Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
05221211/14/200510018746Buck/jerk and miss during drive cycle above 3000 rpm - no dtc - 3.0l 2v gas and ffv engine. *tt01/13/2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
1760403/01/200410007396Cooling system fan noise when cold. *tt06/17/2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - HOSE
1719809/01/200310004069Wear-through condition on the abrasion sleeve of the upper radiator hose near the air conditioning accumulator or transmission fluid dipstick. *tt11/17/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
1674304/01/200310002647Coolant leak due to a broken radiator hose clamp(s). *tt09/09/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
0616610021051Possible engine damage - install special service tools prior to removing crankshaft pulley bolt. *kb02/27/2007
0611601/01/200610020173Possible engine damage - install special service tools prior to removing crankshaft pulley bolt - service tip. *tt08/03/2006
1837501/01/200510013315High idle at cold start. *tt04/14/2005
1630510/01/200210013075Engine timing service tools / service tip. *tt04/07/2005
04191010/04/200410010719Oil leak from oil filter adapter - 4.0l sohc engine built before 4/1/2004. *tt12/07/2004
1792807/01/200410009338Rough running, misfire and a lack of power due to a loss of compression. *tt09/24/2004
048605/03/200410008547Boom/vibration at 1800-2200 rpm, rough idle. *tt08/04/2004
0222111/11/200210008304Engine-gear driven synchronizers-incorrect installation-camshaft position synchronizer (cmp) installation tool correct application. *mj07/27/2004
1646112/01/200210008146Tool kit contains the timing peg used to lock the crankshaft in place when performing crankshaft pulley or engine timing service. *tt07/22/2004
041501/26/200410007358Lower engine oil leaks 3.0l 2v vulcan engine. diagnostic service tips. *tt06/16/2004
1725510/01/200310004909Hard start/long crank when cold or stumbles/surges during drive-away. possible diagnostic trouble codes p0171, and p0174 or p0172 and p0175. *tt01/20/2004
1722109/01/200310004080Spark knock, detonation, or ping condition on tip-in or during steady state operation at or near wide open throttle. *tt11/18/2003
1723409/01/200310004089Engine oil leaks from the filter area on vehicles with a 3.0l 2-valve engine. *tt11/18/2003
1697407/01/200310003848Engine oil leak near the oil pan or oil filter on vehicles equipped with a 3.0l 2-valve (vulcan) engine. *tt11/04/2003
1662602/01/200310002504Hesitation or surge condition during cruise with the air conditioner on. *tt09/04/2003
1661002/01/200310002495No start, no communication with power train control module (pcm) using wds/ngs or a miss/buck/jerk while driving. *tt09/03/2003
033502/17/200310002482Idle air control (iac) valve diagnostic service tips. *tt09/03/2003
87019710/22/200210000592Incorrectly installed gear driven camshaft position (cmp) sensor synchronizer assemblies causing surge, lost of power, malfunction indicator lamp on and diagnostic trouble codes p1336, p1309 and p0340. *tt03/25/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1722709/01/200310004083Accessory drive belt noise on 3.0l vehicles built prior to 9/18/2003. *tt11/18/2003
1702508/01/200310003154Engine accessory drive belt noise. *tt10/09/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
1735211/01/200310008180Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0442 (evaporative emission system leak detected). *tt07/22/2004

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12/13/20041751
 Consumer complained about an engine problem. when driving at 40 mph or greater there was a grinding noise. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and they done absolutely nothing. service technician stated that there was nothing wrong. *ak
08/23/200411500209/19/2003
 Engine idle drops low and feels like truck shakes....have had into ford for idle control replacement
02/15/200311000
 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.
