RoadVitals

2005 Ford Ranger Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
50
Latest Apr 18, 2020
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.
17%
of 289 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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 50 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 fuel system

The 25 most recent of 50, in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Apr 18, 2020

I WOULD BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHOLE VEHICLE WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN. THIS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES JUST GOING AT 25 TO 35 MPH. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS A CLOGGED FUEL LINE SINCE IT WOULD SOMEHOW RESET ITSELF AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC SO I REPLACED THE FILTER EVEN THOUGH I COULD SEE NOTHING WRONG. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON A BACKCOUNTRY ROAD THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE FUEL PUMP SO I HAD THE WHOLE THING REPLACED. IT HAPPENED ONE MORE TIME AFTER THAT, I WAS PULLING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD JUST GOTTEN UP TO SPEED 55 MPH AND THERE WAS A TRACTOR-TRAILER BEHIND ME WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN AGAIN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH MOMENT BUILT UP I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE GETTING HIT BY THE TRACTOR-TRAILER. I FINALLY LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED THE SAME PROBLEM IT MAY BE THE INERTIA SWITCH. I CALLED UP A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAD ASKED THE PARTS PERSON IF THE HAD A REPLACEMENT AND IF HE HEARD ANY PROBLEMS ABOUT IT. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT OF THEM, THEY HAD SOLD A FEW IN THE PAST MONTHS. WHEN I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD OH YES WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT HAPPENING BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. I EXPLAINED HOW IT COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT IT MUST NOT BE HAPPENING ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE A RECALL. I RECENTLY FOUND THIS SITE AND HAVE SEEN THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD THIS HAPPEN SO AT LEAST I KNOW I WASN'T CRAZY. *TR

NHTSA ID
11321490
Incident
Aug 15, 2014
Mileage
55,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Aug 6, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED WHEN GIVING VEHICLE FALL OPEN THROTTLE, THROTTLE PEDDLE STICKS AND THERE IS NO CONTROL OF SPEED. UPDATED 10/17/18*JB

NHTSA ID
11118155
Incident
May 6, 2018
Mileage
245,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 13, 2018
1 injury reported

ENGINE STALLED OSTENSIBLY FOR LACK OF FUEL. FIRST ENGINE STALL EPISODE OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS TURNING LEFTWARD INTO DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 2 MPH AND AT APPROX 5 DEGREE ANGLE OF INCLINATION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM WHERE IT CAME TO REST TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE DIAGNOSIS WAS FUEL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP (FORD OEM PART.) VEHICLE PERFORMED RELIABLY THEREAFTER FOR A PERIOD OF APPROX 39 MONTHS WITHOUT STALLING. SECOND EPISODE OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND RESTING ON FLAT DRIVEWAY SURFACE OVERNIGHT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING ENGINE CRANKED BUT WOULD NOT FIRE OR START. AGAIN TOWED TO DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE DIAGNOSIS WAS AGAIN FUEL PUMP FAILURE HOWEVER UPON ATTEMPT TO RESTART FOLLOWING PUMP REPLACEMENT, ENGINE WOULD NOT FIRE OR START. TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED FUEL INERTIA SWITCH REQUIRED RESET AFTER WHICH ENGINE STARTED, SYSTEM TESTED OK AND VEHICLE PERFORMED SEEMINGLY PROPERLY FOR NEXT 10 DAYS. MOST RECENT (3RD) STALLING EPISODE OCCURRED AT TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY UPON ACCELERATION FROM FULL STOP ON LEVEL SURFACE AND ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL DIRECTLY FORWARD WITH NO TURN OF THE WHEEL. FOLLOWING REMOVAL FROM ROADWAY, ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED UNTIL AFTER FUEL INERTIA SWITCH WAS RESET. VEHICLE THEN RAN UNDER ITS OWN POWER ADDITIONAL 2 MILES TO HOME WHERE IT REMAINS PENDING FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
11072722
Incident
Feb 12, 2018
Mileage
80,450 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE INERTIA SWITCH. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
11030537
Incident
Jun 29, 2017
Fuel system
Filed Sep 24, 2017

FORD RANGER 2005 4 CYLINDER FUEL CUTOFF SAFETY SWITCH CUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, FIRST TIME IN 2012 WHILE OUT OF STATE, TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, TRIED TO PULL OVER, BUT NOT MUCH OF A ROAD SHOULDER. I HAD IT TOWED 11 MILES TO AN UNFAMILIAR GARAGE THAT, REPLACED THE SWITCH FOR $360. IN 2015 SWITCH FAILED, TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THEY RESET THE SAFETY SWITCH AND CHARGED $70 DOLLARS. RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, FOUND OUT THE SWITCH IS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE AND CAN BE RESET. I CANNOT START MY VEHICLE MORE THAN THREE TIMES WITHOUT RESETTING THE SWITCH. THE FORD DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP FOR $850. I DOUBT THAT IS THE PROPER FIX. THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY AGGRAVATING AND QUITE DANGEROUS. I DON'T KNOW WHY FORD IS TURNING AWAY FROM THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. I LOVE MY TRUCK, I HATE THE INCONVENIENCE. THERE ARE OTHER MODELS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CUTOFF CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME, WHILE IN MOTION OR STANDING STILL.

