2003 Ford Ranger Fuel system 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

EVERY SO OFTEN WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATE ONE TIME I ALMOST BACKED INTO SOMEBODY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO THEIR FORD RANGER 2003

NHTSA ID

11098273

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

14,600 mi

I WAS BACKING DOWN A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE TRUCK ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE. I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A TREE TOTALING MY 2003 FORD RANGER XLT.

NHTSA ID

10818778

Incident

Dec 30, 2015

Mileage

112,000 mi

THE POCKET ON THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RUSTED OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION.

NHTSA ID

10746639

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

Mileage

112,132 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

THE TRUCK STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ACTED AS IF IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT HAD HALF A TANK OF FUEL. CALLED TOW TRUCK. LUCKILY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SHOW ME THE INERTIA SWITCH, AND HOW TO RESET IT. WAS CHARGED 50 DOLLARS FOR THIS, DID NOT HAVE TO TOW VEHICLE. SINCE THEN IT HAS TRIPPED MANY TIMES WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER, IT'S PLACEMENT IS SUCH THAT A PASSENGER'S FEET WILL TRIP IT VERY EASILY. IT NOW ALSO TRIPS FOR NO REASON, NO PASSENGER, NO BUMPING IT ETC. IT HAS TRIPPED WHILE DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE OF FREEWAY, NO PASSENGER IN VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. I HAD TO PULL TO LEFT SIDE OF FREEWAY, WITH NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING ETC. EXIT VEHICLE, GO TO PASSENGER SIDE OPEN DOOR AND RESET SWITCH. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS "SAFETY FEATURE" CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, NOT TO MENTION THE MULTITUDE OF REPORTS I HAVE READ OF PEOPLE HAVING VEHICLES TOWED AND REPLACING FUEL PUMPS WHEN THE ISSUE WAS ACTUALLY THIS SWITCH. I WAS LUCKY TO GET A TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT WAS AWARE OF THE BAD DESIGN, AND IT ONLY COST ME THE 50 DOLLAR MINIMUM FEE FOR HIM SHOWING UP. I CALLED FORD, AND THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. THEY DENIED EVEN KNOWING THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THIS PART. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546850

Incident

Oct 17, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

DIFFICULTY IN FILLING GASOLINE IN 2003 FORD RANGER. IT SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT MANY RANGER OWNERS EXPERIENCE. NOT ONLY IS IT A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT SPLASH-BACK OF GASOLINE WHEN FILLING, BUT IT'S ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD WITH ALL THE SPILLED GASOLINE ON THE GROUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354565

Incident

Aug 27, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE STATIONARY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A SMELL OF GASOLINE ENTERED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FOLLOWED A FEW SECONDS LATER BY A MUFFLED EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED FORWARD OF THE TRUCK BED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342830

Incident

Jul 12, 2010

Mileage

140,000 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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO FILL WITH FUEL. ONCE THE TANK WAS FILLED, GASOLINE WOULD SPILL BACK OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT INSTALLED A NEW FUEL FILTER IN THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2008. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 6/15/09 *CN UPDATED 06/16/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10270097

Incident

May 13, 2009

Mileage

50,000 mi

FAILURE OCCURS ON A 2003 RANGER EDGE 4WD 4.0L EXTENDED CAB, IN THIS CASE, AS WELL AS IN MANY OTHER MODEL YEARS AND STYLES OF THE FORD RANGER PICKUP. FORD DESIGN FLAW IN PLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP CUTOFF SWITCH (INERTIA SWITCH) IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHERE IT CAN BE EASILY KICKED (TRIGGERED) BY PASSENGER. DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT: 1. ENGINE TURNED OFF AT SUPERMARKET, VEHICLE PARKED ON A COLD JANUARY NIGHT. PASSENGER INADVERTENTLY TRIPS FUEL PUMP CUTOFF SWITCH WITH FOOT WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE. PARTIES RETURN TO A VEHICLE THAT WILL CRANK BUT WILL NOT START. UNAWARE OF FORD'S DESIGN FLAW, PARTIES WALK HOME IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES BURDENED WITH VALUABLES AND GROCERIES. INTERNET RESEARCH ON WIKI ANSWERS SITE REVEALS TRIPPED FUEL CUTOFF SWITCH AS COMMON PROBLEM AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW THAT PLACES SAID SWITCH WITHIN EASY KICKING DISTANCE OF PASSENGER'S FEET. OWNER RETURNS TO TRUCK NEXT DAY, RE-SETS THE SWITCH AND VEHICLE STARTS NORMALLY. 2. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHENEVER PASSENGER RAISES THEIR RIGHT FOOT, INADVERTENTLY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE SWITCH. 3. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY RE-SETTING THE SWITCH, BUT DESIGN FLAW PERSISTS. THIS DESIGN FLAW COULD BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IF SWITCH WAS KICKED (TRIGGERED) AT SPEED ON CROWDED FREEWAYS OR IN REMOTE LOCATIONS. THIS IMPROPER PLACEMENT MAY BE PURPOSEFUL TO KEEP FORD REPAIR TECH'S BUSY, AS THIS DESIGN FLAW IS FOUND IN MANY MODEL YEARS AND STYLES OF THE RANGER PICKUP. VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED TO HAVE SWITCH RE-MOUNTED UP A MINIMUM OF 4 INCHES, OR REROUTED AND PLACED UP UNDER THE DASH SO INADVERTENT TRIGGERING COULD NOT OCCUR BY PASSENGER SHIFTING FEET OR EXITING VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254649

