2004 Ford Ranger power train problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ALMOST STRUCK OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.”

“TRANNY DROPPED DOWN CAUSING VIBRATION AND VEHICLE PULLED OFF ROAD AND TOWED. FOUND 2 CROSS SUPPORTS ROTTED AND SEPARATED ALSO.BODY OF TRUCK IS LIKE NEW. FRAME UNSAFE. TOYOTA RECALLED FOR THIS SAME REASON. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE ALSO. *TR”

“I WAS DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT 60 MPH REQUIREMENT ON I35 NORTH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MY SPEED BEGIN TO ACCELERATE ON IT ON INCREASING UP TO 100 MPH. I WAS SCARE OUT OF MY SHOES NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING ARE KNOWING WHAT I SHOULD DO. I PRESSED ON MY BRAKES OVER, AND OVER AND IT STILL DIDN'T LOW DOWN. I WAS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND THE TRAFFIC AROUND ME. I FINALLY CAME UP ON AN ACCESS EXIT AND GOT OFF THE FREEWAY, BUT I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC ON THE ACCESS ROAD WAS MERGING AND I WAS EXITING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I JUST STARTED BLOWING MY HORN REPEATEDLY. OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING AROUND ME HAD TO THINK I WAS LOSING MY MIND TO BE DRIVING THAT FAST AND EXITING OFF THE FREEWAY, BUT IT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I TURNED MY TRUCK OFF, BUT IT STILL WAS MOVING FAST. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP SIGN I HAD TO ROLL RIGHT THOUGH IT BECAUSE THE TRUCK WOULD STOP. I PUMPED MY BREAKS AGAIN, AND AGAIN, IT SLOWED UP TO SOME DEGREE SO IT DID, I THEN HAD TO SHIFT IT INTO PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. IT ALMOST THROUGH ME OUT OF THE TRUCK BECAUSE OF ME HAVING TO SHIFT INTO PARK TO FORCE IT TO STOP. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AND I COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED ARE…”

“WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES, THE 5 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 FORD RANGER (3.0 2WD) FREQUENTLY REFUSES TO ENGAGE GEARS WHEN COLD. WHEN IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, INCREASING ENGINE SPEED PRODUCES ENGAGEMENT WITH A HARSH THUNK. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW, FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR WHICH THE DEALER PLACED AN ADDITIVE TO PREVENT HARSH SHIFTS AND PREVENT TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. I ASSUME THIS IS A STOPGAP MEASURE TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED ITS WARRANTY PERIOD. INTERESTINGLY, AN AUTOPARTS STORE CASHIER ASKED ME IF I HAD A FORD RANGER BASED ON MY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM. *TR”

“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TO WORK ON THE INTERSTATE. I LOOKED DOWN AND MY O/D ( OVERDRIVE ) LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE TRUCK WAS RIDING FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GOES INTO GEAR REAL HARD. I AM NOW DRIVING WITH THE O/D OFF WHICH SEEMS TO CONTROL THIS BUT IT IS USING A LOT OF FUEL. *TR”

“"O/D OFF" LIGHT FLASHING. WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT TOLL BOOTH TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED BUT RPM REMAINED HIGH. HAD TO STAND ON BRAKES TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL RPM DROPPED SLOWLY. SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE AND VEHICLE LEAPED FORWARD. FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET REGARDING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH FORD RANGERS AND EXPLORERS BETWEEN 2002 AND 2004. *TR”