# 2003 FORD RANGER — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `669429` · 2008-05-12 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** RANGER
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 45,000
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
INERTIA SWITCH BELOW PASSENGER SIDE DASH BOARD DEFECTIVE.  HAD TO BE RESET FREQUENTLY (NO LESS THAN ONCE WEEKLY FOR 3 YEARS), UNTIL IT CAUSED SMALL ELECTRICAL FIRE BENEATH PASSENGER'S FEET.  ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON I-17 IN CENTRAL PHOENIX.  HEAVY TRAFFIC CAUSED DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING ACROSS 3 LANES TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.  AN ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER WAS NEAR BY, AND ASSISTED TO PREVENT A COLLISION.  PASSENGER PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH ONBOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER.    AFTER REPLACING THE INERTIA SWITCH (WHICH WAS BADLY DAMAGED BY FIRE), THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*