2003 Ford Ranger

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE GRAVEL ROAD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND THEN QUICKLY TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT DROVE INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE LANDED ON ITS ROOF. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE SCALP, RIGHT SIDE OF THE FACE, AND BRUISING TO THE LEFT SHOULDER. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE SCALP, A FRACTURE OF THE T-2 VERTEBRAE, A HERNIA TO THE ABDOMEN, AND BLEEDING BETWEEN THE SCALP AND SKULL. THE PASSENGER'S LEFT EYE WAS FILLED WITH BLOOD, RESULTING IN A BLACK EYE. THE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND FILED A REPORT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATED THAT THEY WERE PERFORMING AN INQUIRY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,384. UPDATED 03-05-08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH DOWNHILL IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DURING THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ONCE AND LANDED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT PRIOR TO THE CRASH; HOWEVER, HE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS UNFASTENED AS HE ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH. HE HAS NOT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,700. UPDATED 02-07-08. *KB

2003 FORD RANGER 4.0L 4WD AT. TWO OF THE SIX VALVE SEATS IN THE ENGINE DROPPED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE COMPRESSION AFTER LESS THAN 70K MILES. NOTICED LOSS OF POWER, TOOK IT IN AND HAD TO PAY OVER $2K IN REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VALVE SEATS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER WHILE MERGING TO FREEWAY SPEEDS THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RE-START. TOWED IT IN TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE HAD JUMPED TIMING AND BENT ALL SIX CRANK ARMS. AGAIN, REPAIRS WERE MADE. TOP END OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED INCLUDING THE CRANKS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A TRUCK WITH LESS THAN $70K MILES ON. I FEEL THE ORIGINAL REPAIR COSTS UPWARDS OF $2,000.00 SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AS IT WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE ISSUE AND BEEN REIMBURSED. ALSO A NEW ENGINE SHOULD BE INSTALLED OR VEHICLE TRADED AS THIS ENGINE IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. ALL THE MEANWHILE THE MAIN REASON FOR TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS THREE TIMES PRIOR WAS TO FIX THE HUGE THUMP AND DELAY ON ACCELERATION THAT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT! THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL FOR 4WD TRUCKS AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. YET EVERY 4WD I'VE DRIVEN, EVEN ONES WITH OVER 100K MILES ON THEM, ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY WITH NO THUMPING OR DELAY IN ACCELERATION. NEARING THE EXPIRATION ON MY WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE, I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP WAS TRYING TO PUSH THE ACTUAL REPAIRS OFF UNTIL THEN. THEY EVEN SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF THE THUMP WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE LOOSE. SO THEY "REPAIRED" THAT BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT AND THE ISSUE STILL REMAINS. THIS IS WHERE I STAND CURRENTLY AND AM TRYING TO GET THE TRUCK BACK IN THE SHOP, ONCE AGAIN, TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED SO THAT I DO NOT ACTUALLY GET IN AN ACCIDENT. AND TO ADD TO THAT, THERE IS ONCE AGAIN A LOSS IN POWER, SO WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE VALVE SEATS HAVE ONCE AGAIN DROPPED... *TR

WAS DRIVING ON STATE HWY.20 @ 615PM, WHEN I NOTICED NO POWER WHEN I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR, RPM SHOT TO 4000, THEN DROPPED DOWN WITH NO POWER,CARS BEHIND ME WERE FLASHING THERE LIGHTS, ARMS WAVING OUT THERE WINDOWS WHEN THE CAR CAME TO MY SIDE THEY WERE FRANTICALLY YELLING THAT I WAS ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF HWY. AND FLAMES WERE ROLLING INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK, IT WAS IN 2 WAVES THEN I WAS ABLE TO OPEN MY DOOR AND EXIT THE TRUCK.NOW FLAMES WERE ROLLING OUT OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL, LUCKILY I HAD A FIRE EXTINGWISHER IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK WHICH I EXTINGWISHED IN THE WHEEL WHELL AND AS FAR BACK AS I COULD REACH,THIS PUT OUT THE FIRE,BUT NOT WITHOUT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERNEATH OF TRUCK INCLUDING THE GAS TANK WHERE GRASS VALLEY FORD DETERMINED THE FIRE ORINGINATED.AS THE HOT SPOT IS VERY DISTINGUISHING.FORD MOTOR CO IN DEARBORN MI.SENT ME A LETTER SAYING THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS FAILER,AND WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION TO CONTACT ANYONE THAT CAN HELP RESOLVE THIS MATTER.A 4 YEAR OLD TRUCK THAT HAS NO MODIFICATIONS,AND HAS BEEN WWELL TAKEN CARE OF SHOULD NOT BURST INTO FLAMES,ENDANGERING LIVES.THEY ARE AT THIS POINT OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.I CAN PROVIDE ESTIMATES FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH PARTS LIST INCLUDED AS WELL AS THEM DETERMING THAT IT WAS A FIRE ORIGINATING AT THE GAS TANK..THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THIS FAILER, NEVER A GAS SMELL JUST INSTANTLY INTO FLAMES..THANKS FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER..

