2003 FORD RANGER Electrical System Problems

Airbag warning light always on.

BODY, FRAME AND SUSPENSION HAVE ALL BEEN RUSTED OUT. BUMPER RECENTLY JUST FELL OFF DUE TO RUST (WHILE PARKED). DOORS WON'T SHUT COMPLETELY DUE TO RUST, WHICH HAS LED TO THE INTERIOR LIGHT REMAINING ON OR PERIODICALLY TURNING ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY/NIGHT AND KILLING THE BATTERY. ENTIRE TRUCK IS ONE BIG PILE OF RUST ON WHEELS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TURNING ON THE HEATER, SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE VENTS. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AUTONATION FORD MOBILE (901 EAST 1-65, SERVICE RD SOUTH, MOBILE, AL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WITH NO WARNING. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN LESS THAN A MILE, UNDER 35 MPH.STARTED BACK UP .GAUGES WERE NORMAL WITH PLENTY OF FUEL. 1ST TIME ENGINE QUIT, I HAD JUST STARTED MOVING , NEXT 2 TIMES I WAS MOVING UNDER 35 MPH AALL TOOK PLACE IN LESS THAN 1/4 MILE IN TRAFFIC

I PURCHASE THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW FROM GENE EVANS FORD IN AUGUST 2003. I STARTED COMPLAINING TO THEM A WEEK LATER THAT THE TRUCK RIDES AS THOUGH MY BUTT IS HITTING THE PAVEMENT ON A TRIP I TOOK. EVERYONE IGNORED MY CONCERN IN THE SERVICE AND SALES DEPARTMENT. WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY NOTICE. I WAS SOLD A BRAND NEW TRUCK WITH A SEVERE BENT AXLE AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR THE TRUCK NOR GIVE ME ANOTHER ONE. THEY ALL PLAYED DUMB AND STUPID AS TO NEVER SEEING THE PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING. FORD STILL OWES ME RESTITUTION. DEALERSHIP SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DEFRAUD THE PUBLIC ON DAMAGE VEHICLES PAYING A FORTUNE FOR JUST TO KILL YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE. GENE EVANS KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE ONSET. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND MOST...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE SURROUNDING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FIRE WENT OUT BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,300. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS SUDDENLY BEGAN TO FLICKER FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED THE NEXT DAY TO DISCOVER THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A WRECKING YARD AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000. *TR

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...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE HORN ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE CONTACT PROCEED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE ON FIRE AND SPREADED TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED NEXT TO IT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

I HAVE A 2003 FORD RANGER, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SURGES. FORWARD; I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK & SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I RESTART. IT RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENS ON ONCE IN A WHILE. *TR

INERTIA SWITCH BELOW PASSENGER SIDE DASH BOARD DEFECTIVE. HAD TO BE RESET FREQUENTLY (NO LESS THAN ONCE WEEKLY FOR 3 YEARS), UNTIL IT CAUSED SMALL ELECTRICAL FIRE BENEATH PASSENGER'S FEET. ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON I-17 IN CENTRAL PHOENIX. HEAVY TRAFFIC CAUSED DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING ACROSS 3 LANES TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AN ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER WAS NEAR BY, AND ASSISTED TO PREVENT A COLLISION. PASSENGER PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH ONBOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AFTER REPLACING THE INERTIA SWITCH (WHICH WAS BADLY DAMAGED BY FIRE), THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. *TR

DT:CONSUMER REPORTS: HIS 2003 FORD RANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE ONE NIGHT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THERE WERE ELECTRICAL SPARKS COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WELL. HE FOUGHT THE FIRE WITH BARE HANDS AND SNOW. HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND LOST CONTROL AND IT SLID INTO A SNOW DRIFT. HE TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT AND HE STARTED TO DIG THE CAR OUT OF THE SNOW WHEN HE NOTICED THE SPARKS AGAIN AND A GLOW COMING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE. HE TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AGAIN WITH A SNOW SHOVEL. BY THE TIME THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP, IT WAS ON FIRE AGAIN. AFTER THE FIRE DEPT. HOSED THE FIRE DOWN WITH A STANDARD 2'' HOSE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AGAIN. THE FIRE DEPT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, PUT THE FIRE OUT AGAIN AND THE FIRE DIDN'T START BACK AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP...

2003 FORD RANGER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS.*MR DOOR LOCKED SPONTANEOUSLY, WAS INFORMED THAT FORD COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE A SPARE KEY TO KEEP OUTSIDE THE TRUCK. *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SIX TIMES. ELECTRICAL INERTIA SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH ONCE, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK