2003 Ford Ranger complaints

I WAS ENVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 3/9/04 AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MEDIAN WALL WAS HIT HEAD ON AT APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH.*AK

MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CHIP IN THE ENGINE MOTOR. BUT, PROBLEM RECURRED. THEN, DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSE, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD, AND IT COULD NOT BE PUSHED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND BOTH WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IDLED, ENGINE SLOWED DOWN TO BELOW 500 RPM, AND THEN CHARGED BACK UP TO 3000 RPM. DEALER SAID THIS WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK FORD ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING ENGINE IDLING. *LA

VEHICLE IDLES BELOW 500 RPMS. THE ENGINE SOUNDS ROUGH, AND ACTS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. THEN, IT RETURNS TO NORMAL. *AK

WHEN PLACING VEHICLE IN REVERSE, MOTOR RACED WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND WAS REPROGRAMMED. *LA THIS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM TEMPORALLY. FAILURE HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE PART REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER FELT IF FORD COULDN'T REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHOUT IT FAILING AGAIN, THEN HIS MONEY SHOULD BE RETURNED. *PH

THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH 16 INCH TIRES, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE SPAR TIRE IS ONLY 15 INCHES. *NM

OCCASIONALLY WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE ENGINE ACCELERATES AS I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. SOME TIMES ONLY MOMENTARILY, BUT ON OCCASION IT ACCELERATES TO ABOVE 200 RPM FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN RETURNS TO IDLE. THERE IS NO PATTERN . IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, BUT NOT ALWAYS. MY DEALER TOLD ME THAT UNLESS THEY COULD MAKE IT HAPPEN THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE NEW. THE TRUCK NOW HAS 5000 MILES ON IT. HOPEFULLY THE FACTORY SENDS A RECALL BEFORE IT KILLS ME ON THE ICE. *LA

SILVER COATING AROUND A/C AND HEATER UNIT IS COMING OFF AND THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES RATTLE AND ARE LOOSE. *CB

VEHICLE HAS DIED ON INTERSTATE FOUR TIMES AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-392-FORD STATES THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. I AM TOLD I SHOULD CONTINUE TO GET IT REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHEN WE ARE WAITING HOURS IN A SNOWSTORM FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. I HAVE OWNED 8 FORDS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE BECAUSE FORD MOTOR STATES THAT THEY HAVE FOLLOWED THE LETTER OF THE LAW CONCERNING REPAIRS UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE HAVE NOW REPLACED ONE FORD WITH A LEXUS AND ARE TOTALLY AMAZED AT THE DIFFERENCE OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE CUSTOMER. AT OUR FIRST FREE LEXUS OIL CHANGE MY WIFE WAS GIVEN A DOZEN LONG STEM ROSES. WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE IS SAYING ABOUT FORD THESE DAYS? NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE BUYING MORE FOREIGN CARS AND TRUCKS.

HOWLING NOISE FROM CLUTCH. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE CLUTCH WAS NO GOOD, AND THAT THEY CONTACTED FORD AND WAS ADVISED THAT PARTS FOR REPAIR ARE CURRENTLY BEING MANUFACTURED?????????????? THE DEALER ADVISED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MID JANUARY FOR MY TRUCK TO BE REPARED.

WHILE COMING TO A STOP CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKES BECAME SPONGY. ON DECEMBER 6, 2003 WHEN THE OWNER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO MAKE A STOP, THE BRAKES PERFORMED ERRATICALLY. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS NECESSARY FOR THE BRAKES TO PERFORM EFFICIENTLY.*AK VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT DEPRESSING THE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDALWENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION. VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2003 FORD RANGER IS IN THE SHOP AND THE MECHANICS ARE AWARE THAT THE BRAKES NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT.*MR

NON INJURY MOMENTARY LOSS OF ENGINE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING UP A MODERATE INCLINE WITH MY NEW FORD RANGER IN CRUISE CONTROL & OVER DRIVE ON AT ABOUT 65 MPH & 2500 RPM'S. THE ENGINE KICKED DOWN TWICE IN IMMEDIATE SUCCESSION AND THE ENGINE RAN AWAY TO 6000 RPM'S+ AND STAYED THERE. ENGINE TACH LIMIT IS 6000RPM'S SO I DO NOT KNOW THE EXTENT OF THE OVER REV. I TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH LOWERED THE RPM'S AND TURNED THE OVER DRIVE OFF WHICH RESULTED IN A NORMAL RPM OF ABOUT 3000 @ 65 MPH. I HAVE TRAVELED THE SAME AREA BEFORE WITHOUT ANY SUCH OCCURRANCE. ALSO THE ENGINE HAS A ERRATIC TYPE MISFIRE AT IDLE WHICH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION WAS VERY UNSAFE AS WHEN THE ENGINE "RANAWAY" I ONLY GLANCED AT THE TACK TWICE AND DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST IT ENDED UP BEFORE I DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL.*AK

WHILE PROCEEDING TO LEAVE THE DRIVEWAY THE OWNER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING. *AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. *NLM

SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD: VEHICLE THROTTLE ACTUATES INDEPENDENTLY WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. I PURCHASED A USED 2003 FORD RANGER 2 WHEEL DRIVE EXTENDED CAB 4 DOOR MODEL WITH A 3.0 L ENGINE WITH 21123 MILES 3 WEEKS AGO. THREE TIMES I HAVE COME TO A STOP, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE THROTTLE HAS INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATED. THIS DEFECT OCCURS WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP. SPECIFICALLY AT THE EXACT TIME MY FOOT DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL THE THROTTLE ACTUATES BY ITSELF TO INCREASE THE ENGINE RPM. ( I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE THROTTLE PEDAL) YESTERDAY, THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE RPM INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 3000. SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE RIGHT WHEEL BRAKE BECAUSE OF THE ROTATION OF THE TIRE IN OPPOSITION TO MY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE. I HAD NOT BEEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WAS STOPPING FROM A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED OF 5 MPH EITHER AT A STOP SIGN OR IN FRONT OF MY OFFICE IN ALL THREE INCIDENTS. YESTERDAY WHEN PARKING IN FRONT OF MY OFFICE THE ENGINE RPM STAYED CONSTANT AND DID NOT DROP TO IDLE.( DURING THE PREVIOUS TWO TIMES THE ENGINE RPM SURGED AND THEN RETURNED TO IDLE WITHIN 1 SECOND.) HOWEVER YESTERDAY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS OF CONSTANT HIGH ENGINE RPM I MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM THE DRIVE POSITION TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE RPM THEN RETURNED TO IDLE SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION NO LONGER ATTEMPTED TO INVOLUNTARILY PROPEL THE VEHICLE IN THE FORWARD POSITION. I THEN IMMEDIATELY DRO

A BURNING ODOR SMELL WAS COMING IN THROUGH THE VENTS. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM

THE SILVER COATING ON THE DASH BOARD AROUND THE RADIO AND AC UNIT IS RUBBING OFF. *LA

CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP DIDN'T INFORM HIM ABOUT THE TRUCKS' INEFFICIENCY TO EXCEED THE SPEED OF 80 MPH. IF THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN AT THAT SPEED IT EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD REGISTER 120 MPH. *AK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON DRY ROADS. *JB *NLM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

2003 FORD RANGER XLT DOES NOT EXCEED 80 MPH.*MR (TRANSFERRED TO RULE MAKING). *CB

I WAS BLINDED BY ONCOMING HEAD LIGHTS NOT SET TO HIGH BEAM AND DISTRACTION FROM VERY BRIGHT HEAD LIGHTS IN REAR VIEW MIRROR (ALSO NOT ON HIGH BEAM). THE SOURCE IS FORD RANGER PICKUPS BUILT IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. OTHER MAKES OF TRUCKS AND SUV'S CAN BE BAD, BUT THE RANGER IS THE WORST OF THE BUNCH. *LA

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

AFTER DRIVING 52 MILES (10 MILES CITY & 42 MILES HIGHWAY) WITH A FULL TANK OF FUEL, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE USED 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. VEHICLE GETS BETWEEN 17 & 20 MILES TO THE GALLON. APPROXIMATE RANGE PER 1/4 TANK SHOULD BE BETWEEN 83 & 98 MILES. VEHICLE HAS A 19.5 GALLON FUEL TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE COMES OFF OF FULL VERY QUICKLY AND WHEN FILLING THE TANK WITH THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE RED (JUST OFF OF EMPTY) IT WILL ONLY TAKE 13.7 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE TANK HAS BEEN DRAINED AND FILLED TO VERIFY THAT THE TANK IS A 19.5 TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE AND FUEL METER HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN THE CONDITION. WAS ADVISED BY FORD THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN (NHTSA # 0179/FORD #01-11-2) TO ADDRESS THIS EXACT CONCERN FOR 2001 MODEL YEAR FORD RANGERS. THE SUMMARY DESCRIPTION STATES: SOME VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 3/26/2001 MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL GAUGE THAT DROPS FROM FULL TOO FAST OR INDICATES LESS THAN THE ACTUAL FUEL LEFT IN HE TANK (EXCESSIVE TANK RESERVE). WAS ADVISED THAT THIS APPROXIMATE 6 GALLON RESERVE WAS THERE TO ALLOW THE CUSTOMER TO MAKE IT TO A FILLING STATION SAFELY WITH THE TANK ON E. THIS IS TELLING ME THAT WHEN THE TANK READS ALMOST EMPTY THERE IS STILL OVER A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL IN THE TANK. WITH THE GAUGE READING THIS WAY YOU ARE NOT SURE HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE. FOR THE PRICE OF VEHICLES, CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELY ON CALCULATING THEIR MILEAGE AND USING THE ODOMETER TO GUESS THERE FUEL RANGE. I THOUGHT THIS WA

CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES CONSTANTLY VIBRATE. NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE BALANCE LAST MORE THAN 100 MILES BEFORE VIBRATION STARTS AGAIN. *JB

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING. HAS HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY SINCE PURCHASE OF T HE VEHICLE IN MAY 2003. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE TWICE AND EACH TIME THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CONFIRM THE DEFECT SO NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE TO DATE. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER TO DRIVE UNTIL DEFECT IS NOTED.