10108/23/2003
 When vehicle idled, engine slowed down to below 500 rpm, and then charged back up to 3000 rpm. dealer said this was a characteristic of this vehicle. *ak ford issued technical service bulletin regarding engine idling. *la
108/12/2003
 Vehicle idles below 500 rpms. the engine sounds rough, and acts like it is going to stall. then, it returns to normal. *ak
02/01/20031000012
 While driving the engine failed. *nm the dealer informed the consumer that nothing could be done. ford had issued a recall on the 3.0 engine, but the consumer suggested that maybe this problem pertained to the 4.0 engine as well. *sc *jb
11/25/20030
 A burning odor smell was coming in through the vents. the driver took the vehicle to the dealer for analysis. the mechanic could not duplicate the problem. *nlm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
08/01/2007740003
 2003 ford ranger 4.0l 4wd at. two of the six valve seats in the engine dropped causing the engine to lose compression after less than 70k miles. noticed loss of power, took it in and had to pay over $2k in repairs even though it was still under warranty. the valve seats were replaced. the problem was fixed but a few months later while merging to freeway speeds the car stalled and would not re-start. towed it in to find that the engine had jumped timing and bent all six crank arms. again, repairs were made. top end of the engine was replaced including the cranks. this is ridiculous for a truck with less than $70k miles on. i feel the original repair costs upwards of $2,000.00 should have been covered under the warranty as it was an internal engine issue and been reimbursed. also a new engine should be installed or vehicle traded as this engine is obviously defective. all the meanwhile the main reason for taking the vehicle in for repairs three times prior was to fix the huge thump and delay on acceleration that almost caused me to get in an accident! the dealer said this was normal for 4wd trucks and there was nothing wrong with it. yet every 4wd i've driven, even ones with over 100k miles on them, accelerate smoothly with no thumping or delay in acceleration. nearing the expiration on my warranty due to mileage, i feel the dealership was trying to push the actual repairs off until then. they even said that the cause of the thump was that the transmission mounts were loose. so they repaired that but it had no effect and the issue still remains. this is where i stand currently and am trying to get the truck back in the shop, once again, to have this issue fixed so that i do not actually get in an accident. and to add to that, there is once again a loss in power, so we'll find out if the valve seats have once again dropped... *tr
02/06/200763400111/10/2005
 Truck bucks/jerks during drive cycle when in 3rd or 4th gear, rpm ~2500. *jb
09/05/200663000102/02/2003
 A failed roller rocker destroyed a cam and lifter after only 66,000 miles. 3,000 miles previous i had taken it to the dealer who said they couldn't hear the noise. by the time they could hear it, the damage had more than tripled. the failure was definitely caused by the defective roller rocker(the part is available for inspection). *nm
09/30/200518300101/01/2004
 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. *ak (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. by the time the fire department arrived, the engine was engulfed in flames. *sc
08/21/2005610/22/2003
 Dt: the contact owns a 2003 ford ranger. while driving vehicle stalled. the dealership had the vehicle 6 times, but could not find anything wrong with it. the contact stated the vehicle started jerking then it died, and after waiting approximately 1 hour the vehicle started back up. the dealership wanted to trade the vehicle with the contact. but the manufacturer wanted the dealership to find the cause of the problem before they would authorize the transaction. the consumer contacted the manufacturer. *ak
09/30/200415000009/30/2003
 When the transmission is engaged, automatic, on acceleration, there is a chattering noise coming from the engine area. happens whether a/c is on or not. *nm
02/12/2003502/03/2003
 When placing vehicle in reverse, motor raced with foot on the brakes. it was later determined by dealership that it was a computer problem and was reprogrammed. *la this remedied the problem temporally. failure has occurred numerous times since the part replacement. consumer felt if ford couldn't repair the vehicle without it failing again, then his money should be returned. *ph
11/06/200322951
 While driving vehicle intermittently stalled. the cause of the problem had not been determined. *ak
202/25/2003
 Brake and engine problems. *mr the rotors were turned on the front brakes and a idler was installed because the engine stalled out. (twice after that the vehicle was returned the vehicle for the same problem) *scc *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
06/27/200749710103/29/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford ranger. while decelerating at 10 mph, all of the fluid spilled out from the clutch cylinder or either a failed hose. the contact is uncertain and the vehicle has not been diagnosed. he is certain, however, that oil was leaking between the transmission. the vehicle was towed to the owner's residence. the current and failure mileages were 49,710.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
05/03/200421000408/15/2003
 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.*ak