Ford Ranger Complaints (2003)

243 consumer complaints on file.

#10126374June 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT:CONSUMER REPORTS: HIS 2003 FORD RANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE ONE NIGHT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THERE WERE ELECTRICAL SPARKS COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WELL. HE FOUGHT THE FIRE WITH BARE HANDS AND SNOW. HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND LOST CONTROL AND IT SLID INTO A SNOW DRIFT. HE TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT AND HE STARTED TO DIG THE CAR OUT OF THE SNOW WHEN HE NOTICED THE SPARKS AGAIN AND A GLOW COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE. HE TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AGAIN WITH A SNOW SHOVEL. BY THE TIME THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP, IT WAS ON FIRE AGAIN. AFTER THE FIRE DEPT. HOSED THE FIRE DOWN WITH A STANDARD 2'' HOSE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AGAIN. THE FIRE DEPT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, PUT THE FIRE OUT AGAIN AND THE FIRE DIDN'T START BACK AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE FIRE WAS DUE TO DRIVER ABUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH SYSTEM. THE DAMAGE CONSISTED OF THE FOLLOWING: THE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE ASBESTOS LINING ON THE CLUTCH PLATE, INCLUDING THE SHEARING OF THE RETAINING PINS, THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAD A GIANT HOLE, ' OF THE MAIN SEAL WAS MISSING WITH NO HYDRAULIC FLUID REMAINING INSIDE THE CYLINDER AND THE INTERNAL PARTS SCORCHED FROM FIRE. THEY SAID THE FIRE WAS INSIDE THE BELL HOUSING. SCORCHED MARKS WERE ALL OVER THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AS WELL AS THE FIRE WELL ITSELF, INCLUDING THE INSULATION THAT IS MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD IN THE SAME AREA. THE DEALERSHIP DID DRIVE THE TRUCK AFTER THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE THE FLY WHEEL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10125741June 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
(1) I WAS IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, KEEPING WITH THE FLOW OF THE TRAFFIC. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. THE TRUCK FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. THE BRAKES FELT "GREASY" AND I HAD TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. (2) BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING? ROTORS WERE WARPED AFTER THAT. TRUCK SHUDDERED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. (3) A FORD DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS AT 25,632 MILES. AT AROUND 28,000 THE SHUDDERING HAS RETURNED DURING BRAKING. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124143June 3, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: CONTACT WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FORD MANUFACTURER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TESTED TO SEE WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10120427May 6, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 FORD RANGER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS.*MR DOOR LOCKED SPONTANEOUSLY, WAS INFORMED THAT FORD COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE A SPARE KEY TO KEEP OUTSIDE THE TRUCK. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118895April 19, 2005
WHEELS, TIRES
PROBLEMS WITH THE SIZE OF THE SPARE TIRE EQUIPMENT ON FORD RANGER.*MR THE SPARE AND WHEEL ARE NOT THE SAME SIZE OR SAME SPEC AS THE REST OF THE TIRES. THE SPARE WAS NOT RATED TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF A FULLY LOADED TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS 4 WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKES BUT THE USE OF THE SPARE TIRE AND WHEEL RENDERED THE ANTILOCK BRAKES INOPERATIVE. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117678April 11, 2005
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AT ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID DEBRIS. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER FOUR TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112450March 3, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING
2003 FORD RANGER [XXX] I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT. IT WAS RAINING LIGHTLY. I WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH. I HIT A POTHOLE WITH MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. AFTER SWERVING BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES MY VEHICLE STRUCK A LIGHT POLE AND STOPPED. *JB THE POLICE OFFICER, MY COWORKER WHO STOPPED TO SEE IF I WAS OK AND I WERE ABLE TO LOCATE THE POTHOLE. IT WAS BIG BUT NOT HUGE, MAYBE 16" IN DIAMETER AND 6 TO 7 INCHES DEEP AT ITS DEEPEST POINT. THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED ME A FEW DAYS LATER AND REPORTED THAT THE IMPACT WITH THE POTHOLE HAD BROKEN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM ON MY VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY AGREED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $7591. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS BEGUN WORK. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RETAIN THE STEERING BOX BECAUSE FORD NEEDED IT AS A CORE. I CONTACTED FORD. THEY ONLY REPLIED THAT THEY ARE VERY BUSY AND WILL GET BACK TO ME. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN TWO WEEKS. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113547February 18, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2003 FORD RANGER AIRBAGS SYMBOL ON THE DASH STARTED COMING ON. *BF A RIVET RUBBED AGAINST AIR BAG WIRING UNDER THE CARPET WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110709February 17, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER THE RIGHT REAR AXLE ON MY TRUCK BROKE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FOUR TIMES. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR WARRANTY REPAIR TO THE LEFT REAR AXLE WITHIN THE PAST MONTH DUE TO THE LEFT AXLE "FLAKING OFF" INTO THE REAR END. THE LEFT AXLE WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. I HAD RECEIVED A CELL PHONE CALL FROM FORD JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE FAILURE AND I HAD INFORMED THEM THAT THE REAR END WAS MAKING THE SAME NOISE IT MADE BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LEFT AXLE. I WAS SEVERELY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. THIS IS WHY THIS COMPLAINT IS LISTED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10107159February 16, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION
WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE WORN. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO DISPLAYED A LOUD CLUNK THAT FORD WAS UNDER THE FRONT END. THE NOISE APPEARED TO BE UPON SHIFTING ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR WHEN TURNING SHARPLY. *SC THE DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109940February 6, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE STUMBLED AN ACCELERATION AND SURGED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER PASSENGER CAR. ACCELERATOR STUCK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NEARLY CAUSING PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STATED THE PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY AGREED THAT A PROBLEM COULD EXIST SOMEWHERE IN THE ELECTRONICS. I AM NOW SERVING 5YRS AND 10MONTHS IN PRISON FOR THIS ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT MY PLEA, IF IT WAS A ACCIDENT OR DELIBERATE ACT BY THE DRIVER. NOT ONLY DO I WISH THIS TO BE FIXED, BUT I NEED MORE EVIDENCE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE HAS WELL. I NEED WRITTEN EVIDENCE FROM OTHER STATES THAT THESE ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED. IN HOPES IT WILL HELP MY CASE. SO I CAN GET BACK HOME TO MY FAMILY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#10109941February 6, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE STUMBLED AN ACCLERATION AND SURGED, CAUSING VEHICAL TO HIT ANOTHER PASSENGER CAR. ACCELRATOR STUCK ON SEVERAL OCCCASIONS, NEARLEY CAUSING PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STATED THE PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY AGREED THAT A PROBLEM COULD EXIST SOMEWHERE IN THE ELECTRONIOCS. I AM NOW SERVING 5YRS AND 10MONTHS IN PRISON FOR THIS ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENSE TO SUPPORT MY PLEA, IF IT WAS A ACCIDENT OR DILIBERATE ACT BY THE DRIVER. NOT ONLY DO I WISH THIS TO BE FIXED, BUT I NEED MORE EVIDENSE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE HAS WELL. I NEED WRITTEN EVIDENCE FROM OTHER STATES THAT THESE ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED. IN HOPES IT WILL HELP MY CASE.SO I CAN GET BACK HOME TO MY FAMILY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#10109942February 6, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE STUMBLED ON ACCELERATION AND SURGED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER PASSENGER CAR. ACCELERATOR STUCK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NEARLY CAUSING PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND STATED THE PROBLEMS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY AGREED THAT A PROBLEM COULD EXIST SOMEWHERE IN THE ELECTRONICS. I AM NOW SERVING 5 YRS AND 10 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR THIS ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT MY PLEA, IF IT WAS A ACCIDENT OR DELIBERATE ACT BY THE DRIVER. NOT ONLY DO I WISH THIS TO BE FIXED, BUT I NEED MORE EVIDENCE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE HAS WELL. I NEED WRITTEN EVIDENCE FROM OTHER STATES THAT THESE ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED. IN HOPES IT WILL HELP MY CASE. SO I CAN GET BACK HOME TO MY FAMILY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#10109438January 27, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR BRAKE FAILURE AND ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. *NM *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101272January 5, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