BRAKE AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. *MR THE ROTORS WERE TURNED ON THE FRONT BRAKES AND A IDLER WAS INSTALLED BECAUSE THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. (TWICE AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM) *SCC *JB

DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 400 MILES. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND JUMP FORWARD. *AK

VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO FUNCTION AS THE TURN SIGNALS INDICATORS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS DESIGN IS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE IF YOUR ARE BRAKING AND SIGNALING FOR A TURN, YOU LOSE 1/2 OF BRAKING "VISIBILITY" TO ALERT OTHER TRAVELING VEHICLES. THIS DESIGN DEFECT INCREASED THE RISK OF REAR-END COLLISIONS.

CONSUMER FEELS THAT BRACKET ON VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD.*MR WHEN THE REAR DOOR WAS OPENED, AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR OPENING A BRACKET EXTENDED FROM THE FRAME WHICH WAS USED AS A CLOSING DEVICE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE EXTENDED BRACKET WHILE TRYING TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE TRUCK.*TS *JB

ROUGH IDLE AT NORMAL OR COLD TEMPERATURES EITHER IN GEAR OR OUT AND ALSO IF AIR CONDITIONER IS ON OR OFF. THIS IS OCCURING ON A 2003 FORD RANGER V6 3.0L .. FORD DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A COPY OF A SERVICE MESSAGE UNDER 618400 ROLLING IDLE SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGES 16180.. IT STATES IF THE CONDITION IS STILL PRESENT, MAKE SURE YOUR WDS IS UPDATED WITH THE LASTEST CALIBRATUON FILES, WDS RELEASE B20.10 OR LATER AND REPROGRAM THE PCM. THEY DID THAT AND I AM STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEACH AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NOV02. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC I TALKED TO STATED IF IT DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM DONT WORRY FORD IS TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN 8 MONTHS NOW. DO WE KNOW IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM?*AK

THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE LEONARD CAP WIRES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THERE WAS NO FUSE USED TO INSTALL THE CAP. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT HAD A FUSE BEEN USED IT WOULD NOT HAVE DISABLES THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE CAP REPLACED AND WAS LATER REIMBURSED. *CB *NLM

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE'S SPARE TIRE DOES NOT MATCH THE REST OF THE TIRES, THE SPARE IS A SIZE 16 WHEN THE REST OF THE TIRES ARE 15. DEALER STATES ALL SPARES ON THAT YEAR AN MODEL ARE SIZE 16. *AK

CONSUMER CALLLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD, CANNOT BE VISIBLE IF THERE IS A SHADW HITTING THE DASHBOARD. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHILE DRIVING STOPPING DISTANCE WAS GREATLY INCREASED AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO DEPRESS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE ANY PROBLEM. ONE DAY, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT PEDAL WAS VERY HARD, VEHICLE THEN COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

THE SPARE WAS SMALLER THAN THE ORIGINAL. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERN BECAUSE THE SPARE ISN'T A FULL SIZE. *TT

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY AND ACTED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE MANUAL, THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED BEFORE THE TRUCK STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE. *JB *TS

THE THROTTLE CABLE DIDN'T SAY IN PLACE. AS A RESULT THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *NLM

PURCHASED A NEW RANGER XLT EXTENDED CAB DEC. 20 2002. WHILE TRYING DIAGNOSE WHY THE DOOR AJAR SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS NOT STRAIGHT. IT HAS SINCE BECOME A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND TAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, WHERE AIR CAN BE HEARD THROUGH THE DOOR OPENING. THE SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT IT WAS JUST THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT SOUND WHEN TURNING BECAUSE THE AIR TRAVELS A DIFFERENT PATH ACROSS THE TRUCK BODY. HE HAS NOT TESTED THE ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE WE WERE PRESSED FOR TIME. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND AUTO BODY MANAGER DID AGREE THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT STRAIGHT ALONG THE FRONT AND TOP EDGES AND AGREED TO PERFORM A REPAIR AND INSTALL A NEW DOOR FROM THE FACTORY. THE PROBLEM THERE WAS THAT I WAS TOLD THAT A DOOR INSTALLED AS A "REPAIR" WOULD BE PAINTED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WOULD NOT HAVE THE QUALITY OF A FACTORY INSTALLED DOOR. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT A "NEW" DOOR WOULD FIT ANY BETTER. I ADMIRE HIM FOR HIS HONESTY TO THE END. I PAID FOR A NEW VEHICLE, NOT A SUB-STANDARD REPAIRED VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM EXISTED OFF THE FACTORY FLOOR. THIS ISN'T A WARRANTY REPAIR, BUT A DEFECT. I AM OUTRAGED.

THE SEAT BELT(S) WHICH ARE IN THE REAR, (IF IN AN ACCIDENT/ROLL OVER), THE REAR DOOR(S) MAY OPEN AND THROW A PERSON OUT. SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT SEATBELTS ARE INOPRATIVE IN AN EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, BECAUSE SEATBELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE DOORS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

TREAD IS SEPARATING ON THREE OF THE TIRES. DT