NHTSA ID
11025217
Incident
Jun 4, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 10, 2016

THE GAS ACCIDENT CUT OFF SWITCH CUT OUT RANDOMLY DURING DRIVING ON A SMOOTH FLAT ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED AS WELL AS AROUND TOWN AT SLOWER SPEED. A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER COULD HAVE HAD A DEADLY. ACCIDENT. I RESET IT SEVERAL TIMES AND HAD TO REPLACE IT. FORD SHOULD HAVE HAD A RE-CALL ON THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE THE OLD SWITCH IF IT IS NEEDED.

NHTSA ID
10894818
Incident
Aug 2, 2016
Mileage
56,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 22, 2015

LEAKING GAS FROM FUEL PUMP FUEL PUMP HAS BIG CRACK IN PLASTIC WHERE FUEL LINE COMES OUT

NHTSA ID
10726715
Incident
Jun 22, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 5, 2014

FIRST TIME WE WERE SHOPPING, WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR IT WOULDN'T START. WE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP? WHEN IT HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME WE WERE DRIVING WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF,WE WERE ON A DIRT ROAD HAD NO POWER STEERING,NO POWER BRAKES ONLY GOING 20 MPH.THE SHOP TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE IN CASE OF A CRASH. I PURCHASED THE RANGER 5/30/13 FROM A FORD DEALER.OVER THE PAST YEAR THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED 8 TO 10 TIMES.WE ON A WENT TRIP LAST WEEKEND IT HAPPEN TWO TIMES ON I 84 IN IDAHO WE WERE GOING 75 MPH. I DID GET THE TRUCK OFF THE FREEWAY BUT WONDER WHAT IF WE WERE IN BOISE OR SALT LAKE WITH ALL OF THE TRAFFIC WHAT MITE HAVE HAPPEN.HAS THIS HAPPEN TO OTHER RANGERS ????? *TR

NHTSA ID
10596540
Incident
Jul 21, 2013
Mileage
128,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED O BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,400.

NHTSA ID
10574761
Incident
Feb 1, 2012
Mileage
26,400 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 29, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SWITCH THAT SENT FUEL TO THE ENGINE HAD A SHORT AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10532313
Incident
May 6, 2013
Mileage
58,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 6, 2013

AS A PASSENGER ENTERED MY TRUCK, THEIR FOOT HIT THE INERTIA SWITCH KILLING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 15 TIMES, 3 OF WHICH NO PASSENGER WAS EVEN IN THE TRUCK. THIS SWITCH IS PLACED IN A COMMONLY KICKED AREA AND ONCE TRIPPED THE FIRST TIME IT BECOMES EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO VIBRATION. ONE TIME IT CUT OFF WHILE I WAS IDLING IN LINE AT A DRIVE-THRU. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND RELOCATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10501901
Incident
Jul 18, 2012
Mileage
85,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 16, 2013

VEHICLE ENGINES SHUTS OFF WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN 20 TO 30 TIMES OVER THE LIFE IF THE VEHICLE. HAS HAD 4 INERTIA SWITCHES INSTALLED. FORD HAS CLAIMED " INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS ARE NOT OUR PROBLEM." MULTIPLE FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE ALSO SAID THAT IT DOESN'T "THROW A CODE" AND IS THEREFORE NOT IN NEED IF BEING FIXED JUST "A QUIRKY VEHICLE." I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THE ONLY WAY TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO BUY A NEW TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10493194
Incident
Apr 23, 2005
Mileage
50 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 27, 2012

MULTIPLE SHUT OFFS FROM THE INERTIA SWITCH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2+ YEARS AFTER DRIVING FOR 30-40 MINS TRUCK WILL JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING HAS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE, DRIVING AROUND TOWN OR SITTING AT STOP LIGHT. ENDED UP MELTING THE CONNECTION. HAVE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10486209
Incident
Jun 6, 2010
Mileage
87,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 14, 2012

