Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Nov 2, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 243 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming seat belt
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsSeat beltsSteering
Filed Nov 2, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS RECENTLY AN ACCIDENT DURING WHICH 3 THINGS OCCURRED THAT CONTRIBUTED TO MY INJURIES. THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING OUT OF THE WAY. THE 2ND & 3RD THINGS OCCURRED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS IN FREE FALL. FIRST OF ALL THE SEATBELT FAILED TO RESTRAINED MY BODY DURING THE ACCIDENT SENDING ME STRAIGHT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL DURING WHICH TIME THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SO THERE WAS NOTHING TO BRAKE MY IMPACT TO SAID STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THE THIS TOOK PLACE ON A FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS I WAS LUCKY THAT MY INJURIES WERE NOT WORSE THEN THEY ARE AND IN TIME THEY WILL HEAL. I WAS LUCKY, BUT THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT BE SO, YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER THOROUGHLY BECAUSE THE NEXT PERSON MAY DIE AS A RESULT OF THESE SAFETY FAILURES, AND THAT IS SOMETHING NONE US WANT.
NHTSA ID
11042267
Incident
Oct 23, 2017
Mileage
155,680 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 5, 2016
THIS IS MY SECOND RANGER. THE FIRST(1998) I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN,THE SEAT BELT NEVER EMPLOYED, I RECEIVED CONCUSSION, I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME WITH THIS 2003 RANGER, SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY TIGHT, OR EMPLOY WHEN JERKED ON.STATIONARY.
NHTSA ID
10893393
Incident
Feb 15, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistanceSeat belts
Filed Aug 5, 2016
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
AirbagsBody & structureSeat belts
Filed Mar 8, 2010
Crash reported3 injuries reported
2003 FORD RANGER PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL 2 OR 3 SEC. AFTER THE ACCIDENT TRUCK HIT TREE ABOUT 40 MPH DRIVERS AIR BAG WENT OFF PASSENGERS DID NOT GO OFF PASSENGER BROKE BACK REAR BED OF TRUCK CAME INTO TRUCK LEAVING A ARROW SHAPE PEACE OF STEAL APPROX 4" LONG INSIDE OF TRUCK CAB WARE A 4 TO 5 FOOT TALL PERSON WOULD HAVE IT PERCHED INTO HEAD BECAUSE OF BEING BELTED INTO SEAT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10317757
Incident
Dec 22, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 11, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2008. SHE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH INTO THE LATCH MECHANISM. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER WERE CONTACTED TO DATE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON HER SPECIFIC VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 108,000. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF UPDATED 02/19/10
NHTSA ID
10298970
Incident
Jan 8, 2010
Mileage
108,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Dec 17, 2007
Crash reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH DOWNHILL IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DURING THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ONCE AND LANDED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT PRIOR TO THE CRASH; HOWEVER, HE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS UNFASTENED AS HE ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH. HE HAS NOT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,700. UPDATED 02-07-08. *KB
NHTSA ID
10212139
Incident
Dec 15, 2007
Mileage
40,700 mi
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Nov 28, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported
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
NHTSA ID
10100677
Incident
Jan 31, 2004
Mileage
11,155 mi
Seat belts
Filed Nov 16, 2004
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
NHTSA ID
10100035
Incident
Oct 24, 2004
Mileage
6,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 23, 2003
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
NHTSA ID
10003846
Seat belts
Filed Dec 10, 2002
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
NHTSA ID
8024126
Incident
Nov 10, 2002
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own