2003 Ford Ranger Driver assistance Problems

CRUSE-CONTROL IS VERY FLIMSY,SOME TIMES IT WILL NOT WORK,,, HAVE TO HOLD IT FROM BACK SIDE WHEN TRYING TO START CONTROL.IN MOTION, ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10893384

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

VEHICLE ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. SO FAR ONLY HAS HAPPENED AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE. I'VE SEEN A JUMP OF 1,000 RPM'S WHEN IT OCCURS, BUT IF YOUR PRESSING HARD ENOUGH ON THE BRAKES YOU CAN CONTROL THE ACCELERATION

NHTSA ID

10887598

Incident

Jul 21, 2016

Mileage

160,057 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10855694

Incident

Apr 14, 2016

2003 FORD RANGER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UPON ATTEMPTING TO PARK. I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT WHILE APPLY THE BRAKES WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED A SNOW BANK AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. INDEPENDENT WITNESS REPORTED THE VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF, REAR WHEELS RAPIDLY STARTED TURNING. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. WHO DID NOT SEEM TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND HAD NO INTEREST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10681203

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

96,000 mi

BOUGHT THE 2003 RANGER NEW IN JAN 2004. LAST WEEK, AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT RED LIGHT, IT SUDDENLY BEGAN REVVING UP DRASTICALLY ( 3000 + RPM'S). BRAKE HARDER TO KEEP IT FROM RAMMING CAR IN FRONT. PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF WITH KEY. RE-STARTED AND IT RAN NORMALLY. IT HAS DONE THIS TWICE MORE SINCE THEN, ONCE WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPOT. BOTH TIMES IT RAN NORMALLY AFTER THE INCIDENT. NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. CHECKED MATS AROUND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ALL CLEAR. THERE ARE 66,720 MILES ON ODOMETER, NO MAJOR PROBLEMS 'TILL NOW. ??? *TR

NHTSA ID

10650517

Incident

Oct 22, 2014

Mileage

66,720 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4,000, CAUSED THE TIRES TO SMOKE, AND THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL LINKAGE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. ...UPDATED 11-12-13 *BF

NHTSA ID

10543237

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

59,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE ENGINE PMS INCREASED ABNORMALLY TO 3000. THE CONTACT HELD THE BRAKE DOWN WITH EXTREME FORCE AS THE TIRES BEGAN TO SPIN AND MAKE A SCREECHING NOISE.THE VEHICLE WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FAILURE BY ABRUPTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES AND POWERING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER TEN YEARS OLD, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 218,000.

NHTSA ID

10481993

Incident

Oct 21, 2012

Mileage

218,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASH INTO A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILE AND INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED TO WRITE A LETTER AND MAIL IT INTO FORD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10473086

Incident

Aug 25, 2012

Mileage

72,000 mi

VEHICLE WITH CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM (NOT ENGAGING) SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVER WAS ACCELERATING FROM STOPLIGHT. REACHED APPROX. 45 MPH UNDER FORCED ACCELERATION BEFORE WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO SIDE ROAD, STAND ON BRAKE, SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, TURN OFF ENGINE. RESTART ENGINE STILL HAD ENGINE RACING. SECOND RESTART DITTO. TAPPED ACCELERATOR, ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL RPM. WHEW! WAS IN PROCESS OF PURCHASING VEHICLE, DEALERSHIP (NOT FORD) REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE, CRUISE NOW WORKING, NO REPEAT OF PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451411

Incident

Feb 15, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH WARNING. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO REGISTER THIS PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS NOT CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400770

Incident

May 13, 2003

Mileage

100,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 FORD RANGER I BOUGHT NEW. ON NOVEMBER 26 2010 I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT @ WORK AND MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS FELL TO THE FLOOR CAUSING A MINOR CRASH. THE PIVOT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEEL PEDALS IS MADE FROM CAST ALUMINUM. I HAVE BEEN A ALUMINUM WELDER FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND IN MY OPINION THIS BRACKET IS VERY SUBSTANDARD. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON RANGERS AND OTHER TRUCKS AND FORD CARS. IF I WAS ON THE ROAD THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I SENT PICTURES AND A PIECE OF THE BRACKET TO A RECALL INVESTIGATOR. HE SAID ITS NOT A COMMON FAILURE SINCE HE CANT FIND ANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371998

