2019-2022 Ford Ranger suspension DEFECT class action

[Fitzmotor]

I just added a spacer on the left front.

But it's simple, live with it, fix it or have somebody else fix it, or maybe attempt to start a long legal process, that will leave you looking at it crooked for a long time.

Just keep only a few gallons in the tank, that will help, but when the inspector for the attorneys look at it fill it up ?

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[Grumpaw]

Yup, legal process will be verrrry long.
You don't just go to some attorney that advertises on a bus bench. You have to approach a large law firm that has a background in actions against large corporations.
They will, if they take the case, go thru complaints to Ford about the problem, investigate any accidents, if any, caused by the problem, study other manufacturers trucks to see if the same problem exists, ect ect ect. All this will take a lot of time.
Oh, and guess what....you pay for their services up front to start the investigation. This isn't one of those cases where they advertise, "We don't get anything unless you get paid".
This is strictly a visual problem that had existed on numerous vehicles over numerous years, and a legit firm wouldn't even take the time to look into it.
I am familiar with this...my son is a Patent Attorney, partner, working out of Washington, DC for a very large firm. They deal with patents and large lawsuits daily, and they would charge you several thousand just to look into whether or not you have a case.

 

[Glocker]

Is this guy for real? He's unhappy with how is truck sits, especially with an aftermarket spacer lift, and wants everyone to sue Ford. And then, when another member kinda just calls it like it is in another thread, the OP calls him unintelligent. I mean, @Frenchy may have been a little blunt in this guy's other thread, but he was pretty much spot on.

 

[lil doopahead]

My 2019 is stock and has the same lean. It's kinda fitting, I'm a little off kilter too

 

[Zvedza]

i experienced this "lean" issue with my 2004 f150 svt lightning and my 2010 lariat f150. ford did nothing. this issue is not a safety issue and they will do nothing about it. my 2020 Ranger FX4 has it too. i just do not think about it.

Weird, my 04 lightning is leveled as can be.

My tremor leans to the left a bit, took it to ford and they said it was basically within "acceptable" numbers. I asked if they could throw another spacer under the leaf springs and they said theyll look into it.

They contacted Ford and they had them do a buttload of measurements from every possible angle, and it sure shows the left is shorter to the ground by 3/4" usually, but they decided they didnt want to allow the dealership to put another spacer on there. The dealership also mention it was more of a body/frame issue vs suspension. They said that even if they did throw it on, it wouldnt have solved it. Who knows, but just gotta deal with it i guess. Cant even blame the gas tank cause it has the same level of lean near empty or full.

 

[Blue Streak]

Don't park on perfectly level ground & it will never be noticed. Load the bed up with a bunch of crap then there is a reason. If someone notices tell them it's an optical illusion. Haven't really looked at mine to see if it leans.

 

[Marpater]

Just met a big girl, I'll have her seat in the passenger seat, her name is Levela

 

[mailbox4449]

I'm a noob when it comes to suspension mods...but wouldn't putting a leveling kit "help" level this? Or maybe just add 1/2" more to the left side to compensate for this? Again, by no means an expert, but sounds like an extra spacer would do the trick? Is this just because of the weight of the vehicle on that side or the way it is ACTUALLY built? Just curious.

 

[Jason B]

I have a 2021 Ford Ranger and after my lift was done I found out there was a factory defect that caused a lean on the left rear. My lean is resulting in the right rear being 3/4" higher than the left rear. Supposedly the lean is because because of the gas tank but never the less Fords poor attempt to fix it was to put a 1/4" leaf spring plate in which did basically nothing. Also ReadyLift knew of this defect but said nothing and still sold the lift kit. This is a Ford factory defect causing cosmetic, mechanical, and safety issues that has not been completely addressed and fixed by Ford. If anyone is interested in pursuing a class action lawsuit please let me know. I want to see if there is any interest. I for one am spending a chunk of money trying to get this defect fixed and my truck level in the rear.

Cosmetic - Yes , mechanical and safety? That will be a hard sell.

I'ma call my dealer, ( after I eat some crawfish ettouffe. ?) my warranty should cover this.

The question is, will the warranty cover it BEFORE you eat some crawfish ettoufe? I am from your neck of the woods. Crawfish cures most things, but I'm not sure about the lean. If anything it will lean more if you eat as much as I do.

