Note: I posted this on another Ranger forum because I thought it was important and maybe should be a sticky warning. From todays Tech notice on NBC:

Lawsuit claims Ford 'design defect' can cause sudden acceleration

A new lawsuit claims that nearly a decade’s worth of vehicles produced by the Ford Motor Co. suffer from a “design defect” that can make them susceptible to suddenly and unexpectedly racing out of control.

The lawsuit, filed in West Virginia federal court on behalf of 20 different owners in 14 states, is seeking class-action status that could, if approved, come to involve the owners of millions of Ford vehicles produced between 2002 and 2010.


"For too long, Ford has put its own financial interests ahead of its consumers' safety," said lead attorney Adam Levitt. "We hope this lawsuit sheds light on this important situation and requires Ford to correct its ways, compensate its customers and put them first."

I took my 2002 Edge Ranger 6 to a dealer a few days ago.
When I came to a stop, with foot on brake pedal, the rpms would increase so much the back wheels would spin. This is what the dealer did:
Decarbonized intake passages; clean MAF sensor; update PCM ?;flush fuel injectors; and I got a lube - don't ask where - cost $774.
They said they found the air induction full of dirt due to excessively dirty K&N air filter. I cleaned it 6 months ago but live on dirt roads so I will have to clean more often. But I will be joining the above lawsuit to see if I can get some money back. (like that's gonna happen)
Anyway, fair warning to anyone with this problem.

So what exactly is the design defect? Here's a solution... Drive a manual

How is that a solution? This occurs with both auto and manual.

It was a joke. From the research I've done it looks like people's floor mats have caused a few of the problems experienced. I just don't think something like this would get by the NHSA

Sounds like you were taken for a ride at the dealership...Updating the PCM, flushing your fuel injectors and an induction cleaning will NOT fix the problem you had, or have any influence on uncontrollable idle speed. The MAF may cause it to have poor idle quality, but shouldnt cause it to idle high at a stop. The IAC, even when commanded to 100%, will only allow the engine to idle up to about 2000 RPM, given that the throttle plate is fully closed. The K&N thing is your fault, not Fords fault and you should put a normal air filter back in your vehicle that stops more than just large rocks and birds like the K&N does.

In the event of an actual unintended acceleration, which on a cable throttle vehicle is not likely to happen unless your foot or the floormat are on the throttle, simply shift the vehicle into neutral and you will not go anywhere. All Ford vehicles with throttle cables have operated the same way since fuel injection was introduced on Ford Trucks in 1986. There is a chance for the throttle cable to bind, break or freeze, but as the operator of a vehicle, you should be able to control the situation, unlike all the toyota drivers that could not.

Man, the service writer who up sold all that work made a killing for his team's techs that day!

You forgot to get your blinker fluid changed also.

There is only one problem with your "But I will be joining the above lawsuit to see if I can get some money back. (like that's gonna happen)" you don't have an electronic throttle, you have a throttle cable that goes from the gas pedal to the throttle body.

Here is a list of vehicles that "could" have a defect.

POAD

lol So Obviously Crank was lying.

So how was I lying?

http://fordproblem.com/2003-ford-ran...blems-defects/