WHILE TURNING A CORNER THE TRUCK JUST SHUT OFF AND DIED. HAD TO PUSH IT OVER TWO LANES AND INTO A PARKING LOT ONLY TO FIND OUT THE FUEL PUMP INERTIA SWITCH WAS POPPED. RESET IT AND THE TRUCK STARTED FOR A FEW MINUTES BUT WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE OFF IT DIED AGAIN. RECHECKED THE INERTIA SWITCH AND THIS TIME IT WAS NOT POPPED. PULLED THE CONNECTOR OFF OF THE SWITCH AND JUMPED THE CONNECTOR AND THE TRUCK RAN FINE ALL THE WAY HOME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS SWITCH HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO IT DID THE SAME THING BUT THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED A $400.00 FUEL PUMP ONLY TO FIND OUT LATER THAT THE FUEL PUMP INERTIA SWITCH HAD POPPED. THIS SWITCH SEEMS TO POP IN SOME ODD AND BAD LOCATIONS WITH NO APPARENT REASON. NO BUMPS IN THE ROAD, NO HARD BRAKING, OR HARD ACCELERATION ETC. THIS TIME WHEN I PULLED THE SWITCH I FOUND THE CONNECTOR SLIGHTLY MELTED AND REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION IN THE SWITCH ITSELF. HAD TO ORDER A SWITCH KIT WHICH RELOCATES IT INTO THE FUSE PANEL KICK PLATE OF THE TRUCK. FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS AS IT IS A GOOD WAY TO CAUSE AND ACCIDENT IF THE TRUCK WAS GOING HIGH SPEED AND ALL THE SUDDEN STALLS AND YOU LOOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ETC. COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED. THANKFULLY I CAUGHT MINE BECAUSE I AM A MECHANIC AND KNOW A LOT ABOUT FORDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10470688
Incident
Aug 10, 2012
Mileage
51,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 26, 2012

DRIVING ON I75 WHEN ENGINE STOPPED. I LOST ALL POWER. WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, TRUCK STARTED AND DROVE HOME WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEM. CONTINUED TO HAVE SAME PROBLEM, DIDN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED I WAS DRIVING OR IF I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AND IT WOULD STOP REPEATEDLY IN ONE WEEK OR GO FOR MONTHS WITHOUT A PROBLEM. TRUCK WOULD STOP AND WOULD EVENTUALLY RESTART WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES OR UP TO 30 MINUTES AFTER IT HAD STOPPED. I REPEATEDLY HAD TO COAST OR PUSH THIS TRUCK FROM THE ROADWAY WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING. IN EARLY 2011, THE TRUCK STOPPED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE THIRD TIME, IT STOPPED IN FRONT OF FRIENDLY FORD, MONROE, MI. THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO WEEKS BUT IT ONLY STOPPED RUNNING FOR THEM ONE TIME AND IT REPAIRED ITSELF BEFORE THEY COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. IN MAY OF 2012, IT BEGAN STOPPING MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY. IT STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART AND I HAD IT TOWED TO CREST FORD IN FLAT ROCK, MI. THEY DISCOVERED THE FUEL SHUTOFF INERTIA SWITCH HAD FAILED AND REPLACED IT AND THE PIG TAIL WIRING HARNESS. IT APPARENTLY HAD OVERHEATED FOR SOME TIME AND HAD MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SWITCH. I PAID $367.94 FOR THESE REPAIRS. AT THIS TIME THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 28,370 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK WAS USED VERY LITTLE AND WAS ALWAYS KEPT INSIDE MY GARAGE. THE DEALER TOLD ME TO CONTACT FORD FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT. FORD TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME BUT TO KEEP MY RECEIPT IN CASE OF A FUTURE RECALL. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS SWITCH IS DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP DURING A CRASH SO AS NOT TO FEED A FIRE. I GOOGLED FOR "FORD RANGER DEFECTIVE INERTIA SWITCH," AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHERE THEIR RANGER WOULD SUDDENLY STOP AND EVENTUALLY WOULD REQUIRE THE INERTIA SWITCH TO BE REPLACED AND IN SOME INSTANCES, IT WAS REPLACED AS MANY AS THREE TIMES DURING OWNERSHIP. *JB UPDATED 07/19/12

NHTSA ID
10463214
Incident
Dec 1, 2008
Mileage
13,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 14, 2011

DRIVING ON FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MINUTES AT 55-70MPH AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING. PULL OVER WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND ENGINE STARTS. DRIVE ANOTHER 30 TO 40 MINUTES AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. PULL OVER WAIT A FEW MINUTES - ENGINE STARTS. WENT TO PUT GAS IN TRUCK AND ENGINE WOULD NOT START. RESET FUEL INERTIA/SHUT DOWN SWITCH AND TRUCK STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10419376
Incident
Aug 14, 2011
Mileage
56,121 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 14, 2011

