IllustrationTHE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR BRAKE FAILURE AND ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. *NM *JB
2003 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Ranger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
630–25K
2225–50K
3050–75K
2075–100K
35100–150K
15150K+
185 reports with mileage · 58 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- 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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
29 reportsCONSUMER STATED THE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING HE HITS BOTH PEDALS AT ONE TIME. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE NEEDS TO BE MOVED 2 TO 2 1/2 INCHES TO THE LEFT. *TC
WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH FOOT PRESSED ON BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL. CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES REAL FAST TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. DEALER STATED CONSUMER WAS PRESSING GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THE DRIVER DID NOT AGREE. *AK
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD, AND IT COULD NOT BE PUSHED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND BOTH WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE COMING TO A STOP CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKES BECAME SPONGY. ON DECEMBER 6, 2003 WHEN THE OWNER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO MAKE A STOP, THE BRAKES PERFORMED ERRATICALLY. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS NECESSARY FOR THE BRAKES TO PERFORM EFFICIENTLY.*AK VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT DEPRESSING THE PEDAL…
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WHILE COMING TO A STOP CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKES BECAME SPONGY. ON DECEMBER 6, 2003 WHEN THE OWNER APPLIED THE BRAKES TO MAKE A STOP, THE BRAKES PERFORMED ERRATICALLY. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS NECESSARY FOR THE BRAKES TO PERFORM EFFICIENTLY.*AK VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT DEPRESSING THE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDALWENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION. VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2003 FORD RANGER IS IN THE SHOP AND THE MECHANICS ARE AWARE THAT THE BRAKES NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT.*MR
BRAKE AND ENGINE PROBLEMS. *MR THE ROTORS WERE TURNED ON THE FRONT BRAKES AND A IDLER WAS INSTALLED BECAUSE THE ENGINE STALLED OUT. (TWICE AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM) *SCC *JB
DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 400 MILES. *AK
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
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
Official recalls
109V399000 · 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
1PE05066 · 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
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.