Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Ford Ranger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Ford Ranger. While driving at 35 MPH, the spindle on the driver side tire rod broke. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle swerved from lane to lane the vehicle went off the road. The vehicle became air born and crashed in a tree. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belts wouldn't buckle. The contact sustained a cut from their ear to their throat from the seat belt, the contact also had a burn mark from the seat belt. The contact sought medical attention. The contact's brother was in the vehicle was as well. They sustained an injury but didn't receive medical attention. The contact's brother sustained a cracked rib. The contact's vehicle was the only vehicle evolved in this crash. No other medical attention was needed. A police report was made. The vehicle was totaled. The dealer was not contacted. …
I was recently an accident during which 3 things occurred that contributed to my injuries. The first thing that happened was steering wheel lockup preventing me from turning out of the way. The 2nd & 3rd things occurred when the truck was in free fall. First of all the seatbelt failed to restrained my body during the accident sending me straight into the steering wheel during which time the air bag failed to deploy. So there was nothing to brake my impact to said steering wheel. All of the this took place on a freeway at high speeds I was lucky that my injuries were not worse then they are and in time they will heal. I was lucky, but the next person May not be so, you need to look into this matter thoroughly because the next person May die as a result of these safety failures, and that is something none us want.
Tl 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
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Ranger. The contact took the vehicle to friendly Ford (2800 n telegraph rd, monroe, mi 48162) to be repaired per an unknown air bag recall. Upon arriving at the dealer, the contact was charged a fee to replace wires that were cut during the air bag replacement. The contact received another recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 17V788000 (air bags). The contact had not taken the vehicle back to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 4,000.
Dt: consumer's vehicle was involved in a collision on June 9, 2005. . The airbags deployed before the impact. The consumer saw something flash in her face, which was the center of the steering wheel, and the airbags deployed. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and they said that there was something wrong with the SRS, and they found a faulty sensor # 450047 in the front of the vehicle. It has been fixed since this accident.
2003 Ford Ranger passenger air bag did not deploy until 2 or 3 sec. After the accident truck hit tree about 40 MPH drivers air bag went off passengers did not go off passenger broke back rear bed of truck came into truck leaving a arrow shape peace of steal approx 4" long inside of truck cab ware a 4 to 5 foot tall person would have it perched into head because of being belted into seat.
Tacata recall airbag light is flashing the stays on .not sure what is causing it but it could be serious if the bags do not work when needed . It came on about 1 month ago. Starts as soon as you start truck . Other light that just started flashing today over drive light started flashing but has now stopped .this is a 03 Ford Ranger f4
My uncle was driving 60 MPH when he swerved & loss control of his Ford Ranger. He crossed over the oncoming traffic lane going off the road hitting a sign, then hit an embankment, then flipped over several times. The airbags did not deploy & my uncle died as a result.
I have a 2003 Ford Ranger in which the air bag warning light was malfunctioning. At different times it would come on, stay on for a long time, weeks, then would go off again. I took it to the dealer who found a service bulletin that directed them to clean wires, wrap wires and re-route wires under the seat. It had to do with the safety belt retentioner. I do not know if this was actually a safety issue or not. No one would tell me how many Ford rangers had this problem, if this would cause any failure in the seat belt or the air bag. Even though I felt this was a failure of the air bag and safety belt system was charged for this repair. (I was still under Ford's 50000 safety system warranty.) I am concerned about the cost, but I am also concerned that the pretentioner was not replaced and whether this will occur again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Ranger. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V036000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 06/14/16 updated 06/29/16.
Airbag complaints in other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2003 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Ford Ranger, 10% of the model year's 243 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Ford Ranger airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2003 Ford Ranger, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Ranger airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles, and 47% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.