Incident

Nov 26, 2010

Mileage

232,000 mi

WHEN I ACCELERATE QUICKLY WITH MY 2003 FORD RANGER, THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT RETURN TO NORMAL UNTIL I TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND PUT IT IN PARK. AFTER A MINUTE WHEN I START IT UP EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. BAD COMPUTER?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10371235

Incident

Nov 18, 2010

Mileage

118,256 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE CABLE FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED BY TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY THE DRIVER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 03/03/11

NHTSA ID

10370782

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

AS I SLOWLY PULLED MY 2003 FORD RANGER INTO A PARKING SPACE AT WORK THIS MORNING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE TRUCK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I APPLIED THE BRAKE HARDER AND THE TRUCK STOPPED. I VERIFIED THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR, ONLY ON THE BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359971

Incident

Oct 11, 2010

Mileage

96,500 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD RANGER, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SURGES. FORWARD; I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK & SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I RESTART. IT RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ON ONCE IN A WHILE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347950

Incident

Aug 5, 2010

Mileage

56,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED MY 2003 FORD RANGER XLT SINCE IT WAS NEW, AND HAVE HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I HAVE HAD 4 INCIDENTS SINCE MARCH 2010 WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS BRAKING TO STOP, WITH 3 OF THOSE INCIDENTS WITHIN THE PAST WEEK. THE FIRST INCIDENT CAUSED MY TRUCK TO PUSH THRU A GATE, DAMAGING THE GATE AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN THIS CASE, THE ENGINE DID FINALLY DROP TO AN IDLE. I THOUGHT THE BEHAVIOR MUST BE A FLUKE, SO DIDN'T REPORT THE INCIDENT. THE 2ND THRU 4TH INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED ON A LIMITED ACCESS ROAD IN OMAHA (DODGE STREET) AT STOP SIGNS AND AT A GAS STATION OUTSIDE OMAHA, AND AS I WAS NEARING A STOP THE ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING AND PULLING THE VEHICLE FORWARD. MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES ALLOWED ME TO STAY STATIONARY SO NO VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS WERE HIT, BUT CAUSED MY REAR WHEELS TO BURN RUBBER. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE MOST DANGEROUS INCIDENT WAS WHEN THIS OCCURRED AT A GAS STATION, WHEN I WAS PULLING SLOWLY TO A GAS PUMP BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE STRONG ACCELERATION BEGAN. WHILE THE TRUCK HAS CRUISE CONTROL, IT WAS NOT ENGAGED IN ANY OF THESE 4 INCIDENTS. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE LAST WEEK, AND THE LAST TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER THE DEALER CHARGED ME ABOUT $880 TO FIX THE ISSUE (REPLACED THROTTLE VALVE ASSY, GASKET, POTENTIOMETER ENGINE THROTTLE, PROCHARGER FUEL INJECTION SERVICE). THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THERE ARE NO SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH FORD VEHICLES, BUT THERE ARE REPORTS OF ISSUES ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331036

Incident

May 17, 2010

Mileage

133,000 mi

THE FIRST TIME THE CAR ENGINE STARTED RACING UNCONTROLLABLY I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. THE SECOND TIME, THE SAME DAY 3/10/2010 I TURNED A CORNER AND WE TOOK OFF AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. BOTH TIMES I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND "GOOSED" THE GAS PEDAL AND THE ENGINE SETTLED DOWN TO A NORMAL SPEED. 2003 FORD RANGER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319619

Incident

Mar 10, 2010

Mileage

109,500 mi

BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL TOOOO CLOSE TOGETHER! DISTANCE OF 2 & 1/4 " CAUSES CONTACT WITH ACCELERATOR WHEN BRAKE IS BEING APPLIED NUMEROUS INCIDENTS SINCE PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 03.. I WEAR A SIZE 9 &1/2 TO A 10 & 1/2 SIZE SHOE. EVEN THOUGH I AM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, I FIND THAT IT KEEPS HAPPENING REPEATEDLY; BUT I ONLY BUMPED A CURB ONCE WITH MY TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318152