Its things like this where an aftermarket company could make more money on a kit to “fix” the issue and have more people satisfied than suing Ford.

If I had a pattern for the spacer, I could make it for about 5 - 10 bucks, depending on thickness.

I'm a noob when it comes to suspension mods...but wouldn't putting a leveling kit "help" level this? Or maybe just add 1/2" more to the left side to compensate for this? Again, by no means an expert, but sounds like an extra spacer would do the trick? Is this just because of the weight of the vehicle on that side or the way it is ACTUALLY built? Just curious.

A level just raises the front to level out from front to rear, not side to side.

 

[Frenchy]

Is this guy for real? He's unhappy with how is truck sits, especially with an aftermarket spacer lift, and wants everyone to sue Ford. And then, when another member kinda just calls it like it is in another thread, the OP calls him unintelligent. I mean, @Frenchy may have been a little blunt in this guy's other thread, but he was pretty much spot on.

And the best part is my post got deleted in the other thread. I have seen way worse responses on other threads that havent been deleted. Kind of a suprise if you ask me.

 

[mailbox4449]

A level just raises the front to level out from front to rear, not side to side.
[/QUOTE]
So could one just put an additional 1/2" larger on the left side when leveling and that would level the side to side?? Again, just trying to fig this out.

 

[Frenchy]

A level just raises the front to level out from front to rear, not side to side.

So could one just put an additional 1/2" larger on the left side when leveling and that would level the side to side?? Again, just trying to fig this out.
[/QUOTE]
To an extent yes but even then the height of the left side does change a good bit when the fuel tank is empty and full

 

[Grumpaw]

2 simple solutions....
Let a few lbs of air out of the right side tires, and over inflate the left side tires.
Or...
Get some slightly larger diameter tires for the left side...
Problem solved...

 

[Canuckian]

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/attachments/204-00-chassis-general-info-shop-manual-zip.3138/

browse through here and let your lawyer know if you have a case

I do have a case! Just measured... a clear ½" (12.7mm) lower on the driver side at the rear. I am sure that gets worse when I am in the driver seat putting more weight on the driver side suspension. Also, I only have a half tank of gas right now, so maybe it gets worse. Strange they didn't put the gas tank on the right to serve as ballast when being drive with single occupancy. Guess that would screw up drivers of North American cars who aren't used to walking around the car to fill up like in most Euro models.

In all seriousness though, I am not going to participate in a class action. Arguably aesthetic in nature. Might be tempted to throw a spacer in eventually, once I solve the hood strut issue.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I'm a noob when it comes to suspension mods...but wouldn't putting a leveling kit "help" level this? Or maybe just add 1/2" more to the left side to compensate for this? Again, by no means an expert, but sounds like an extra spacer would do the trick? Is this just because of the weight of the vehicle on that side or the way it is ACTUALLY built? Just curious.

Rotes of Ruck folks..
Even if a class action suite were to end in your favor, it will be years before any $$$ is doled out or repairs are done. Your Ranger will likely be on it's second or third owner.
Also, the day the lawsuit is filed, Ford will stop talking about or doing anything to help you until the suit is taken care of....they will not even comment on it.
Your best bet is to file complaints with NHTSA....if they get enough complaints they can intervein and get something done a lot quicker if it turns out to be a safety concern.

Hi Steve,

I highly doubt NHTSA will take this up as a safety issue as it is not in my opinion a safety issue. Folks need to be careful when they throw around words like safety issue as fact when they are likely just opinion. When you state "Safety Issue", it should be with facts of why it is such, even if they are wrong. Even better if you are considered an expert in the field of the malady. ( I know....Ex is a Has Been and Spert is a drip under pressure).

The other thing is things can get very weird when you shim one corner of the vehicle as you will to some degree transfer weight to the diagonally other wheel on the other end of the truck. This may be insignificant but with out corner weight scales you do not know how much. Worse would be if you shimmed the left rear and now the front grill is off kilter. Also, shimming the rear might put the U bolts with not enough thread engagement of the U bolt nuts. Rule of thumb is that you want three threads exposed as the first three threads are not always perfect... I wonder if the referenced shim kit comes with slightly longer U bolts? IDK if the kit contains more that a shim...

best,
Phil

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