2003 Ford Ranger recalls and problems

The 2003 Ford Ranger has 1 safety recall and 243 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

243

Crashes / fires

37 / 11

Injuries / deaths

43 / 1

Recalls may cover only some 2003 Ford Ranger vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2003 Ford Ranger recalls

Recall 09V-399: Vehicle Speed Control

Reported Oct 13, 2009 · 4,500,000 vehicles affected · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Problem: 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.

Risk: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.

Fix: 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.

2003 Ford Ranger problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Structure	43
Vehicle Speed Control	40
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	30
Air Bags	25
Suspension	23
Engine and Engine Cooling	18
Electrical System	17
Power Train	17
Unknown or Other	12
Tires	10
Seat Belts	9
Fuel System, Gasoline	9

Most reported parts

Structure › Body — 25
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 9
Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 6
Air Bags › Frontal — 6
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal — 5
Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire — 4
Structure › Frame and Members — 4
Seat Belts › Front — 3

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 56,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2003 Ford Ranger complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Power Train · reported Jul 15, 2025

Ford knows about the problems with the dual clutch and they are refusing to fix them. I have been giving the run around om trying to get my car fixed. I am a disabled veteran and all I get is they can't help. I just found out about these cars have this problem and ford has know about his problem for years.. they need to fix this. They again to be held according selling bad products to the public.

Service Brakes · reported Jun 18, 2023

Truck has no spare tire, totally missing the assembly and bracket originally used to hold the tire (have a junk one in the bed). The crossmember under the truck is about 50% intact is getting ready to fall off. Brake lines and rocker panals rotted out as well. Holes in the frame starting and a patch was already needed on the frame (drivers side rear). As well as a loose bed. The truck is very clean on top but underneath is rotting away like it has 200000 miles on it(truck is at 77,000). I want to remove the rust and coat it but im scared of punching through cause spots are brittle.

Structure · reported Apr 14, 2023

The frame of my truck has rotted through. The strap that holds the gas tank has nothing to connect to, i think the tank could fall to the ground under the right circumstances. The frame has a large whole in it and i fear it will break very soon. I had to remove the spare tire because i feared it would fall off the truck. I had to replace both connectors that held the leaf springs to the frame,and was told there wasn't much left to connect them to.

Structure · at 79,000 miles · reported Aug 15, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, an abnormal, rattling noise began to emit from the rear of the vehicle without warning. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear cross members had rotted out due to severe corrosion. The contact also stated that the fuel tank was no longer being supported due to the failure. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was…

Suspension · reported May 21, 2021

I had been noticing some squeaking form the rear of my 2003 Ford Ranger. I thought it was my breaks. It turned out that the mounts for the rear springs had rusted out. My mechanic also noticed a hole, in the frame, resulting from rust. The hole is located on the inside surface of the frame on the passenger side just forward of the passenger compartment. Since the hole was discovered I stopped using the Ranger due to safety concerns.

Other Ford Ranger years

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Compare all Ford Ranger years · All Ford models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Ford Ranger have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2003 Ford Ranger: 09V-399 (vehicle speed control). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Ford Ranger?

Owners report structure problems most often (43 reports), followed by vehicle speed control (40). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 56,000 miles.

Are Ford recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Ford dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.