NHTSA Complaint #10546850 — 2003 FORD RANGER

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