VehicleVerdict

2003 Ford Ranger engine problems

The 2003 Ford Ranger has 27 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

27

Engine complaints

9%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Ranger engine complaints by model year57 complaints1983: 1 complaints1984: 2 complaints1985: 3 complaints1986: 9 complaints1987: 7 complaints1988: 15 complaints1989: 13 complaints1990: 16 complaints1991: 16 complaints1992: 20 complaints1993: 14 complaints1994: 27 complaints1995: 17 complaints1996: 36 complaints1997: 19 complaints1998: 57 complaints1999: 51 complaints2000: 43 complaints2001: 35 complaints2002: 46 complaints2003: 27 complaints2004: 24 complaints2005: 17 complaints2006: 20 complaints2007: 4 complaints2008: 6 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 5 complaints2011: 4 complaints2019: 30 complaints2020: 16 complaints2021: 15 complaints2022: 6 complaints2023: 2 complaints2024: 5 complaints2025: 7 complaints2026: 1 complaints
Ranger engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 11, 2019 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2003 Ford Ranger have?

NHTSA has 27 complaints about the 2003 Ford Ranger engine — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.