Structure. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports11 fire reports20 injury reports

What owners actually said

243 reports

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2003

StructureInjury

CONSUMER FEELS THAT BRACKET ON VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD.*MR WHEN THE REAR DOOR WAS OPENED, AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR OPENING A BRACKET EXTENDED FROM THE FRAME WHICH WAS USED AS A CLOSING DEVICE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE EXTENDED BRACKET WHILE TRYING TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE TRUCK.*TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10031528

272 miles · Jul 26, 2003

Fuel System, Gasoline

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ROUGH IDLE AT NORMAL OR COLD TEMPERATURES EITHER IN GEAR OR OUT AND ALSO IF AIR CONDITIONER IS ON OR OFF. THIS IS OCCURING ON A 2003 FORD RANGER V6 3.0L .. FORD DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A COPY OF A SERVICE MESSAGE UNDER 618400 ROLLING IDLE SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGES 16180.. IT STATES IF THE CONDITION IS STILL PRESENT, MAKE SURE YOUR WDS IS UPDATED WITH THE LASTEST CALIBRATUON FILES, WDS RELEASE B20.10 OR LATER AND REPROGRAM THE PCM. THEY DID THAT AND I AM STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEACH AND IT SEEMS THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NOV02. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC I TALKED TO STATED IF IT DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM DONT WORRY FORD IS TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN 8 MONTHS NOW. DO WE KNOW IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10029235

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2003

Electrical System

THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE LEONARD CAP WIRES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THERE WAS NO FUSE USED TO INSTALL THE CAP. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT HAD A FUSE BEEN USED IT WOULD NOT HAVE DISABLES THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER PAID TO HAVE THE CAP REPLACED AND WAS LATER REIM…

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NHTSA ODI #10026467

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2003

Structure

CONSUMER CALLLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD, CANNOT BE VISIBLE IF THERE IS A SHADW HITTING THE DASHBOARD. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10024770

19,000 miles · Jun 23, 2003

Tires

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE'S SPARE TIRE DOES NOT MATCH THE REST OF THE TIRES, THE SPARE IS A SIZE 16 WHEN THE REST OF THE TIRES ARE 15. DEALER STATES ALL SPARES ON THAT YEAR AN MODEL ARE SIZE 16. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024750

800 miles · May 29, 2003

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHILE DRIVING STOPPING DISTANCE WAS GREATLY INCREASED AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO DEPRESS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE ANY PROBLEM. ONE DAY, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT PEDAL WAS VERY HARD, VEHICLE THEN COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10021856

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2003

Tires

THE SPARE WAS SMALLER THAN THE ORIGINAL. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERN BECAUSE THE SPARE ISN'T A FULL SIZE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10021758

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2003

Parking BrakeService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY AND ACTED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE MANUAL, THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED BEFORE THE TRUCK STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE. *JB *TS

NHTSA ODI #10019885

5,000 miles · May 13, 2003

Vehicle Speed Control

THE THROTTLE CABLE DIDN'T SAY IN PLACE. AS A RESULT THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019753

5 miles · Jan 25, 2003

Structure

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PURCHASED A NEW RANGER XLT EXTENDED CAB DEC. 20 2002. WHILE TRYING DIAGNOSE WHY THE DOOR AJAR SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING, I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS NOT STRAIGHT. IT HAS SINCE BECOME A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND TAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, WHERE AIR CAN BE HEARD THROUGH THE DOOR OPENING. THE SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT IT WAS JUST THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT SOUND WHEN TURNING BECAUSE THE AIR TRAVELS A DIFFERENT PATH ACROSS THE TRUCK BODY. HE HAS NOT TESTED THE ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE WE WERE PRESSED FOR TIME. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND AUTO BODY MANAGER DID AGREE THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT STRAIGHT ALONG THE FRONT AND TOP EDGES AND AGREED TO PERFORM A REPAIR AND INSTALL A NEW DOOR FROM THE FACTORY. THE PROBLEM THERE WAS THAT I WAS TOLD THAT A DOOR INSTALLED AS A "REPAIR" WOULD BE PAINTED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WOULD NOT HAVE THE QUALITY OF A FACTORY INSTALLED DOOR. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT A "NEW" DOOR WOULD FIT ANY BETTER. I ADMIRE HIM FOR HIS HONESTY TO THE END. I PAID FOR A NEW VEHICLE, NOT A SUB-STANDARD REPAIRED VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM EXISTED OFF THE FACTORY FLOOR. THIS ISN'T A WARRANTY REPAIR, BUT A DEFECT. I AM OUTRAGED.

NHTSA ODI #10003405

Official recalls

09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Oct 13, 2009

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 & remedy

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 BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE05066 · Brake Lights Inoperative

Opened Dec 5, 2005 · Closed Mar 24, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

THIS PE WAS OPENED BASED ON TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) #05-6-19 ISSUED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SERVICE BULLETIN #09-008/5 ISSUED BY MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION TO ADDRESS CONCERNS OF THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LIGHT (CHMSL) WIRING HARNESS CHAFFING. THE TSB'S AFFECTED THE FORD SUPER CAB AND MAZDA CAB PLUS VEHICLES ONLY.SERVICE TECHNICIANS CONTACTED THE FORD HOTLINE BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE TECHNICIANS TO DIAGNOSE AND LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS.FORD AND MAZDA ISSUED THE TSB'S TO AID TECHNICIANS IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND REPAIR OF THE WIRE CHAFE CONDITION.OF ALL WARRANTY CLAIMS SUBMITTED TO FORD FOR BRAKE LAMP FAILURE, FORD IDENTIFIED ONLY 120 THAT WERE RELATED TO WIRE CHAFE NEAR THE CHMSL, AND MOST (115 OF THE 120) WERE REPORTED FOR THE SUPER CAB CHMSL. ODI'S REVIEW OF FORD'S WARRANTY CLAIMS AND COMPLAINT DATA REVEALS A DECLINING TREND FOR THE SUPER CAB AND THAT TREND CLOSELY PARALLELS THE TREND FOR THE STANDARD CAB AS WELL.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

Exterior Lighting

Exterior Lighting:tail Lights