Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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 owns a 2003 Ford Ranger. After starting the engine and turning on the heater, smoke and flames were present inside the vehicle coming from the driver's side vents. A fire extinguisher was used to extinguish the flames. The cause of the failure was not determined. Autonation Ford mobile (901 east 1-65, service rd south, mobile, al) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000. The VIN was invalid.
I purchase this truck brand new from gene evans Ford in August 2003. I started complaining to them a week later that the truck rides as though my butt is hitting the pavement on a trip I took. Everyone ignored my concern in the service and sales department. When the problem was finally notice. I was sold a brand new truck with a severe bent axle and they would not do anything to repair the truck nor give me another one. They all played dumb and stupid as to never seeing the problem in the beginning. Ford still owes me restitution. Dealership should not be able to defraud the public on damage vehicles paying a fortune for just to kill you or someone else. Gene evans knew there was a problem from the onset. There has been a lot of problems with this truck in the past, present and most likely in the future considering the repairs that has already been put into the truck out of my pocket. …
Dt: the consumer stated that his 2003 Ford Ranger caught on fire on 9-30-05. The vehicle started smoking while in motion. The vehicle was pulled over. The fire was viewed coming from under the hood. The fire department was called. The truck was declared a total loss. The consumer felt that the fire department was unable to determine the cause of the fire. The consumer experienced no prior problems with the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the problem. The consumer contacted his insurance company. The truck was towed to a junk yard in illinois. Pictures were taken of the engine and the vehicle itself. The consumer planned to notify the manufacturer about the fire. (11/22/05) a popping noise was coming from the engine and it begun to lose power. The consumer popped the hood and saw fire coming out of the engine. …
Carquest water pump new 18420011 (t4188) complete failure after 100 miles. A new water pump was installed onto a 2003 Ford Ranger v6 3.0 VIN-v truck. He vehicle was driven between 25 - 60 MPH off and on for approximately 1 week totaling about 100 miles. Under normal driving conditions (30-35 MPH) and with slight acceleration, the bearing housing sheared off from the water pump body launching the cooling fan/clutch into the radiator. Power steering failed (no drive belt) and the cooling system dumped it's contents. The body of the pump is still intact to the vehicle, but the rest of it came off. Upon inspection of an identical part from the same store, there is an apparent casting color difference on the pump. It appears that there is a casting defect present in the pump and the installed pump broke almost perfectly aligned to the casting color differentiation.
Engine stalls and won't re-start due to improper activation of the passive anti-theft system (pats) which is faulty. Engine shuts off, no power assist, lights remain functional, anti-theft dashboard light starts to blink. Vehicle will re-start only after removing and re-installing the #19 fuse to re-set the system. It May require several re-sets of thirty or more seconds each, after which the vehicle May run normally for a short distance or up to several months of normal driving. There are folks who shared their similar experiences on-line alerting me to the re-set procedure. I am told the solution to the problem requires the replacement of the power control module, which the pats is part of, and that it is not possible to otherwise disable the pats anti-theft system.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Ranger. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the spark plug shot out of the engine and left a large hole in the engine block. The check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and was later towed to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed a spark plug blowout and stated that a repair kit was needed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a local dealer. The contact was informed that there were no recalls. The failure was not remedied. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 142,000.
Engine quit running,took to mechanic. Spark plug overheated blew wire off. Engine had water in oil. Engine is ruined. Was on highway.had to use wrecker to mechanic.only 160,000 miles on highway. Thought recall on Ford trucks to engines giving away prematurely.
Vehicle has died on interstate four times and had to be towed in. Ford customer service at 1-800-392-Ford states that they don't want to replace the vehicle. I am told I should continue to get it repaired under warranty. My concern is for the safety of my family when we are waiting hours in a snowstorm for the tow truck to arrive. I have owned 8 fords in the last five years. That is about to change because Ford motor states that they have followed the letter of the law concerning repairs under the warranty. We have now replaced one Ford with a Lexus and are totally amazed at the difference of attitude towards the customer. At our first free Lexus oil change my wife was given a dozen long stem roses. What do you think she is saying about Ford these days? Now I understand why people are buying more foreign cars and trucks.
Engine stumbles on acceleration. This has happened repeatedly, and the dealer in ny said there was nothing wrong. Owner/driver uses name-brand gasoline from a reputable dealer and is prompt about servicing vehicle. In a previous Ford, owner expericenced the same problem---solved by replacing sensor. This problem has nearly caused a motor vehicle accident and has been reported to both ny, ct and mt attorney generals. I wish this problem fixed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the thermostat housing failed, causing the vehicle to leak anti-freeze. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the thermostat housing needed to be replaced. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
Engine complaints in other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2003 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2003 Ford Ranger, 11% of the model year's 243 complaints. The component named most often is engine (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Ford Ranger engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 21,000 miles, and 55% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.