RecallMyCar

2003 Ford Ranger Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 2003 Ford Ranger, and owners have filed 243 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
243
owner complaints to NHTSA
37 / 11
complaints citing a crash / fire
15–23
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 2003 Ford Ranger

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 09V399000 Reported 4,500,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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…

    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…

243 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Ford Ranger have filed 243 complaints with NHTSA; 37 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 43 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 65,208 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 35 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 15, 2025 · Power train

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 18, 2023 · Service brakes

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Ford Ranger (Ranger 2WD FFV, Ranger Pickup 2WD, Ranger Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–23 mpg
City / Highway14–21 / 17–26
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.3/3/4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Ford Ranger model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Ranger model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1978 Ford Ranger01
1979 Ford Ranger01
1983 Ford Ranger511
1984 Ford Ranger612
1985 Ford Ranger127
1986 Ford Ranger435
1987 Ford Ranger450
1988 Ford Ranger189
1989 Ford Ranger173
1990 Ford Ranger3105
1991 Ford Ranger2132
1992 Ford Ranger2189
1993 Ford Ranger3232
1994 Ford Ranger4438
1995 Ford Ranger1321
1996 Ford Ranger2413
1997 Ford Ranger1411
1998 Ford Ranger5576
1999 Ford Ranger4755
2000 Ford Ranger3670
2001 Ford Ranger4515
2002 Ford Ranger3346
2003 Ford Ranger1243
2004 Ford Ranger10404
2005 Ford Ranger9289
2006 Ford Ranger12271
2007 Ford Ranger5270
2008 Ford Ranger5326
2009 Ford Ranger7169
2010 Ford Ranger8156
2011 Ford Ranger5235
2014 Ford Ranger01
2016 Ford Ranger01
2017 Ford Ranger01
2019 Ford Ranger11268
2020 Ford Ranger7129
2021 Ford Ranger6117
2022 Ford Ranger537
2023 Ford Ranger418
2024 Ford Ranger1386
2025 Ford Ranger1343
2026 Ford Ranger87

Checking a specific 2003 Ford Ranger

How do I know if my 2003 Ford Ranger has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Ford Ranger; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 09V399000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.