2003 Ford Ranger Engine Problems

WHEN AT STOP LIGHT ENGINE RPMS GO UP HIGH WHERE IT IS HARD TO HOLD VEHICLE STILL WITH BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

11384261

Incident

Dec 18, 2020

Mileage

11,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING ON THE HEATER, SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE VENTS. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AUTONATION FORD MOBILE (901 EAST 1-65, SERVICE RD SOUTH, MOBILE, AL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11279969

Incident

Nov 11, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

ENGINE QUIT RUNNING,TOOK TO MECHANIC. SPARK PLUG OVERHEATED BLEW WIRE OFF. ENGINE HAD WATER IN OIL. ENGINE IS RUINED. WAS ON HIGHWAY.HAD TO USE WRECKER TO MECHANIC.ONLY 160,000 MILES ON HIGHWAY. THOUGHT RECALL ON FORD TRUCKS TO ENGINES GIVING AWAY PREMATURELY.

NHTSA ID

11171618

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

I PURCHASE THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW FROM GENE EVANS FORD IN AUGUST 2003. I STARTED COMPLAINING TO THEM A WEEK LATER THAT THE TRUCK RIDES AS THOUGH MY BUTT IS HITTING THE PAVEMENT ON A TRIP I TOOK. EVERYONE IGNORED MY CONCERN IN THE SERVICE AND SALES DEPARTMENT. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY NOTICE. I WAS SOLD A BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH A SEVERE BENT AXLE AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR THE TRUCK NOR GIVE ME ANOTHER ONE. THEY ALL PLAYED DUMB AND STUPID AS TO NEVER SEEING THE PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING. FORD STILL OWES ME RESTITUTION. DEALERSHIP SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DEFRAUD THE PUBLIC ON DAMAGE VEHICLES PAYING A FORTUNE FOR JUST TO KILL YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE. GENE EVANS KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE ONSET. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND MOST LIKELY IN THE FUTURE CONSIDERING THE REPAIRS THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT INTO THE TRUCK OUT OF MY POCKET. MY VEHICLE DOES EVERTHING IN ALL MOTION AND NO MOTION AT ALL. DANGEROUS THINGS HAPPENS INCLUDING, CUTTING OFF CONSTANTLY, LIGHTS ARE DIM ON THE OUTSIDE SO IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT,RAIN COMING IN THE REAR WINDOW, TRUCK STARTED SMOKING, FILLED THE RESERVOIR AND OVER FLOWED SPEWING THE ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE. IT SOUNDED LIKE FOOD WAS FRYING IN VERY HOT GREASE. THERE IS A STINKING ODOR, SMELLS LIKE VERY STRONG URINE . SICKENING FEELING COMES OVER ME AND ANYONE IN THE TRUCK.ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. THE PASSENGER WINDOW IS MOVING SLOW AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO STOP. TRUCKS JUMPS WHICH CAUSING ME TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN WHILE IDLING OR AT A STOP.

NHTSA ID

10954120

Incident

Aug 31, 2003

Mileage

7,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT OF THE ENGINE AND LEFT A LARGE HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED A SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT AND STATED THAT A REPAIR KIT WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA ID

10870658

Incident

May 23, 2016

Mileage

142,000 mi

CARQUEST WATER PUMP NEW 18420011 (T4188) COMPLETE FAILURE AFTER 100 MILES. A NEW WATER PUMP WAS INSTALLED ONTO A 2003 FORD RANGER V6 3.0 VIN-V TRUCK. HE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BETWEEN 25 - 60 MPH OFF AND ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK TOTALING ABOUT 100 MILES. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS (30-35 MPH) AND WITH SLIGHT ACCELERATION, THE BEARING HOUSING SHEARED OFF FROM THE WATER PUMP BODY LAUNCHING THE COOLING FAN/CLUTCH INTO THE RADIATOR. POWER STEERING FAILED (NO DRIVE BELT) AND THE COOLING SYSTEM DUMPED IT'S CONTENTS. THE BODY OF THE PUMP IS STILL INTACT TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE REST OF IT CAME OFF. UPON INSPECTION OF AN IDENTICAL PART FROM THE SAME STORE, THERE IS AN APPARENT CASTING COLOR DIFFERENCE ON THE PUMP. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A CASTING DEFECT PRESENT IN THE PUMP AND THE INSTALLED PUMP BROKE ALMOST PERFECTLY ALIGNED TO THE CASTING COLOR DIFFERENTIATION.

NHTSA ID

10851357

Incident

Mar 23, 2016

Mileage

277 mi

ENGINE STALLS AND WON'T RE-START DUE TO IMPROPER ACTIVATION OF THE PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (PATS) WHICH IS FAULTY. ENGINE SHUTS OFF, NO POWER ASSIST, LIGHTS REMAIN FUNCTIONAL, ANTI-THEFT DASHBOARD LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK. VEHICLE WILL RE-START ONLY AFTER REMOVING AND RE-INSTALLING THE #19 FUSE TO RE-SET THE SYSTEM. IT MAY REQUIRE SEVERAL RE-SETS OF THIRTY OR MORE SECONDS EACH, AFTER WHICH THE VEHICLE MAY RUN NORMALLY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE OR UP TO SEVERAL MONTHS OF NORMAL DRIVING. THERE ARE FOLKS WHO SHARED THEIR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES ON-LINE ALERTING ME TO THE RE-SET PROCEDURE. I AM TOLD THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER CONTROL MODULE, WHICH THE PATS IS PART OF, AND THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OTHERWISE DISABLE THE PATS ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714909

Incident

Feb 4, 2014

Mileage

53,670 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 244,000.

