IllustrationCANT COTROL CAR WANT TO LUNGE FORWARD OR STALL HARD TO DRIVE LIKE THIS I AM TOLD IT IS THE (ETB) ALSO DOOR WILL NOT STOP CHIMING
2002 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
510–25K
4925–50K
3750–75K
2875–100K
36100–150K
19150K+
220 reports with mileage · 126 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
43 crash reports12 fire reports25 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
7 reports2002 FORD RANGER, CONSUMER STATED HIS ISSUE DEALS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WORKED SPORADICALLY. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PRESSED THE BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE GREEN LIGHT WOULD FLASH, BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. TWO MONTHS AGO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. *JB..UPDATED 03/16/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED…
Read full complaint
2002 FORD RANGER, CONSUMER STATED HIS ISSUE DEALS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WORKED SPORADICALLY. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PRESSED THE BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE GREEN LIGHT WOULD FLASH, BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. TWO MONTHS AGO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. *JB..UPDATED 03/16/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE ON ITS OWN. IN FEB 2015, ALL THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. HOWEVER, ALL THE BULB WERE STILL GOOD. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/22/16.*JB
FORD 2002 RANGER DRIVEN BY MY MINOR SON TO SCHOOL APPROX 3 MILES. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A MOTORIST BEHIND MY VEHICLE ALERTED MY SON THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. MY SON AND OTHER MOTORIST PULLED INTO NEXT AVAILABLE PARKING LOT WHERE THE OTHER MOTORIST WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILLIGHT WITH W…
Read full complaint
FORD 2002 RANGER DRIVEN BY MY MINOR SON TO SCHOOL APPROX 3 MILES. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A MOTORIST BEHIND MY VEHICLE ALERTED MY SON THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. MY SON AND OTHER MOTORIST PULLED INTO NEXT AVAILABLE PARKING LOT WHERE THE OTHER MOTORIST WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAILLIGHT WITH WORL GLOVES. AT APPROX 8:00 A.M. I DROVE THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THE VEHICLE FIRE AND DETERMINE REPAIR COST AND PAYMENT METHOD (OWNER VS. FORD). HALL FORD COULD NOT INITIALLY IDENTIFY WHY THE FIRE STARTED IN THE TAILLIGHT AND FORWARD INCIDENT REPORT TO THEIR REGIONAL MANAGER, WHO IN TURN, FORWARDED THE REPORT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION ON NOV 28, 2006 THAT SUGGESTED I GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHO COULD FILE SUBROGATION CLAIM AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A TAILLIGHT TO CATCH ON FIRE UNLESS THERE IS MATERIAL DEFECT. WITHOUT THE ALERTNESS OF ANOTHER MOTORIST, THE FIRE COULD HAVE CONTINUED UP THE WIRE HARNESS AND PASS THE FUEL NOZZLE. *NM
TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO FAIL TO FLASH ON OCCASION. A LOUD BUZZING SOUND SEEMED TO COME FROM THE FLASHER. A SLIGHT PULLING BACK ON THE INDICATOR STALK WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE THE SIGNALS TO WORK. THIS, HOWEVER ALSO CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLASH (FLASH TO PASS). THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO COME ON OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS A…
Read full complaint
TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO FAIL TO FLASH ON OCCASION. A LOUD BUZZING SOUND SEEMED TO COME FROM THE FLASHER. A SLIGHT PULLING BACK ON THE INDICATOR STALK WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE THE SIGNALS TO WORK. THIS, HOWEVER ALSO CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLASH (FLASH TO PASS). THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO COME ON OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. HAPPENS WITH BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL. I AM AWAITING APPOINTMENT TO HAVE REPAIRED. *NM
2002 FORD RANGER, TURN SIGNAL LEVER DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN TURNING LEFT (BLINKER MALFUNCTION). *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT ENGAGE AT TIMES, BUT WAS LESS FREQUENT THAN THE LEFT. THE DEALER FAILED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE BLINKER PROBLEM BEFORE FINALLY GIVING UP. *JB
THE STEERING WHEEL CONTAINED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PLAY. *JB. THE STEERING FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. PH. THE HEAD LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, AND THE DOOR LATCHES WERE LUBRICATED. *JB
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT ABOUT 10 SECONDS WITHIN 4000 MILES. CONSUMER STATED THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.*AK
Official recalls
309V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 13, 2009
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 3, 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
02V035000 · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
Feb 4, 2002
ON SOME MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE FX4 PACKAGE, THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL CASE COULD FRACTURE UNDER A HIGH TORQUE EVENT SUCH AS WHEN CUSTOMERS ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM A STOP OR WHEN A SPINNING TIRE SUDDENLY GAINS TRACTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DIFFERENTIAL FRACTURES COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN WHEEL LOCK-UP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.