CONSUMER STATED THE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING HE HITS BOTH PEDALS AT ONE TIME. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE NEEDS TO BE MOVED 2 TO 2 1/2 INCHES TO THE LEFT. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104533December 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
ENGINE STUMBLES ON ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY, AND THE DEALER IN NY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. OWNER/DRIVER USES NAME-BRAND GASOLINE FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER AND IS PROMPT ABOUT SERVICING VEHICLE. IN A PREVIOUS FORD, OWNER EXPERICENCED THE SAME PROBLEM---SOLVED BY REPLACING SENSOR. THIS PROBLEM HAS NEARLY CAUSED A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BOTH NY, CT AND MT ATTORNEY GENERALS. I WISH THIS PROBLEM FIXED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104049December 17, 2004
SUSPENSION
THERE IS NO INCIDENT AND PERHAPS THIS MAY NOT BE THE CORRECT PLACE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BUT YOU CAN BE THE JUDGE OF THAT. MY COMPLAINT IS I OWN A 2003 FORD RANGER 4WD SUPER CAB WITH GOODYEAR FACTORY INSTALLED TIRES WHICH ARE WEARING UNUSUALLY (CUPPING/CHOPPING). TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED BY FORD DEALER, BALANCED, PROPER AIR PRESSURE MAINTAINED AND ALIGNMENT CHECKED. VEHICLE HAS 16,500 MILES ON IT. TIRES ARE CAUSING VIBRATION AND NOISE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE I CAN'T FEEL OR HEAR IF ANOTHER COMPONENT IS FAILING. DEALER HAS TOLD ME HE SEES AN AVERAGE OF 6 FORD RANGERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM EACH WEEK. FORD TELLS ME THERE IS NO RECALL OR DIRECTIVE TO REPLACE THE TIRES AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. GOODYEAR TELLS ME THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A BROADCAST SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS TO REPLACE THESE TIRES WITH A LARGER SIZE. HAVE NO ACCESS TO THIS BULLETIN BUT QUESTIONED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO BROADCAST BULLETINS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THIS TYPE OF TIRE IS NOT EXPECTED TO WEAR NORMALLY BECAUSE OF ITS DESIGN. WHY THEN PUT IT ON THE VEHICLE? CONVERSATION WITH FORD WAS ON THE PHONE AND I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID BUT THIS IS PRETTY MUCH IT. IF THE DEALER IS SEEING THIS MANY VEHICLES EACH WEEK THERE MUST BE A HUGE PROBLEM SOMEWHERE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103902December 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ENGINE PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH OR GREATER THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100677November 28, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT
SLID OFF ROAD, DRIVERS TIRES BLEW OUT VEHICLE ROLLED TWICE. DRIVER NOR PASSENGER SEATBELT RESTRAINED UPPER BODY. DRIVER'S HEAD WEDGED UNDER STEERING WHEEL AND UPPER LEFT BACK SHOULDER AND ARM EXITED THE VEHICLE. ROOF CAVED IN ON DRIVER, RESULTING IN MULTIPLE BREAKS, FRACTURES AND PARTIAL PARALLIZATION. PASSENGERS LEGS HIT CHEST FROM LACK OF RESTRAINING SEATBELT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10100035November 16, 2004
SEAT BELTS
AT ABOUT 6000 MILES I NOTICED THE VEHICLE VIBRATING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IN TEMECULA AND THEY TOLD ME THE ROTORS ON THE FRONT BRAKES WERE OVERHEATING. I MENTIONED TO THEM THAT I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE ON THE MANY CARS I'VE OWNED OVER THE YEARS (AS I'M 54 YEARS OLD). THEY MACHINED THE ROTORS FOR FREE BUT TOLD ME IT WAS MY DRIVING. AT ABOUT 11,000 MILES I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SAME DEALER AND AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER HE MACHINED THE ROTORS FOR FREE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING AGAIN WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE TOLL FREE NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER THAT WORKED ON THE BRAKES AND HAVE THEM SEND THEM A REPORT. THE DEALER STILL CANNOT FIND ANYTHING A MATTER WITH THE BRAKES. PLEASE BELIEVE ME, I DO NOT TAILGATE ON THE FEEWAY AND DO NOT DRIVE LIKE AN 18 YEAR OLD. I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES BEFORE, OUTSIDE OF REPLACING PADS AND MACHINE THE ROTORS EVERY 35K MILES OR SO. AT THIS POINT I'M NOT SURE WHAT OPTIONS I HAVE. CAN YOU HELP? THANK YOU, DENNIS CULLEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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