2003 FORD RANGER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
310
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
13
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2003 FORD RANGER
The 2003 FORD RANGER has received a total of 310 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 13 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Vehicle Speed Control (31 complaints), Structurebody (25 complaints), and Suspension (21 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 FORD RANGER
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2003 FORD RANGER, potentially affecting up to 4,589,579 vehicles.
Recall 09V399000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 4,500,000 vehicles affected
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL...
View full details →Recall 09E025000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 42,540 vehicles affected
Defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
View full details →Recall 09E012000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 16,270 vehicles affected
Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
View full details →Recall 06E065000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 3,593 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
View full details →Recall 06E049000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 27,176 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 FORD RANGER
310 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 FORD RANGER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Ford knows about the problems with the dual clutch and they are refusing to fix them. I have been giving the run around om trying to get my car fixed. I am a disabled veteran and all I get is they can't help. I just found out about these cars have this problem and ford has know about his problem for years.. they need to fix this. They again to be held according selling bad products to the public.
Truck has no spare tire, totally missing the assembly and bracket originally used to hold the tire (have a junk one in the bed). The crossmember under the truck is about 50% intact is getting ready to fall off. Brake lines and rocker panals rotted out as well. Holes in the frame starting and a patch was already needed on the frame (drivers side rear). As well as a loose bed. The truck is very clean on top but underneath is rotting away like it has 200000 miles on it(truck is at 77,000). I want to remove the rust and coat it but im scared of punching through cause spots are brittle.
Truck has no spare tire, totally missing the assembly and bracket originally used to hold the tire (have a junk one in the bed). The crossmember under the truck is about 50% intact is getting ready to fall off. Brake lines and rocker panals rotted out as well. Holes in the frame starting and a patch was already needed on the frame (drivers side rear). As well as a loose bed. The truck is very clean on top but underneath is rotting away like it has 200000 miles on it(truck is at 77,000). I want to remove the rust and coat it but im scared of punching through cause spots are brittle.
Truck has no spare tire, totally missing the assembly and bracket originally used to hold the tire (have a junk one in the bed). The crossmember under the truck is about 50% intact is getting ready to fall off. Brake lines and rocker panals rotted out as well. Holes in the frame starting and a patch was already needed on the frame (drivers side rear). As well as a loose bed. The truck is very clean on top but underneath is rotting away like it has 200000 miles on it(truck is at 77,000). I want to remove the rust and coat it but im scared of punching through cause spots are brittle.
The frame of my truck has rotted through. The strap that holds the gas tank has nothing to connect to, i think the tank could fall to the ground under the right circumstances. The frame has a large whole in it and i fear it will break very soon. I had to remove the spare tire because i feared it would fall off the truck. I had to replace both connectors that held the leaf springs to the frame,and was told there wasn't much left to connect them to.
Safety Rating for the 2003 FORD RANGER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 FORD RANGER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 FORD RANGER
Ford Motor Company has issued 13 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 FORD RANGER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
042419 — SUSPENSION:FRONT
REVISED PROCEDURE FOR ADJUSTING ALIGNMENT ON ALL SUSPENSIONS - NEW RIGHT HAND UPPER CONTROL ARM DESIGN FOR TORSION BAR FRONT SUSPENSIONS. *TT
17718 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0171, P0172, P0174 OR P0175. *TT
0369 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) B1877 AND/OR B1881. *TT
17352 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0442 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED). *TT
17255 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HARD START/LONG CRANK WHEN COLD OR STUMBLES/SURGES DURING DRIVE-AWAY. POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171, AND P0174 OR P0172 AND P0175. *TT
17221 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SPARK KNOCK, DETONATION, OR PING CONDITION ON TIP-IN OR DURING STEADY STATE OPERATION AT OR NEAR WIDE OPEN THROTTLE. *TT
17025 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ENGINE ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT NOISE. *TT
0393 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
BUZZ/HOWL IN THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFT LEVER WHILE DRIVING, AND/OR SHIFT LEVER BOOT DETACHMENT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT RETENTION OF THE BOOT(S). *TT
0369 — SEAT BELTS
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1877 AND/OR B1881 INDICATING A HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER CIRCUIT. *TT *JB
0327 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) B1877 (DRIVER PRETENSIONER CIRCUIT RESISTANCE HIGH) AND/OR B1881 (PASSENGER PRETENSIONER CIRCUIT RESISTANCE HIGH), INDICATING A HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER CIRCUIT. *TT
Showing 10 of 13 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 FORD RANGER
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2003 FORD RANGER.
Other Model Years of the FORD RANGER
- 1998 FORD RANGER — 744 complaints
- 1999 FORD RANGER — 966 complaints
- 2000 FORD RANGER — 849 complaints
- 2001 FORD RANGER — 684 complaints
- 2002 FORD RANGER — 449 complaints
- 2003 FORD RANGER (current)
- 2004 FORD RANGER — 461 complaints
- 2005 FORD RANGER — 353 complaints
- 2006 FORD RANGER — 316 complaints
- 2007 FORD RANGER — 282 complaints
- 2008 FORD RANGER — 340 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints