The Ranger spent part of July in San Francisco with our Web production ace Ali Spivak. She used the truck for local errands around the city, along with a few runs to San Jose (about an hour away).

Her initial impressions centered on the squeaky suspension and clunky transmission. "It was noticeable enough that all of the passengers I had in the truck over the two weeks commented on the jerking motion and noise the truck made by asking 'How old is this truck?'" Our photographer also noted the suspension noise, calling it "squeakier than granny's walker." With only 15,000 miles showing on the odometer, it's hard to believe this amount of suspension squawk is necessary. A visit to the local dealer will hopefully clear up, and quiet, the problem.

A Ford mechanic will also check out the transmission clunks, which started out as mere clinks two months ago. A certain level of harshness is expected when you drive a truck, but both of these problems seem out of character for a Ranger that's less than a year old.

An unexpected surprise came while driving the Ranger in space-challenged downtown San Francisco. Even with the narrow streets and minimal parking opportunities, our truck handled city life without complaint. Its tight turning radius made U-turns a snap and its raised perspective allowed for confident traffic maneuvers.

Unfortunately, the Ranger's diminutive size reared its ugly head when it was time to haul people. A quick trip in the side-facing backseats proved uncomfortable for one of Ali's friends, who also complained of nausea after riding sideways in the truck. The extended cab did create additional cargo space, allowing weather-sensitive items to be left behind the front seats.

Climate control continues to be a Ranger strong suit, but its cruise control scores considerably fewer points. According to Ali, "The Ranger's air conditioning was great. However, I never, ever, could figure out how to get the cruise control to work, even after consulting the manual." Another driver noted that the cruise-control buttons need a firm press to function properly.

Ali was also disappointed in the Ranger's braking abilities. She described the pedal feel as mushy, inspiring little confidence in the truck's ability to stop quickly during an emergency situation. Thankfully, she never had to test them out.

Of course the aftermarket parts are looking worse than ever, but you already knew that, right?

The Ranger has proven capable and dependable for the last 11 months, and we hope that pattern continues. But the sudden increase in suspension and drivetrain noise has us wondering how the truck will fare during the second year of its stay at Edmunds.com.

Total Odometer Reading: 15,418
Best Fuel Economy: 20.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 16.6 mpg
Body Repair Costs: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: Disconcerting level of noise from both the suspension and drivetrain.