8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$540
Average Mileage:
56,550 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. inertia switch in the most retarded location, kills engine (3 reports)
  2. conversion kit to relocate the inertia switch (1 reports)
  3. new fuel pump (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.

problem #5

Dec 232011

Ranger FX 4-0

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,561 miles

left nc on the way to Sarasota Florida before Tampa it cut off on me on i 75 i had no clue what was going on pulled over after crossing three lanes with no power stop the truck got out look to see what was going on could not find the problem well get back in the truck and it goes so i get to Sarasota go to the ford place chris ducan said i have a over fueling problem well i took it home and change ful filter and and then check the fuel pump but it was priming so i got my and book out seen that fords have fuel shut off switch in the passenger floor floor board this is after 2 days problems with the truck i call chris ducan Sarasota ford and he tells me its a dealer part switch was very hot he said that needed to bring it in well 369.00 later new swirch but relocated that cut the old wires and taped them up and ran new ones my problem with this ford design to put switch in floor board people can it there should have thought about that i hope this will help some one in the future

- Rick F., Welcome, NC, US

problem #4

Jul 062011

Ranger Edge V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

Out of nowhere my ranger edge started one day and immediately bogged and shut down. A turn of the key and nothing. Tried jumping, no dice. Replaced fuel filter, no dice. After sitting for 48 hours it would start, this happened twice exactly 2 weeks apart. On the third failure, that is when i replaced the fuel filter in the auto-zone parking lot. After googling i discovered the inertia switch problem.

Went back to the truck, took a few presses of the reset button before the truck started and haven't had an issue since; 30 days and counting. Purchased a replacement inertia switch from autowarehouse for $35, haven't yet switched it out.

73,000 miles and this is the issue that comes up? Weak.

- Rich B., Langhorne, PA, US

problem #3

Jul 122007

Ranger LX 2.3L

  • Manual transmission
  • 62,000 miles

The 2004 Ranger has a problem with shutting down because the fuel inertia switch is located where the passengers feet go and the wiring comes out the bottom of the switch where it can be easily kicked and shorted out. Surely this has caused some accidents as it can occur during driving. (Imagine no power steering or brakes all the sudden because the truck shut down.) This also occurs in Ford vans and fixes itself in anywhere from 2 mins. to 7 days. You would think this would have prompted a recall but so far none. It took 5 years for Ford to discover and fix this problem on my truck. Read further posts and you'll see it started have the problem again 3 years later. It was only discovered because a backyard mechanic suggested to me this was a problem and I should have them check it out.

Went back to Kreiger Ford in Columbus, Ohio in 2010 and now they have a conversion kit to fix this problem that costs over $100 dollars for the kit. Done with Ford unless I get some satisfaction from the makers of Ford. First Ford I ever owned and now I know why they say "Found on road dead" is what Ford stands for!

- Charles M., Columbus, OH, US

problem #2

Nov 122008

Ranger XL 2.3L

  • Manual transmission
  • 39,000 miles

Well when your truck just dies......Found On Roadside Dead, becomes a reality. And for what????. Because Ford is a company full of idiots, just like any other car maker in the U.S., well slightly better than Chrysler or gm. They put a kill switch where a 4'0" tall female can kick it with their feet??? I would feel much better if I could kick the person square in the crotch that decided to put an intertia switch(or anything for that matter) in such a stupid location. Worst part is, you are dead on the road unless you figure it out(with passenger). It randomly decides to start later, and you think your troubles might be over with, but you can never be sure now. I drove thinking that just changing the fuel filter must have fixed it. Then it happened randomly down the road while I was 10 hours out of town. Ford should really recall this, unless they think that it is safe to have a truck or car randomly die, but only with a passenger so that they too know not to trust a Ford. I love the truck, I loved my 97 f-150, but this was the most frustrating experience that I have had with a vehicle, thank god my uncle decided to read the manual while me and my dad were hopelessly troubleshooting the fuel system. Other than having to get some kyb monoshox to help the shty ride, and that super retarded inertial switch, I have enjoyed my ranger. I will try to run it well into the 200,000mile range like I did my f-150, see what happens.

- Danger R., Here, TX, US

problem #1

Sep 242008

Ranger Edge

  • Manual transmission
  • 34,000 miles

While I'm on the 3rd floor of a parking garage, preparing to pull into a space, my engine dies. I try to restart the engine. Nothing--acts like it's flooded. I try again after 20 or 30 minutes. Nothing. I call AAA for a tow truck and she tells me they will be there in 15 minutes. I call AAA again after one hour and she tells me they are only 40 minutes away from me. After another hour, the tow truck driver calls and says I should walk to the entrance of the garage to meet him, so I leave my truck with flashers on and walk down. First, he already has a Mercedes on the hook, and second, he tells me he can't drive the tow truck into the parking garage. He wants to walk up and look at the truck, so we do. Still won't start. He says we will have to PUSH the truck out of the parking garage by hand, and so we do... from the third floor, without power steering... me trying to steer and push while jumping in and out of the driver's side door every time we come up to another concrete wall or corner that could take out the door. Finally we get to the little electric gate at the bottom of the ramp where you have to stop until it opens. Then we push the truck over the "severe-tire-damage" spikes through the stop sign and out into traffic on the city street, where I run along side the truck pushing and I steer it into the closest bus stop and park as much out of the way of the incoming busses as I can--right in front of the "Busses Only--No Parking at Any Time" sign and just past the fire hydrant. He goes back to get the tow truck. Next he tries a jump start, which doesn't work, and he tells me he'll have to call another tow truck because he already has this Mercedes on the hook. Duh? He says, "the other tow truck should be here in 45 minutes to and hour, maybe sooner." Don't even ask... of course I got ticketed sitting for an hour and a half in front a "Busses Only--No Parking at Any Time" sign and a fire hydrant. OK, finally I get towed to the closest Ford dealer and it is my fuel pump. Wow, lucky me, I remember replacing the fuel pump on my 1966 Impala Super Sport. It could have been something big, right? It costs me about $700 to have the fr**'n fuel pump replaced on my Ford Ranger!! There, that's my point. As you can see, I'll put up with a lot of crp, but come on Ford... $700 for a fuel pump?

- milkme, Saratoga, CA, US