NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
243 reportsMileage unknown · Nov 7, 2011
Structure
THE RANGERS FRAME COATING SYSTEM IS FAILING IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE PAINT IS JUST PEELING OFF. THERE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAB AND TRUCK BED. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THEN 55000 MILES AND ORIGINALLY IN THE STATE OF VA. THE VEHICLE WAS WILLED TO ME AND JUST BROUGHT TO THE STATE OF MA. IN AUGUST …
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THE RANGERS FRAME COATING SYSTEM IS FAILING IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE PAINT IS JUST PEELING OFF. THERE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAB AND TRUCK BED. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THEN 55000 MILES AND ORIGINALLY IN THE STATE OF VA. THE VEHICLE WAS WILLED TO ME AND JUST BROUGHT TO THE STATE OF MA. IN AUGUST OF 2011. IT HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO A NEW ENGLAND WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS. THE WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS WILL ONLY COMPOUND THE ISSUE. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES UPON REQUEST. I STRONGLYRQUEST THAT SOME ACTION BE TAKEN TO INVESTIGATE THE PAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10434772
122,000 miles · Oct 14, 2011
Air BagsCrash
HIT A CAR ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH. FRONT END AND LEFT FRONT TIRE DAMAGED, HOOD TENTED, TRIPPED FAILSAFE IN FUEL LINE, BUT NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10430258
26,000 miles · May 15, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2003 FORD RANGER STEEL BRAKE LINE ROTTED AND FAILED. 26,000 MILES WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENT INCIDENT. STEEL LINE ROTTED AT FITTING OVER REAR AXLE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO FLEX LINE TO THE AXLE HOUSING. OTHER RUST AND CORROSION ISSUES PLAGUE THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10400902
100,000 miles · May 13, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH WARNING. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO REGISTER THIS PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS NOT CONCERNED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10400770
86,000 miles · May 3, 2011
Structure
SPARE TIRE CARRIER RUSTED OFF OF TRUCK SO WE THEN TOOK FURTHER INVESTIGATION. MY HUSBAND LAID UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN SEEN A HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK BED. SO RIGHT THEN HE REMOVED THE BED LINER THAT WAS IT IN AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE. THEN ALSO SEEN THE FRAME WAS BROKEN AND RUSTED VER…
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SPARE TIRE CARRIER RUSTED OFF OF TRUCK SO WE THEN TOOK FURTHER INVESTIGATION. MY HUSBAND LAID UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN SEEN A HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK BED. SO RIGHT THEN HE REMOVED THE BED LINER THAT WAS IT IN AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE. THEN ALSO SEEN THE FRAME WAS BROKEN AND RUSTED VERY BADLY. SO HE REMOVED THE TRUCK BED ITSELF FROM THE FRAME AND SEEN HOW BAD THE DAMAGE WAS. IT HAS SINCE CRACKED DUE TO THE OBSCENE AMOUNT OF RUST OF THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THERE ARE ALSO RUST SPOTS IN SEVERAL SPOTS ON THE BODY OF THE TRUCK BUT ARE NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS THE FACT THAT THE FRAME IS BROKEN. THE DEALERSHIP SO FAR IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. WE FEEL THEY HAVE TRIED TO COVER IT UP. WE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND ARE STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. WE HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE WHICH WE HAVE SHOWN TO A MECHANIC AT OUR CLOSET FORD DEALERSHIP AND HE STATED THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE. THIS IS A 2003 FORD RANGER. HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10398775
98,000 miles · Mar 27, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS PROBLEM HAS APPEARED ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING. BRAKES FADE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOORBOARD. THIS CONDITION OCCURS RANDOMLY. I HAVE TOPPED OFF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED THE SITUATION. I'VE REVIEWED THE INTERNET FOR POTENTIAL REMEDIES AND HAVE DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS WITH TH…
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THIS PROBLEM HAS APPEARED ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING. BRAKES FADE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOORBOARD. THIS CONDITION OCCURS RANDOMLY. I HAVE TOPPED OFF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED THE SITUATION. I'VE REVIEWED THE INTERNET FOR POTENTIAL REMEDIES AND HAVE DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392991
9,000 miles · Feb 7, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAG…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10381015
232,000 miles · Dec 21, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash
I OWN A 2003 FORD RANGER I BOUGHT NEW. ON NOVEMBER 26 2010 I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT @ WORK AND MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS FELL TO THE FLOOR CAUSING A MINOR CRASH. THE PIVOT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEEL PEDALS IS MADE FROM CAST ALUMINUM. I HAVE BEEN A ALUMINUM WELDER FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND IN MY OPINION THIS BRACKET IS VERY S…
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I OWN A 2003 FORD RANGER I BOUGHT NEW. ON NOVEMBER 26 2010 I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT @ WORK AND MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS FELL TO THE FLOOR CAUSING A MINOR CRASH. THE PIVOT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEEL PEDALS IS MADE FROM CAST ALUMINUM. I HAVE BEEN A ALUMINUM WELDER FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND IN MY OPINION THIS BRACKET IS VERY SUBSTANDARD. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON RANGERS AND OTHER TRUCKS AND FORD CARS. IF I WAS ON THE ROAD THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I SENT PICTURES AND A PIECE OF THE BRACKET TO A RECALL INVESTIGATOR. HE SAID ITS NOT A COMMON FAILURE SINCE HE CANT FIND ANY COMPLAINTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10371998
118,256 miles · Dec 20, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN I ACCELERATE QUICKLY WITH MY 2003 FORD RANGER, THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT RETURN TO NORMAL UNTIL I TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND PUT IT IN PARK. AFTER A MINUTE WHEN I START IT UP EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. BAD COMPUTER?? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10371235
100,000 miles · Dec 15, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE CABLE FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED BY TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY THE DRIVER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 02/09…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE CABLE FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED BY TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY THE DRIVER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 03/03/11
NHTSA ODI #10370782
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