2003 Ford Ranger Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

BRAKE ROTORS SOLD BY ADVANCE AUTO PARTS AS AN "EXACT FIT" FOR THIS VEHICLE WERE INSTALLED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS AND ALL ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS FOR A BRAKE REPAIR (PADS, CALIPERS, BEARINGS, SEALS, ABS RINGS) WERE ALSO INSTALLED AND SEEMED TO FIT PERFECTLY. AFTER ASSEMBLY I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE ONLY PARTIALLY BEARING ON THE BRAKE ROTOR, WITH THE PADS OVERLAPPING THE EDGE OF THE ROTORS. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS CONDITION UNTIL BOTH NEW FRONT ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED AND ALL COMPONENTS EXCEPT THE TIRES/WHEELS HAD BEEN REPLACED. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THE ROTORS SOLD AS AN "EXACT FIT" (SELECTED FOR ME BY THE COUNTER MAN AT MY LOCAL ADVANCE AUTO PARTS STORE) WERE APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH SMALLER IN DIAMETER AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ROTORS. I CONTACTED ADVANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO INFORM THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSTALLATION OF IMPROPER PARTS. SEVERAL REVIEWS POSTED ON THE STORE'S WEBSITE INDICATE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE INSTALLED THESE ROTORS AND ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH THEM DESPITE THE FACT THEY ARE NOT THE PROPER ROTORS FOR THIS 4 WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKE VEHICLE (THEY DO FIT RANGERS WITH REAR WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKES). THIS IS A MURPHY'S LAW SITUATION IN WHICH A CONSUMER CAN INSTALL THESE PARTS AND DRIVE AROUND WITH THEM, UNAWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE. THE FINAL INSTALLATION LOOKS NORMAL AND I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED UNLESS I HAD MADE A CLOSE INSPECTION AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT IN FULL CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR SURFACE BECAUSE OF THE SMALLER THAN SPECIFICATION DIAMETER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEBSITE AND STORE COMPUTER SYSTEM LIST THEM AS AN EXACT FIT FOR THE VEHICLE WHEN, IN FACT, THEY ARE NOT. THEY CAN BE INSTALLED AND DRIVEN WITHOUT THE INSTALLER REALIZING THAT THEY ARE THE WRONG SIZE. THIS REQUIRES AN IMMEDIATE NOTICE AND RECALL AND ADVANCE SHOULD BE SANCTIONED. *TR

2003 FORD RANGER STEEL BRAKE LINE ROTTED AND FAILED. 26,000 MILES WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENT INCIDENT. STEEL LINE ROTTED AT FITTING OVER REAR AXLE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO FLEX LINE TO THE AXLE HOUSING. OTHER RUST AND CORROSION ISSUES PLAGUE THIS VEHICLE. *TR

THIS PROBLEM HAS APPEARED ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING. BRAKES FADE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOORBOARD. THIS CONDITION OCCURS RANDOMLY. I HAVE TOPPED OFF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED THE SITUATION. I'VE REVIEWED THE INTERNET FOR POTENTIAL REMEDIES AND HAVE DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONSUMER'S SON DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HIS FOOT UNINTENTIONALLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF BOTH PEDALS. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 02/14/12*LJ UPDATED 02/22/12

I OWN A 2003 FORD RANGER I BOUGHT NEW. ON NOVEMBER 26 2010 I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT @ WORK AND MY CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS FELL TO THE FLOOR CAUSING A MINOR CRASH. THE PIVOT BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE STEEL PEDALS IS MADE FROM CAST ALUMINUM. I HAVE BEEN A ALUMINUM WELDER FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND IN MY OPINION THIS BRACKET IS VERY SUBSTANDARD. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON RANGERS AND OTHER TRUCKS AND FORD CARS. IF I WAS ON THE ROAD THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I SENT PICTURES AND A PIECE OF THE BRACKET TO A RECALL INVESTIGATOR. HE SAID ITS NOT A COMMON FAILURE SINCE HE CANT FIND ANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

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. *TR

BOUGHT TRUCK USED AT 66018 MILES TRUCK NEEDED FRONT ROTORS TURNED ON 2/27/10 @ 79730 MILES (ROTORS WARPED) REPLACED FRONT ROTORS ON 12/31/11 (ROTORS WARPED) TRUCK AGAIN NEEDS FRONT ROTORS TURNED ON 7/18/13 @103055 MILES (ROTORS WARPED) TO DATE AT APPROXIMATELY EVERY 12,500 MILES THE FRONT ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED. THE SAME BRAKE PADS ARE ON FROM WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 37,037 MILES ON THEM. *TR

THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DIDN'T RELEASE I WAS COMING DOWN THE STREET WHERE I LIVE GOING LESS THAN 15 MPH AND WHEN WE HIT THE BRAKES MY TRUCK DIDN'T STOP AND WE WENT SIDEWAYS TRYING TO STAY OUT ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THIS LAST TIME IT LOCKED UP I WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKES GOING LESS THAN 15 MPH AND I CAME WITHIN AN INCH OF HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE BRAND NEW TIRES AND BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THERE IS SOMETHING MESSED UP IN THE COMPUTER MY ABS LIGHT NEVER EVEN CAME ON WHILE I WAS SLIDING. *TR

WHEN RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE DURING WET CONDITIONS THE LININGS STICK TO THE DRUMS, THIS IS ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM IN THE WINTER MONTHS AS THEY WILL FREEZE. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE BRAKES TO BE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE DURING THE FIRST 5 MILES (APPROX) OF BRAKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE SERVICE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE REAR WHEEL GRAB HARD AND THE ABS TRIES TO RELEASE THEM AND CAN'T. I HAVE HAD TWO FAULTS ON THE ABS DUE TO THIS. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME THING THIS HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY THAT DURING WET/FREEZING CONDITIONS I ACTUALLY USE A 4X4 WOOD BLOCK TO HOLD THE VEHICLE IN PLACE.. *TR

