Ford Ranger Problems

We haven't heard of this problem before on the Ranger and when we contacted Ford we were told that they weren't aware of any issues with noisy engines on the Ranger. Ford also told us that they were happy to check your vehicle to find out more about it. We have passed your contact details on to Ford and you can expect to be contacted about the issue.

It is unacceptable for a chassis to crack under normal driving use, you might accept some cracking if the vehicle was being used in extreme conditions. We haven't had any other reports of Rangers having this problem; the only other vehicle that has been reported to us with chassis cracking is a Nissan Navara. Likewise we haven't had other reports of cylinder head problems with the Ranger diesel. I would expect Ford to come to the party with some of the cost of repairs, but being the second owner and having already had the repairs done you claim has been weakened.

It would seem something has gone wrong, perhaps at the service, as you seem to suggest. It's most likely a fuel supply problem, so I would suggest you have a diesel engine specialist check it.

We have had reports of clutch troubles with the Ranger and the clutch in yours I would suggest has probably warped. They overheat quite quickly if you slip the clutch even just a little, like when you take off while the vehicles is loaded or towing a trailer, and once that happens the clutch warps and will forever shudder until it's replaced. I think Ford is clutching at straws on that one.

The clutch issue is not confined to the Ranger, other brands suffer the same problems, which suggests that the clutches used are marginal for towing. Your experience is not unusual, and should be a warning to everyone else looking to buy a ute to tow with. The normal fix is to install a heavy-duty aftermarket clutch, as you have done. Unfortunately carmakers have an out, in that they state quite clearly that the clutch is not covered by the warranty, and it's difficult to say what kilometres you should expect to get from a clutch before it would need replacing.

Never take anything for granted, it pays to check and check again if you’re not certain that the work being carried out on your car is what is supposed to be done. Never feel afraid to ask questions, and always remember that you are the customer, the one who has spent the dollars to buy the car.

Caltex make what they call Vortex Premium Diesel, which is claimed to remove deposits that build up over time in injectors and keep the engine running at its best. They claim that Vortex Premium will give you better performance and use less fuel, but I stress that’s the company’s claim.

We haven’t had other reports of a problem with fifth gear in the Ranger, but we have had reports of clutch problems with the Ranger and the Mazda BT-50, as we have with a number of one-tonne utes. No one has yet to admit to a fault unfortunately, so you’re on your own should your clutch fail.