NHTSA Complaint #11072722 — 2005 FORD RANGER

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.