2004 FORD RANGER- TSB 4-17-9 * GRABBING CONDITION FROM REAR DRUM BRAKES CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE RAIN**CC THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INVOICE FOR REPAIR AND DOCUMENTATION PERTAINING TO DEFECT OF VEHICLE. *TR

DURING WET WEATHER, REAR BRAKE LOCKS UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CAUSING SKIDDING AND LOSE OF CONTROL. FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP REFERRED TO THIS AS A REAR BRAKE LOCK PROBLEM, AND REPLACED REAR BRAKE COMPONENTS, AFTER THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO MOISTURE GETTING INTO THE BRAKE PARTS AND THAT IF I WANTED THIS FIXED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FIX IT. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS AND THAT'S WHY IT GOT FIXED,NOW I'M TOLD NO SUCH THING EXIST.FIRST TIME WITH PROBLEM TRUCK HAD ABOUT 26,000 TO 30,000 MILES ON IT SEEMS FUNNY THAT AT 60,000 I WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE, AND HIT BOTH AT SAME TIME. UNABLE TO MAKE EMERGENCY STOP AND WENT THROUGH RED LIGHT. SUSPECT THIS TO BE CAUSE OF SEVERAL ACCIDENTS RECENTLY--SOME FATAL ! *TR

TWO THINGS ON MY 2003 FORD RANGER SUPERCAB 2 WD : 1.) FRONT BRAKES ARE BAD, AND CONTINUE TO BE BAD, DUE TO BAD DESIGN OF FRONT ROTORS. THE ORIGINAL OEM ROTORS FAIL, DUE TO WARPING, RESULTING IN A MOST THE AGGRAVATING PULSING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THIS RESULTS IN INADEQUATE STOPPING WHEN NEEDED, AND COULD CAUSE A VERY SEVERE ACCIDENT !!! 2.) THE FUEL CUTOFF SAFETY SWITCH ( WHATEVER IT IS CALLED) ABOVE THE FRONT PASSENGER LEG AREA (ON WALL -INSIDE CAB) IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO THE OCCUPANTS, DUE TO VEHICLE LOSING ALL POWER DURING OPERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME NOW 10+ TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. SOMETIMES WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WITH NO WHERE TO GO WHEN ALL POWER IS LOST, GAUGES GO WACKY,LOSE STEERING CONTROL, ETC. AS SOON AS THE SWITCH IS "RESET", BY PUSHING IN ON IT FROM THE TOP OF IT, AND TURNING VEHICLE KEY TO ON POSITION FOR 3-5 SECONDS, THEN BACK OFF ( PER OWNER'S MANUAL) THE VEHICLE SEEMS FINE,,,UNTIL, RANDOMLY IT HAPPENS AGAIN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. THE MANUAL SAYS THIS SWITCH IS FOR "SAFETY" CONCERNS , WHEN AFTER AN ACCIDENT, IT SHUTS OFF FUEL SUPPLY, ETC....BUT MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT WHATSOEVER, AND THIS DEVICE IS NOW BECOMING A GREAT POTENTIAL ACCIDENT PRODUCER IN ITSELF !!!!! THE "INCIDENT DATE" IS MULTIPLE DATES !!!!! AND THEY ARE STILL CONTINUING AS OF TODAY 8 MARCH 2008 * I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THE OEM BRAKES ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE, BUT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AGAIN,,,AND AGAIN,,,AND AGAIN...WHICH IS JUST NOT RIGHT. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS CHANGED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WHERE CORRODED AND PITTED. THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, A SOUND OF METAL ON METAL WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PAD SEPARATED FROM THE CALIPER HOLDER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE PAD. UPDATED 12/12/2006 - *NM

(1) I WAS IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, KEEPING WITH THE FLOW OF THE TRAFFIC. AT ONE POINT I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. THE TRUCK FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. THE BRAKES FELT "GREASY" AND I HAD TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. (2) BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING? ROTORS WERE WARPED AFTER THAT. TRUCK SHUDDERED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. (3) A FORD DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS AT 25,632 MILES. AT AROUND 28,000 THE SHUDDERING HAS RETURNED DURING BRAKING. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY.

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR BRAKE FAILURE AND ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. *NM *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER THAT SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING HE HITS BOTH PEDALS AT ONE TIME. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE NEEDS TO BE MOVED 2 TO 2 1/2 INCHES TO THE LEFT. *TC

I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKING PROBLEMS 7 TIMES NOW. THERE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT VIBRATION UPON BRAKING. THE VIBRATION HAS BECOME SO BAD AT TIMES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VIBRATION IS BEING CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND REPLACED AT LEAST 2 TIMES EACH. I AM NOW ON MY THIRD SET OF ROTORS. THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK FROM DEALERSHIP, IT WAS OBVIOUS THE CALIPER WAS STICKING. FORD EVEN HAD AN ENGINEER LOOK AT THE TRUCK. THE ENGINEER LOOKED AT THE TRUCK 100 MILES BEFORE THE CALIPER WAS STICKING. HE COULDN'T COME UP WITH ANY REASON FOR THE WARPAGE. ON TAKING MY TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS PAST TIME, THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED GOING TO THE FLOOR AND WAS MAKING A WHOOSHING SOUND UPON DEPRESSING THE PEDAL. I WAS AFRAID IT WOULDN'T STOP. I AM NOW AFRAID OF DRIVING THIS TRUCK BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE BRAKES NEXT.