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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10227516
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2007
Electrical System
ON AUGUST 4TH,2007 MY FORD TRUCK WOULD NOT START. I HAD STOPPED AT WALGREENS TO PICK UP ASPIRIN AND UPON RETURNING TO MY TRUCK, IT WOULD NOT START. AS BEFORE I PUSHED THE FUEL PUMP RESET SWITCH. THE TRUCK DID NOT START. SO I REMOVED THE RESET SWITCH FROM UNDER THE DASH TO FIND IT HAD MELTED AND HAD MELTED THE PLUG. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10199428
45,891 miles · Jun 7, 2007
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-17 HEADED TO FLAGSTAFF, AZ, AT 60+ MPH, THE ENGINE ON MY 2003 FORD RANGER SUDDENLY CUT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE MY VEHICLE FROM THE LEFT LANE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF POWER STEERING OR ANY ENGINE POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO …
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WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I-17 HEADED TO FLAGSTAFF, AZ, AT 60+ MPH, THE ENGINE ON MY 2003 FORD RANGER SUDDENLY CUT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE MY VEHICLE FROM THE LEFT LANE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF POWER STEERING OR ANY ENGINE POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT OR INJURY. IF THE HIGHWAY HAD BEEN MORE CROWED THIS COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, I FOUND OUT THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH IS ROUTED UNDER THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD, HAD BECOME FRAYED AND DISCONNECTED, THEREBY SHUTTING DOWN THE FUEL PUMP. AS THE MECHANIC WHO SERVICED MY RANGER SEEMED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, I WONDER WHY THERE INS'T A RECALL FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10192668
23,400 miles · Jun 23, 2005
Electrical SystemFireInjury
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 STAR…
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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 SAID THE FIRE WAS DUE TO DRIVER ABUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH SYSTEM. THE DAMAGE CONSISTED OF THE FOLLOWING: THE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE ASBESTOS LINING ON THE CLUTCH PLATE, INCLUDING THE SHEARING OF THE RETAINING PINS, THE SLAVE CYLINDER HAD A GIANT HOLE, ' OF THE MAIN SEAL WAS MISSING WITH NO HYDRAULIC FLUID REMAINING INSIDE THE CYLINDER AND THE INTERNAL PARTS SCORCHED FROM FIRE. THEY SAID THE FIRE WAS INSIDE THE BELL HOUSING. SCORCHED MARKS WERE ALL OVER THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AS WELL AS THE FIRE WELL ITSELF, INCLUDING THE INSULATION THAT IS MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD IN THE SAME AREA. THE DEALERSHIP DID DRIVE THE TRUCK AFTER THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE THE FLY WHEEL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10126374
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2005
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
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
NHTSA ODI #10120427
12,000 miles · May 11, 2004
Electrical System
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
NHTSA ODI #10073492
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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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 REIMBURSED. *CB *NLM
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 ↗
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
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.
Exterior Lighting
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.
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.
2003 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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