2005 Ford Ranger: check engine light

Filed Jan 29, 2022 · NY

My daughter called me screaming when her 2005 Ford Ranger FX4 Level 2 had unexplained runaway throttle while driving back to college in January 2022. The vehicle had the cruise control on for a couple hours and without warning, began to accelerate to the point that it was at the rev limiter, traveling at 90 miles an hour. She called me hysterical and I advised her to shut off the cruise and hit the brakes but nothing would stop her or turn off the cruise. I advised her to turn off the vehicle to ACC position and coast to the shoulder. When she had calmed down, I asked her to restart the truck, it started wide open throttle, so she immediately shut it off. I told my daughter then to mash the gas pedal a few times and restart the vehicle. It restarted at normal idle speed. 1/28/2022- my daughter came home from school today for a visit, the same thing happened again on her drive home. She was able to coast to the shoulder and restart after mashing the pedal a few times. I am advising her not to use the cruise control and to get it into a Ford shop to inspect. There are no lamps or warnings to indicate there is an issue or code/CEL. This is a deadly situation that apparently has occurred with Ford Explorers that have the 4.0 Liter engine and 5.0L engine. It appears from other forums (https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/threads/full-throttle-runaway-vehicle.442563/) that a throttle control cable may have an issue or defect that is causing the throttle spring to not release, or the cable is hanging up. Please see included Explorer forum link above.

Filed Jan 20, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 50,000 miles · CA

At startup my check engine light came on and as I went to drive away the entire truck started shaking and the check engine light started to flash.I tried to fix the vehicle with a scan tool and started replacing the less expensive parts and when it was all said and done it turned out to be the driver side cylinder head number four and six cylinder they both had recessed valves.before the truck got real bad I was on the interstate going to be a slight incline and the truck was doing 75 miles an hour and then suddenly dropped to maybe 15 20 miles an hour almost causing an accident on interstate 10 I had to immediately pull off the shoulder of the road to avoid getting rear ended.I just recently replaced the third set of heads on the same vehicle same side same cylinders and I'm being told now that they think its the catalytic converters I really don't know I like my truck but this is getting ridiculous.I've called ford directly told them what's been going on and they said my truck does not fall under the campaign bulletins and that I will have to replace my head's every 42000 miles.

Filed Jan 11, 2015 · Engine · 100,701 miles · CA

Engine misfires at idle cel flashing needs heads.

Filed Aug 26, 2009 · Engine · 84,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 ford ranger. He stated while driving at 50 MPH he noticed that his check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken a dealer and inspected where it was determined that number four cylinder was failing and in order to make the repair the vehicle would need to have the valve seats replaced. The contact was in the process of contacting the manufacturer. He feels that there should be a recall on the aluminum head valve seats because they lose compression with the metal that the manufacturer is using for the aluminum head valve seats. The failure mileage was 84,000 and the current mileage is 87,000. Bl updated 10/5/09 *cn updated 10/07/09

Filed Oct 5, 2007 · Engine, Fuel system · 16,413 miles · GA · crash · 2 injuries

Purchase vehicle july 2005, vehicle never had a good pull to it and I thought it was the way the truck just pulled until may 2006 when I was hit from behind by a ford explorer, my truck got worse. In june 2007 engine light came on wouldn't go off. Gas cap light came on wouldn't go off. Tried to tighten cap, lights still haven't went off. Took truck to mechanic found out that my truck had a cracked head that was indicated that it could have been a defect from the manufacture and or possibly due to collision also ford manufacture had a defect call back on all 2005 ford ranger. In december 2005 five month after I purchase the truck and they ( ford) did not even notify me of the defect. I do have a copy in my possession from my mechanic. Also I was told that my truck could ignite and catch a fire at any time. *tr. Updated 01/11/08.*lj there was a cracked head on the fuel sending unit. Updated