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HIS 2003 FORD RANGER FX4 5-SPEED GAVE A SMALL LURCH AND A "STUTTER". SINCE HE WAS RIGHT THERE AT HIS DESTINATION, HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THINKING THAT IT WAS JUST A GLITCH (LIKE HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE CLUTCH, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES), HE WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO GET OUR SON AND TAKE HIM HOME. HE WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. AS HE WAS CARRYING OUR SON OUT TO THE TRUCK, HE SAW THAT THERE WAS SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OF COURSE, EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE CALLED. THE FIRE REACHED THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND BEGAN SPREADING ALONG THE GROUND. AFTER PUTTING THE FIRE OUT, THE FIRE MARSHALL INDICATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE STARTED TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE TRUCK, OF COURSE, WILL BE A TOTAL LOSS. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG (WHICH WAS DISARMED AS OUR INFANT SON RODE ON THAT SIDE) HAD DEPLOYED, THE WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED, AS HAD THE TWO FRONT TIRES. AS FOR THE HOOD, THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DECELERATING AT 10 MPH, ALL OF THE FLUID SPILLED OUT FROM THE CLUTCH CYLINDER OR EITHER A FAILED HOSE. THE CONTACT IS UNCERTAIN AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. HE IS CERTAIN, HOWEVER, THAT OIL WAS LEAKING BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNER'S RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,710.

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.

TWO THINGS ON MY 2003 FORD RANGER SUPERCAB 2 WD : 1.) FRONT BRAKES ARE BAD, AND CONTINUE TO BE BAD, DUE TO BAD DESIGN OF FRONT ROTORS. THE ORIGINAL OEM ROTORS FAIL, DUE TO WARPING, RESULTING IN A MOST THE AGGRAVATING PULSING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS RESULTS IN INADEQUATE STOPPING WHEN NEEDED, AND COULD CAUSE A VERY SEVERE ACCIDENT !!! 2.) THE FUEL CUTOFF SAFETY SWITCH ( WHATEVER IT IS CALLED) ABOVE THE FRONT PASSENGER LEG AREA (ON WALL -INSIDE CAB) IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO THE OCCUPANTS, DUE TO VEHICLE LOSING ALL POWER DURING OPERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NOW 10+ TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. SOMETIMES WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WITH NO WHERE TO GO WHEN ALL POWER IS LOST, GAUGES GO WACKY,LOSE STEERING CONTROL, ETC. AS SOON AS THE SWITCH IS "RESET", BY PUSHING IN ON IT FROM THE TOP OF IT, AND TURNING VEHICLE KEY TO ON POSITION FOR 3-5 SECONDS, THEN BACK OFF ( PER OWNER'S MANUAL) THE VEHICLE SEEMS FINE,,,UNTIL, RANDOMLY IT HAPPENS AGAIN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. THE MANUAL SAYS THIS SWITCH IS FOR "SAFETY" CONCERNS , WHEN AFTER AN ACCIDENT, IT SHUTS OFF FUEL SUPPLY, ETC....BUT MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT WHATSOEVER, AND THIS DEVICE IS NOW BECOMING A GREAT POTENTIAL ACCIDENT PRODUCER IN ITSELF !!!!! THE "INCIDENT DATE" IS MULTIPLE DATES !!!!! AND THEY ARE STILL CONTINUING AS OF TODAY 8 MARCH 2008 * I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THE OEM BRAKES ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE, BUT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AGAIN,,,AND AGAIN,,,AND AGAIN...WHICH IS JUST NOT RIGHT. *JB