Incident

Jan 11, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE INERTIA SWITCH LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD ENGAGES AT THE SLIGHTED BUMP. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND CONTINUE TO GET FALSE INFORMATION FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP ABOUT AVENUES OF RECOURSE OR RECTIFICATION. ITS A FAULTY DESIGN FOR THE INERTIA SWITCH TO BE LOCATED NEAR POSSIBLE CONTACT WITH A PASSENGER. LEGAL RECOURSE WILL BE PURSUED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247551

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

Mileage

4,000 mi

WAS DRIVING ON STATE HWY.20 @ 615PM, WHEN I NOTICED NO POWER WHEN I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR, RPM SHOT TO 4000, THEN DROPPED DOWN WITH NO POWER,CARS BEHIND ME WERE FLASHING THERE LIGHTS, ARMS WAVING OUT THERE WINDOWS WHEN THE CAR CAME TO MY SIDE THEY WERE FRANTICALLY YELLING THAT I WAS ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF HWY. AND FLAMES WERE ROLLING INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK, IT WAS IN 2 WAVES THEN I WAS ABLE TO OPEN MY DOOR AND EXIT THE TRUCK.NOW FLAMES WERE ROLLING OUT OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL, LUCKILY I HAD A FIRE EXTINGWISHER IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK WHICH I EXTINGWISHED IN THE WHEEL WHELL AND AS FAR BACK AS I COULD REACH,THIS PUT OUT THE FIRE,BUT NOT WITHOUT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERNEATH OF TRUCK INCLUDING THE GAS TANK WHERE GRASS VALLEY FORD DETERMINED THE FIRE ORINGINATED.AS THE HOT SPOT IS VERY DISTINGUISHING.FORD MOTOR CO IN DEARBORN MI.SENT ME A LETTER SAYING THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS FAILER,AND WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION TO CONTACT ANYONE THAT CAN HELP RESOLVE THIS MATTER.A 4 YEAR OLD TRUCK THAT HAS NO MODIFICATIONS,AND HAS BEEN WWELL TAKEN CARE OF SHOULD NOT BURST INTO FLAMES,ENDANGERING LIVES.THEY ARE AT THIS POINT OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.I CAN PROVIDE ESTIMATES FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH PARTS LIST INCLUDED AS WELL AS THEM DETERMING THAT IT WAS A FIRE ORIGINATING AT THE GAS TANK..THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THIS FAILER, NEVER A GAS SMELL JUST INSTANTLY INTO FLAMES..THANKS FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER..

NHTSA ID

10206278

Incident

Oct 5, 2007

Mileage

56,186 mi

TWO THINGS ON MY 2003 FORD RANGER SUPERCAB 2 WD : 1.) FRONT BRAKES ARE BAD, AND CONTINUE TO BE BAD, DUE TO BAD DESIGN OF FRONT ROTORS. THE ORIGINAL OEM ROTORS FAIL, DUE TO WARPING, RESULTING IN A MOST THE AGGRAVATING PULSING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS RESULTS IN INADEQUATE STOPPING WHEN NEEDED, AND COULD CAUSE A VERY SEVERE ACCIDENT !!! 2.) THE FUEL CUTOFF SAFETY SWITCH ( WHATEVER IT IS CALLED) ABOVE THE FRONT PASSENGER LEG AREA (ON WALL -INSIDE CAB) IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO THE OCCUPANTS, DUE TO VEHICLE LOSING ALL POWER DURING OPERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NOW 10+ TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. SOMETIMES WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WITH NO WHERE TO GO WHEN ALL POWER IS LOST, GAUGES GO WACKY,LOSE STEERING CONTROL, ETC. AS SOON AS THE SWITCH IS "RESET", BY PUSHING IN ON IT FROM THE TOP OF IT, AND TURNING VEHICLE KEY TO ON POSITION FOR 3-5 SECONDS, THEN BACK OFF ( PER OWNER'S MANUAL) THE VEHICLE SEEMS FINE,,,UNTIL, RANDOMLY IT HAPPENS AGAIN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. THE MANUAL SAYS THIS SWITCH IS FOR "SAFETY" CONCERNS , WHEN AFTER AN ACCIDENT, IT SHUTS OFF FUEL SUPPLY, ETC....BUT MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT WHATSOEVER, AND THIS DEVICE IS NOW BECOMING A GREAT POTENTIAL ACCIDENT PRODUCER IN ITSELF !!!!! THE "INCIDENT DATE" IS MULTIPLE DATES !!!!! AND THEY ARE STILL CONTINUING AS OF TODAY 8 MARCH 2008 * I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THE OEM BRAKES ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE, BUT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AGAIN,,,AND AGAIN,,,AND AGAIN...WHICH IS JUST NOT RIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184511

Incident

Jul 15, 2006

Mileage

56,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD RANGER REGULAR CAB 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. ON 5 OCCASIONS THE EMERGENCY FUEL SHUTOFF SWITCH LOCATED INSIDE THE CAB ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FIRE WALL HAS BEEN DISLODGE BY THE PASSENGER GETTING THERE FOOT ON THE CONNECTOR AND DISCONNECTING THE POWER PLUG FROM THE SWITCH THIS CAUSES THE TRUCK TO STALL IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR APPROX 90 DAYS. IF THIS HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME THIS COULD GET SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10130122

Incident

Jul 26, 2005

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE 2003 FORD RANGER DEVELOPED A GAS LEAK OFF THE FUEL PUMP AFTER FURTHER SEARCH FOPUND THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING DUE TO A FUEL LINE BREAK AND THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP THE PLASTIC TOP WAS CRACKED AND BROKEN. VEN #IFTYR14V23PA70793/36077MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091052

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

Mileage

36,077 mi

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 WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE FUEL GAUGE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043145

Incident

Sep 11, 2003

Mileage

5,621 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10029235

Incident

Jul 23, 2003

Mileage

272 mi