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Ford Ranger 2003

The 2003 Ford Ranger has a 2.3 L engine. It gets 22 MPG combined (20 city, 24 highway), per the EPA. 5 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD Rear-wheel (RWD)
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Illustration of a typical pickup. Not a photo of the Ranger.

Specs

Engine
2,300 cc
4
Cylinders4
TransmissionAutomatic · 5 speeds
DrivetrainRear-wheel (RWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)5,070 × 1,760 × 1,650 mm (199.6 × 69.3 × 65.0 in)
Wheelbase2,980 mm (117.3 in)
Curb weight1,502 kg (3,311 lb)
Body styleStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD

Dimensions and weight: median of the 10 versions in Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC). Each version differs slightly.

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab
🇺🇸 Local data
Rollover★★★★★
NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Ford Ranger Supercab
🇺🇸 Local data
Rollover★★★★★

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
20 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Emissions
251 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

5 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 09V399000 · 2009-10-13 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 09E025000 · 2009-05-11 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 · 2009-04-07 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E065000 · 2006-07-17 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E049000 · 2006-05-24 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

POWER TRAIN 2025-07-15 · NHTSA

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 nee…

STRUCTURE,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES 2023-06-18 · NHTSA

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 neede…

SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE 2023-04-14 · NHTSA

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 tru…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2023-04-04 · NHTSA

Airbag warning light always on.

STRUCTURE 2022-08-15 · NHTSA

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…

SUSPENSION 2021-05-21 · NHTSA

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…

STRUCTURE 2021-05-18 · NHTSA

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE AND INSPECTED. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SUB-FRAME WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT TOO…

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2020-12-20 · NHTSA

WHEN AT STOP LIGHT ENGINE RPMS GO UP HIGH WHERE IT IS HARD TO HOLD VEHICLE STILL WITH BRAKES.

SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE 2020-09-23 · NHTSA

BODY, FRAME AND SUSPENSION HAVE ALL BEEN RUSTED OUT. BUMPER RECENTLY JUST FELL OFF DUE TO RUST (WHILE PARKED). DOORS WON'T SHUT COMPLETELY DUE TO RUST, WHICH HAS LED TO THE INTERIOR LIGHT REMAINING ON OR PERIODICALLY TURNING ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY/NIGHT AND KILLING THE BATTERY. ENTIRE TRUCK IS ONE BIG PILE OF RUST ON W…

SUSPENSION 2020-09-14 · NHTSA

CHASSIS ROTTING OUT. LOST SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND REAR FRAME SUPPORT. SPRING PERCH ROTTED OFF CHASSIS. OTHER AREAS ARE BEGINNING TO ROT OUT ON FRAME RAILS! THINGS CAME APART IN MOTION BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY REMOVE UPON STOPPING

STRUCTURE 2020-07-22 · NHTSA

TWO YEARS AGO, A CRUNCHING NOISE WHILE TURNING WAS DETERMINED TO BE THAT BOTH REAR SPRING BRACKETS HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN, LEAVING THE REAR OF THE LEAF SPRINGS UNATTACHED TO THE FRAME. BOTH WERE REPLACED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS WEEK, WHILE DOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, I NOTICED THE FRONT FUEL TANK HANGER WAS O…

STRUCTURE 2020-05-05 · NHTSA

THE FUEL TANK STRAP BRACKET ON THE FRAME ROTTED OUT AND THE STRAP IS NOW HANGING LOOSE. THE STRAP LOOKS TO BE RUSTY BUT WASN'T THE ISSUE IT IS WHERE THE T-SHAPE END ON THE STRAP HOOKS TO THE FRAME/BRACKET THAT IS THE PROBLEM IF THE OTHER STRAPS ARE TAKING UP ALL THE WEIGHT AND WERE TO BREAK THIS COULD CAUSE THE GAS TA…

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2003 Ford Ranger have?
The 2003 Ford Ranger has a 2.3 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2003 Ford Ranger?
It gets 22 MPG combined (20 city, 24 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2003 Ford Ranger have recalls?
5 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Vehicle Speed Control (2009-10-13).
What are the common problems of the 2003 Ford Ranger?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Structure.

Other years

Other models by Ford

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