE, INJURY AND DEATH. THANK YOU! *TR”