Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Ranger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
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
"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!!!
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).
The frame on the passenger side from about the middle of the door to the front suspension mount is almost completely gone from rust. I showed it to the Ford dealership and they advised me not to drive as it is extremely unsafe but they either could or would not do anything about it. The coil spring pocket is cracked and the spring is about to pop out. I cannot afford a new vehicle at this time. The frame is broken and cracked in several areas due to stress from flexing because of the rust. I attempted to get a local fabrication shop weld it but they will not touch it. I can take photographs if need be. Ford motor company told me they have had numerous complaints about this same problem but not enough to issue a recall. I am afraid to drive this vehicle but have no choice. …
The rear bumper in my 1998 Ford Ranger (80K miles) is about to fall off, as the rear of the frame is rusted & broken. I have cables holding it on now. I found this out after the rear leaf spring shackle & bracket rusted off the frame and broke in two. The spare tire also looks like it is about to fall off from rusted brackets. I did an internet search and found that there are probably thousands of Ford rangers in which the rear bumper actually did fall off, or the spare fell off while driving. This problem seems to be much worse that the Toyota trucks. In fact someone said that the Ford frames were bought at the same factory as the Toyota's, but I do not know fore sure. Everything else on my truck is in beautiful condition, not a speck of rust on the body, and it runs great. I bought it brand new.
Took in for inspection. It failed because of rusted frame, shackles, shocks, brake lines and rear brake drums. It cost me $3,127.34 to replace all the parts. Before this, the spare tire fell off. Toyota replaced the frame of my neighbors pickup at no cost to him. I also have a friend who had a year 2000 Mazda pickup that had a rusted frame and wouldn't pass inspection. I'm sure this isn't the first complaint on this subject. I bought fords for years and my father worked for a Ford dealer ship for 40 years. Since this truck, I will not buy another Ford. Thanks for your consideration.
My Ford Ranger frame is almost completely rotted away in the back and the rest of the frame is in good condition. The rear shackles and shackle brackets are completely rusted away. The spare tire has even fallen off from rust. Also the gas tank straps are about to fall off from were they are attached to the frame. This should not be happening to a truck that is not that old. I have read things about other peoples frames that are rusted away.
The frame is having serious and dangerous heavy rust and rot compromising the structural integrity of the truck. In fact a shock mount just broke while driving and the resulting loud bang caused me great stress while driving. After pulling over and looking I could see the shock mount had rotted so bad as to break off the axle house.am also concerned about the structures holding the spare tire,gas tank and entire support system.
Suspension complaints in other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1998 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA has 52 complaints about the suspension of the 1998 Ford Ranger, 9% of the model year's 576 complaints. The component named most often is front (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Ranger suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 1998 Ford Ranger, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Ranger suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 114,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.