Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Ranger, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure43
- Vehicle speed control40
- Service brakes, hydraulic29
- Air bags25
- Suspension23
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Electrical system17
- Power train16
- Unknown or other12
- Tires10
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 43 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 143 2003 Ranger vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 110 people died inside them, and 60 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Ford Ranger failed the safety check 2.38% of the time — 13% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 141,904 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,244 of these cars first registered in 2003 took their annual MOT test. 56% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2003 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2003 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 27.2% | 21.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 17.7% | 9.4% |
| Brakes | 15.5% | 13.9% |
| Suspension | 13.5% | 16.4% |
| Visibility | 6.7% | 7.7% |
| Tyres | 4.0% | 6.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 10 variants: combined 10.2–18.3 L/100 km (about 13–23 mpg US), CO₂ 235–357 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 11.2 | 9.0 | 10.2 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 9.7 | 10.9 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 11.1 | 12.8 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.5 | 12.0 | 13.9 |
| Ranger FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.5 | 12.0 | 13.9 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.0 | 13.5 | 15.4 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 13.6 | 15.5 |
| Ranger 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 13.6 | 15.5 |
| Ranger 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 13.6 | 15.5 |
| Ranger FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 20.4 | 15.7 | 18.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2003 Ford Ranger.
| 2009292 14 Oct 2009 | Other On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2003 Ford Ranger: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636206 | SUBJECT REGARDING ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUZZ. *TT |
| 619276 | ON SOME VEHICLES, INCLUDING SPORT AND SPORT TRAC, THE FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM THE VENT TUBE. *TT |
| 10177863 | This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. |
| 10156863 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10155551 | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition |
| 10021051 | POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. *KB |
| 10020173 | POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10018746 | BUCK/JERK AND MISS DURING DRIVE CYCLE ABOVE 3000 RPM - NO DTC - 3.0L 2V GAS AND FFV ENGINE. *TT |
| 10017891 | FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM VENT TUBE - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4X4 OR AWD. *TT |
| 10017889 | BRAKE LAMP CONCERNS. *TT |
| 10014165 | ALUMINUM CORROSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014096 | REVISED PROCEDURE FOR ADJUSTING ALIGNMENT ON ALL SUSPENSIONS - NEW RIGHT HAND UPPER CONTROL ARM DESIGN FOR TORSION BAR FRONT SUSPENSIONS. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013414 | DRIVESHAFT THUMP CLUNK ON LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR WHEN BRAKING AND COMING TO A STOP. *EH |
| 10013369 | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013315 | HIGH IDLE AT COLD START. *TT |
| 10013300 | INSIDE DOOR PULL HANDLE LOOSE - VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 11/15/2002 AND EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS/DOOR LOCKS. *TT |
| 10013116 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT |
| 10013077 | VARIOUS 2003 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PREMIUM CD-6 RADIOS - CD-6 SHUFFLE FEATURE BETWEEN DISCS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT |
| 10013075 | ENGINE TIMING SERVICE TOOLS / SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10011169 | GRABBING CONDITION FROM REAR DRUM BRAKES. *AR *TT |
| 10010719 | OIL LEAK FROM OIL FILTER ADAPTER - 4.0L SOHC ENGINE BUILT BEFORE 4/1/2004. *TT |
| 10009338 | ROUGH RUNNING, MISFIRE AND A LACK OF POWER DUE TO A LOSS OF COMPRESSION. *TT |
| 10008608 | EQUIPPED WITH A HARD TONNEAU COVER. * MJ |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation