1998 Ford Ranger suspension problems
52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the suspension on the 1998 Ford Ranger — 9% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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”
filed Mar 30, 2020
“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…”
filed Jul 25, 2019
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Revised procedure for adjusting alignment on all suspensions - new right hand upper control arm design for torsion bar front suspensions. *tt
042419 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 13, 2004Rear leaf spring noise. *tt
17777 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2004
Suspension problems in other Ranger years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ranger | 1 | 3% |
| 2024 Ranger | 2 | 3% |
| 2021 Ranger | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 Ranger | 4 | 3% |
| 2019 Ranger | 17 | 6% |
| 2011 Ranger | 1 | 0% |
| 2010 Ranger | 2 | 1% |
| 2009 Ranger | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 Ranger | 3 | 1% |
| 2007 Ranger | 4 | 1% |
| 2006 Ranger | 20 | 7% |
| 2005 Ranger | 26 | 9% |
Other reported problem areas on the 1998 Ford Ranger
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.