2003 Ford Ranger: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed May 11, 2017 · 121,000 miles · TX

When coming to a slow stop at a city street or highway at stop signs and stoplights the truck starts to accelerate as I push the brake. When I apply the brakes the vehicle suddenly accelerates to a high RPM 3500 , plus the tires squeal and 3 plus seconds later I turn the key off before restarting the truck. When I restart the truck it seems to be okay. This has happed to me 4 times, and so far no damage to property or persons. I have parked the truck as I feel it is unsafe to continue to drive the truck. It is not safe to drive. The last time I drove it, I was going to a friends home at a gated community. As I tried to stop to enter to stop to enter the code the truck accelerated as I braked the I turned the key off and the truck came to a stop. I have been fortunate so far that I have not hit another vehicle, object or person when these incidents have happened.

Filed Apr 15, 2016 · Acceleration · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford ranger. While attempting to reverse, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning and crashed into a wall. A police report was filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Filed Feb 4, 2015 · Acceleration, Body · 96,000 miles · MI · crash

2003 ford ranger suddenly accelerated upon attempting to park. I was pulling into my parking spot while apply the brakes when my vehicle suddenly accelerated, jumped a snow bank and hit a light pole. Independent witness reported the vehicle just took off, rear wheels rapidly started turning. I contacted ford motor co. Who did not seem too concerned about the incident and had no interest to inspect the vehicle.

Filed Sep 12, 2013 · Acceleration · 59,000 miles · IA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford ranger. The contact stated that the rpms increased to 4,000, caused the tires to smoke, and the engine to suddenly accelerate. The contact placed the vehicle into neutral gear, released the brake pedal and the vehicle functioned normally. The contact removed the cruise control linkage; however, the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 59,000. The current mileage was 63,000. ...updated 11-12-13

Filed Mar 13, 2012 · Acceleration · 80,000 miles · WA

Vehicle with cruise control problem (not engaging) suddenly accelerated while driver was accelerating from stoplight. Reached approx. 45 MPH under forced acceleration before was able to pull onto side road, stand on brake, shift to neutral, turn off engine. Restart engine still had engine racing. Second restart ditto. Tapped accelerator, engine returned to normal RPM. Whew! Was in process of purchasing vehicle, dealership (not ford) replaced cruise control cable, cruise now working, no repeat of problem.

Filed May 13, 2011 · Acceleration · 100,000 miles · AL

Sudden acceleration with warning. Has happened several times in the past two years. Went to dealership to register this problem but the service manager was not concerned.

Filed Oct 11, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 96,500 miles · FL

As I slowly pulled my 2003 ford ranger into a parking space at work this morning with my foot on the brake the truck suddenly accelerated. I applied the brake harder and the truck stopped. I verified that I did not have my foot on both the brake and accelerator, only on the brake.

Filed May 18, 2010 · Acceleration · 133,000 miles · NE · crash

I have owned my 2003 ford ranger xlt since it was new, and have had all scheduled maintenance. I have had 4 incidents since march 2010 where the vehicle has accelerated when I was braking to stop, with 3 of those incidents within the past week. The first incident caused my truck to push thru a gate, damaging the gate and the front of the vehicle. In this case, the engine did finally drop to an idle. I thought the behavior must be a fluke, so didn't report the incident. The 2nd thru 4th incidents have occurred on a limited access road in omaha (dodge street) at stop signs and at a gas station outside omaha, and as I was nearing a stop the engine started accelerating and pulling the vehicle forward. Maximum pressure on the brakes allowed me to stay stationary so no vehicles or pedestrians were hit, but caused my rear wheels to burn rubber. I turned off the engine to stop the acceleration. The most dangerous incident was when this occurred at a gas station, when I was pulling slowly to a gas pump behind another vehicle and the strong acceleration began. While the truck has cruise control, it was not engaged in any of these 4 incidents. I had the vehicle in for repairs to correct this issue last week, and the last two incidents occurred after the dealer charged me about $880 to fix the issue (replaced throttle valve assy, gasket, potentiometer engine throttle, procharger fuel injection service). The dealer insists that there are no sudden acceleration issues with ford vehicles, but there are reports of issues on the internet.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Acceleration · 51,000 miles · IL

2003 ford ranger sudden acceleration. While braking the vehicle suddenly accelerated. I was able to turn off the engine after the engine speed reached about 4,000 RPM. After shutting off the engine I checked to see if my floor mat was causing this problem, I removed it from the driver side and restarted the engine without touching any pedals. The engine started and revved up to 4.000 RPM again. This is the 3rd time my ranger did this. I took it to river view ford in oswego, they checked it and said they could not replicate the problem. The second time this happened I nearly collided with the vehicle in front of me. I took it back to ford for the same reason, and they told me the next time it happens drive it to the dealer, at 4,000 RPM. (I don't think so) there are no recalls for my vehicle as the dealer checked. What can I do?

Filed Apr 8, 2004 · Acceleration · 490 miles · MS

When the vehicle is shifted into reverse engine revs. Dealer examined the vehicle and reprogrammed the computer of the engine. Not long afterwards the vehicle was at a stop light and surged forward, nearly causing a collision.*ak

Filed Mar 19, 2004 · Acceleration · 4,000 miles · OH

2003 ford ranger was purchased by the police deparment as a utility truck. On 2 separate occasions, with 2 different police officers driving the truck, the vehicle suddenly accelerated even thought both police officers report they had their foot off the accelerator and on the brake. The first incident occured 2/24/04 and the truck was taken to the dealer. They were unable to duplicate the problem but replaced the throttle body. The next incident occurred 3/11/04. Different police officer had multiple incidents where the truck surged foreward even though foot was off accelerator and on the brake. The vehicle was again taken to the local dealer and once again the mechanics were unable to duplicate the problem but did replace a valve assembly- throttle air bypass. The vehicle has 4000 miles on it.

Filed Nov 25, 2003 · Acceleration · IL

While proceeding to leave the driveway the owner pressed the brake pedal and without warning the vehicle surged forward before stopping. *ak it was later determined that this occurred because the accelerator pedal and brake pedal are too close together.