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

250 mi

2003 FORD RANGER SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ENGINE SPEED REACHED ABOUT 4,000 RPM. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE I CHECKED TO SEE IF MY FLOOR MAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, I REMOVED IT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY PEDALS. THE ENGINE STARTED AND REVVED UP TO 4.000 RPM AGAIN. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME MY RANGER DID THIS. I TOOK IT TO RIVER VIEW FORD IN OSWEGO, THEY CHECKED IT AND SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I NEARLY COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I TOOK IT BACK TO FORD FOR THE SAME REASON, AND THEY TOLD ME THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER, AT 4,000 RPM. (I DON'T THINK SO) THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AS THE DEALER CHECKED. WHAT CAN I DO? *JB

NHTSA ID

10306093

Incident

Feb 4, 2010

Mileage

51,000 mi

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HIS 2003 FORD RANGER FX4 5-SPEED GAVE A SMALL LURCH AND A "STUTTER". SINCE HE WAS RIGHT THERE AT HIS DESTINATION, HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THINKING THAT IT WAS JUST A GLITCH (LIKE HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE CLUTCH, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES), HE WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO GET OUR SON AND TAKE HIM HOME. HE WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. AS HE WAS CARRYING OUR SON OUT TO THE TRUCK, HE SAW THAT THERE WAS SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OF COURSE, EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED. THE FIRE REACHED THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND BEGAN SPREADING ALONG THE GROUND. AFTER PUTTING THE FIRE OUT, THE FIRE MARSHALL INDICATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE STARTED TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE TRUCK, OF COURSE, WILL BE A TOTAL LOSS. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG (WHICH WAS DISARMED AS OUR INFANT SON RODE ON THAT SIDE) HAD DEPLOYED, THE WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED, AS HAD THE TWO FRONT TIRES. AS FOR THE HOOD, THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10198349

Incident

Aug 2, 2007

Mileage

47,600 mi

CONSUMER REQUESTING INFORMATION ON 2003 RANGER DEFECTS. *TS A FRIEND OF THE CONSUMER'S DOWNLOADED COMPLAINTS THAT WERE SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED WITH HIS VEHICLE. *NM WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE SPED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH BEFORE THE CONSUMER COULD GET IT TO STOP. THREE MONTHS LATER WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND STRUCK SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO FOUR PEOPLE. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PROVE THAT THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT THEREFORE HE WAS SENTENCED TO 70 MONTHS IN JAIL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154102

Incident

Apr 1, 2004

Mileage

6,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 2003 RANGER SUDDENLY GOING AT FULL SPEED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE NOTHING WAS FIXED. COMPLAINANT WRITING ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144242

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE FAILED IN OPEN POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IDLE AT 4000 RPM. DRIVING ABILITY WAS SEVERELY IMPAIRED AT THIS HIGH IDLE. SPEED CONTROL WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE WAS DIFFICULT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135679

Incident

Sep 4, 2005

Mileage

9,815 mi

CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2003 FORD RANGER 4X4 APPEARED TO DISENGAGE WHEN I SHIFTED THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL. WHEN MY VEHICLE SLOWED, I SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE ENGINE RACED TO REDLINE(REV LIMITER) AS THE CRUISE WAS TRYING TO IMMEDIATELY INCREASE THE SPEED WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE FULLY. I SHIFTED BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN I NOTICED THAT I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I CUT CRUISE CONTROL OFF, THEN SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE AND EVERYTHING WORKED CORRECTLY. IF CRUISE CONTROL IS SUPPOSED TO DISENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, IT REALLY SHOULD DISENGAGE NOT RACE TO REDLINE WHEN SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AFFECT WOULD BE IF AN ENGINE AT 6000 RPMS SUDDENLY ENGAGES THE TRANSMISSION AT 65 MPH. I'D RATHER HAVE THE ENGINE RACE WHEN I FIRST PUT THE SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL THAN WHEN I SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE! *NM

NHTSA ID

10133387

Incident

Aug 15, 2005

Mileage

31,200 mi

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT DRIVERS. HAVE HAD THE TRUCK LOOKED AT BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS.

NHTSA ID

10127746

Incident

Jul 7, 2005

Mileage

9,300 mi