NHTSA ID

10633148

Incident

Sep 2, 2014

Mileage

244,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAK ANTI-FREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA ID

10560117

Incident

Jun 10, 2010

Mileage

142,000 mi

2003 FORD RANGER 4.0L 4WD AT. TWO OF THE SIX VALVE SEATS IN THE ENGINE DROPPED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE COMPRESSION AFTER LESS THAN 70K MILES. NOTICED LOSS OF POWER, TOOK IT IN AND HAD TO PAY OVER $2K IN REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VALVE SEATS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER WHILE MERGING TO FREEWAY SPEEDS THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RE-START. TOWED IT IN TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE HAD JUMPED TIMING AND BENT ALL SIX CRANK ARMS. AGAIN, REPAIRS WERE MADE. TOP END OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED INCLUDING THE CRANKS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN $70K MILES ON. I FEEL THE ORIGINAL REPAIR COSTS UPWARDS OF $2,000.00 SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AS IT WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE ISSUE AND BEEN REIMBURSED. ALSO A NEW ENGINE SHOULD BE INSTALLED OR VEHICLE TRADED AS THIS ENGINE IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. ALL THE MEANWHILE THE MAIN REASON FOR TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS THREE TIMES PRIOR WAS TO FIX THE HUGE THUMP AND DELAY ON ACCELERATION THAT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT! THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR 4WD TRUCKS AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. YET EVERY 4WD I'VE DRIVEN, EVEN ONES WITH OVER 100K MILES ON THEM, ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY WITH NO THUMPING OR DELAY IN ACCELERATION. NEARING THE EXPIRATION ON MY WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE, I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO PUSH THE ACTUAL REPAIRS OFF UNTIL THEN. THEY EVEN SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF THE THUMP WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE LOOSE. SO THEY "REPAIRED" THAT BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT AND THE ISSUE STILL REMAINS. THIS IS WHERE I STAND CURRENTLY AND AM TRYING TO GET THE TRUCK BACK IN THE SHOP, ONCE AGAIN, TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED SO THAT I DO NOT ACTUALLY GET IN AN ACCIDENT. AND TO ADD TO THAT, THERE IS ONCE AGAIN A LOSS IN POWER, SO WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE VALVE SEATS HAVE ONCE AGAIN DROPPED... *TR

NHTSA ID

10208753

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DECELERATING AT 10 MPH, ALL OF THE FLUID SPILLED OUT FROM THE CLUTCH CYLINDER OR EITHER A FAILED HOSE. THE CONTACT IS UNCERTAIN AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. HE IS CERTAIN, HOWEVER, THAT OIL WAS LEAKING BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNER'S RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,710.

NHTSA ID

10194776

Incident

Jun 27, 2007

Mileage

49,710 mi

TRUCK BUCKS/JERKS DURING DRIVE CYCLE WHEN IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, RPM ~2500. *JB

NHTSA ID

10182044

Incident

Feb 6, 2007

Mileage

63,400 mi

A FAILED ROLLER ROCKER DESTROYED A CAM AND LIFTER AFTER ONLY 66,000 MILES. 3,000 MILES PREVIOUS I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULDN'T HEAR THE NOISE. BY THE TIME THEY COULD HEAR IT, THE DAMAGE HAD MORE THAN TRIPLED. THE FAILURE WAS DEFINITELY CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE ROLLER ROCKER(THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION). *NM

NHTSA ID

10168695

Incident

Sep 5, 2006

Mileage

63,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HIS 2003 FORD RANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 9-30-05. THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE FIRE WAS VIEWED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE TRUCK WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD IN ILLINOIS. PICTURES WERE TAKEN OF THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE ITSELF. THE CONSUMER PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE FIRE. *AK (11/22/05) A POPPING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND IT BEGUN TO LOSE POWER. THE CONSUMER POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *SC

NHTSA ID

10138566

Incident

Sep 30, 2005

Mileage

18,300 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE 6 TIMES, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING THEN IT DIED, AND AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO TRADE THE VEHICLE WITH THE CONTACT. BUT THE MANUFACTURER WANTED THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE THEY WOULD AUTHORIZE THE TRANSACTION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10133876

Incident

Aug 21, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10104533

Incident

May 3, 2004

Mileage

21,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10103902

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

Mileage

175 mi

WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED, AUTOMATIC, ON ACCELERATION, THERE IS A CHATTERING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. HAPPENS WHETHER A/C IS ON OR NOT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093750

Incident

Sep 30, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

ENGINE IDLE DROPS LOW AND FEELS LIKE TRUCK SHAKES....HAVE HAD INTO FORD FOR IDLE CONTROL REPLACEMENT

NHTSA ID

10088411

Incident

Aug 23, 2004

Mileage

11,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE FAILED. *NM THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. FORD HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON THE 3.0 ENGINE, BUT THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE THIS PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE 4.0 ENGINE AS WELL. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10059318

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

Mileage

10,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10061088

Mileage

10 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10061121

Incident

Feb 12, 2003

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

NHTSA ID

10059607

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.

NHTSA ID

10070303

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

Mileage

11,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10048700

Incident

Nov 25, 2003