2003 Ford Ranger: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 14, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 150,000 miles · AL · fire

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.

Filed Dec 28, 2015 · Electrical · 137,300 miles · VA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford ranger. The contact stated the interior of the vehicle caught on fire surrounding the instrument panel. The fire went out by itself. The vehicle was not occupied at the time of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,300. The VIN was not available.

Filed Feb 14, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 185,000 miles · LA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford ranger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the headlights and the instrument panel lights suddenly began to flicker followed by the vehicle stalling. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and returned the next day to discover the vehicle had caught on fire and was completely destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a wrecking yard and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the fire. The failure mileage was 185,000.

Filed Jun 10, 2013 · Electrical · 78,000 miles · CO · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford ranger. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked the horn activated on its own. When the contact proceed to inspect the vehicle she noticed the vehicle on fire and spreaded to the vehicle that was parked next to it. The fire department confirmed the vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 78,000.

Filed Jul 13, 2010 · Fuel system · 140,000 miles · NV · fire

While stationary at a traffic light, a smell of gasoline entered the passenger compartment followed a few seconds later by a muffled explosion in the engine compartment followed quickly by black smoke and flames pouring out from under the hood and under the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was completely destroyed forward of the truck bed.

Filed Oct 19, 2007 · Fuel system · 56,186 miles · CA · fire

Was driving on state hwy.20 @ 615pm, when I noticed no power when I pressed on the accelerator, RPM shot to 4000, then dropped down with no power,cars behind me were flashing there lights, arms waving out there windows when the car came to my side they were frantically yelling that I was on fire. I immediately pulled to the side of hwy. And flames were rolling into the cab of the truck, it was in 2 waves then I was able to open my door and exit the truck.now flames were rolling out of the rear driver side wheel well, luckily I had a fire extingwisher in the bed of the truck which I extingwished in the wheel whell and as far back as I could reach,this put out the fire,but not without extensive damage to the underneath of truck including the gas tank where grass valley ford determined the fire oringinated.as the hot spot is very distinguishing.ford motor co in dearborn mi.sent me a letter saying they will not address this failer,and will not give me any information to contact anyone that can help resolve this matter.a 4 year old truck that has no modifications,and has been wwell taken care of should not burst into flames,endangering lives.they are at this point offering no assistance to correct this problem.I can provide estimates from the dealership with parts list included as well as them determing that it was a fire originating at the gas tank..there were no events leading to this failer, never a gas smell just instantly into flames..thanks for your time in this matter..

Filed Aug 2, 2007 · Acceleration · 47,600 miles · GA · fire

My husband was driving down the road and his 2003 ford ranger fx4 5-speed gave a small lurch and a "stutter". Since he was right there at his destination, he pulled into the driveway and shut the engine off. Thinking that it was just a glitch (like his foot slipped off the clutch, or something along those lines), he went into the house to get our son and take him home. He was inside the house no more than 5 minutes. As he was carrying our son out to the truck, he saw that there was smoke pouring out from under the hood. Of course, emergency services were called. The fire reached the inside of the truck within a couple of minutes and began spreading along the ground. After putting the fire out, the fire marshall indicated that he believed that the fire started towards the back of the engine compartment on the driver's side. The truck, of course, will be a total loss. The passenger side airbag (which was disarmed as our infant son rode on that side) had deployed, the windshield had exploded, as had the two front tires. As for the hood, there was nothing left.

Filed Dec 27, 2005 · Steering · IA · crash · fire · 2 injuries

Dt: the contact was traveling at 45 MPH when the vehicle hit a patch of ice on the road. He lost control of the vehicle and hit a ditch. The vehicle then rolled and hit an embankment. The vehicle t busted in to flames. The occupants were able to get out of the vehicle before it exploded. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. Injuries were sustained. The vehicle has not been inspected at this time to determine what caused the vehicle to explode. The vehicle was totaled.

Filed Oct 4, 2005 · Engine · 18,300 miles · MO · fire

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.

Filed Jun 23, 2005 · Electrical · 23,400 miles · KY · fire · 1 injury

Dt:consumer reports: his 2003 ford ranger caught on fire one night while the engine was running. There were electrical sparks coming from the front left tire well. He fought the fire with bare hands and snow. He attempted to drive the truck and lost control and it slid into a snow drift. He tried to drive the car out and he started to dig the car out of the snow when he noticed the sparks again and a glow coming from somewhere in the engine. He tried to put the fire out again with a snow shovel. By the time the time the fire department showed up, it was on fire again. After the fire dept. Hosed the fire down with a standard 2'' hose, it caught on fire again. The fire dept disconnected the battery, put the fire out again and the fire didn't start back again. The dealership said the fire was due to driver abuse of the transmission and clutch system. The damage consisted of the following: the complete destruction of the asbestos lining on the clutch plate, including the shearing of the retaining pins, the slave cylinder had a giant hole, ' of the main seal was missing with no hydraulic fluid remaining inside the cylinder and the internal parts scorched from fire. They said the fire was inside the bell housing. Scorched marks were all over the rear of the engine as well as the fire well itself, including the insulation that is mounted on the underside of the hood in the same area. The dealership did drive the truck after the fire. There was no damage done the fly wheel.