DRIVING ON FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MINUTES AT 55-70 MPH AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING. PULL OVER WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND ENGINE STARTS. DRIVE ANOTHER 30-40 MINUTES AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. PULL OVER WAIT A FEW MINUTES ENGINE STARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10419370
Incident
Aug 14, 2011
Mileage
56,121 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 3, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD RANGER EDGE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STALLING WAS CAUSED BY THE RESET BUTTON BECOMING TOO HOT AND STOPPING THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE SECOND FUEL PUMP BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID
10404321
Incident
Feb 11, 2011
Mileage
77,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 14, 2011
Fire reported

THE FUEL INERTIA SWITCH WOULD MALFUNCTION FOR NO REASON. THE CAR WOULD JUST DIE, LOSING ALL POWER (MANY TIMES HAPPENING AT 65 MPH ON FREEWAY). IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 15 DIFFERENT TIMES. THE "RESET" BUTTON WOULD HAVE TO BE USED TO GET VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN. EVENTUALLY, THE COMPONENT "MELTED," AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP NOT TO LET THE FUEL LEVEL GET LOWER THAN 1/4 TANK, TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE, WHICH FORD IS AWARE OF< BUT DOES NOTHING! *TR

NHTSA ID
10390078
Incident
Dec 14, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 13, 2011

TWO TIMES IN 2 DAYS I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED/SHUTOFF. FORTUNATELY BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC. IT FELT LIKE MY PEDAL WENT DEAD, I LOST MY POWER STEERING AS WELL. SINCE I WAS ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET THROUGH MY PHONE I WAS ABLE TO SEARCH "FORD RANGER SUDDENLY DIES WHILE DRIVING." AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF RESULTS INDICATED TO RESET MY INERTIA FUEL SHUTOFF SWITCH. I FOUND IT, RESET IT AND THE TRUCK STARTED AGAIN. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I RESEARCHED FORD RANGER RECALLS, ONLY TO FIND THIS WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. I FEEL VERY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DRIVING MY TRUCK, NOT KNOWING WHY IT SUDDENLY DECIDES TO TRIP THE FUEL SHUTOFF SWITCH. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
10383518
Incident
Feb 12, 2011
Mileage
52,800 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 2, 2011
Fire reported

FUEL INERTIA SWITCH MALFUNCTION, SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE INERTIA SWITCH WOULD TRIGGER AND SHUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE TRUCK, THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 25TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW, THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS SITTING STILL IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND IT JUST SHUT OFF. I REACHED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD TO RESET IT AND COULD FEEL THE HEAT FROM THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. I QUICKLY SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE DIED OUT. THE SAFETY SWITCH IS TOTALLY FRIED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10379966
Incident
Feb 1, 2011
Mileage
54,672 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 7, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CUTOFF SWITCH CONTINUOUSLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESET THE SWITCH AND RESUME DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID
10369496
Incident
Oct 21, 2010
Mileage
138,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 18, 2010

THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND YOU LOSE TOTAL CONTROL. POWER STEERING GONE. ENGINE GONE. IT WILL HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. THE REASON IT IS SO DANGEROUS IS BECAUSE I HAVE HAD IT SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH NEVER TO HAVE GOTTEN HIT BUT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. 1. THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST STALL LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. 2. WHEN THE PART WAS GOING BAD IT WOULD OCCUR EVERY DAY. WHEN THE PART WAS TOTALLY MALFUNCTIONING IT WOULD NOT EVEN START. 3. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART VIA THE WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME I REPLACED IT MYSELF. IT LASTS ABOUT A YEAR THEN IT GOES BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10356230
Incident
May 1, 2010
Mileage
5,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 15, 2010

I WAS DRIVING 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY (WHICH WAS SMOOTH) AND MY INERTIA SWITCH WENT OUT. THIS SHUT OFF MY POWER STEERING, MY POWER BRAKES AND I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI TRUCK BECAUSE OF THIS. IT HAPPENED 10 TIMES TODAY, USUALLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND FORD HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE SAME THING HAPPENED (ON THE FREEWAY), AND ONCE AGAIN ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THEY HAVE ALREADY TRIED FIXING THIS BEFORE AND IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING AND BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT, AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. I HAVE A 2005 FORD RANGER. THANK YOU FOR READING MY PROBLEM, I AM VERY DISTURBED BY THIS AND HOPE FORD WILL FIX THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10349390
Incident
Aug 14, 2010
Mileage
48,199 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 4, 2010

MY FORD RANGER (2005) LOST POWER GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY. AFTER MUCH INVESTIGATION, TIME, SAFETY ISSUES (QUITTING AT 55 + MPH) AND MONEY IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE INERTIA SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10341382
Incident
May 1, 2010
Mileage
62,000 mi

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .