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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Tires complaints

29 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2015
TiresCrashInjury

THE TIRE IS BF GOODRICH P245/75 R16 109S. I WAS UNABLE TO SELECT THE CORRECT TIRE ON DROP DOWN BOX. REPORT AS FOLLOWS. WHILE DRIVING ON I-74 I FELT A BIT OF A BUMP, AS IF I HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING. THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED IN MY HANDS THEN WENT SHARPLY INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF CONTROL. AS THE TRUCK WAS FLIPPIN…

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THE TIRE IS BF GOODRICH P245/75 R16 109S. I WAS UNABLE TO SELECT THE CORRECT TIRE ON DROP DOWN BOX. REPORT AS FOLLOWS. WHILE DRIVING ON I-74 I FELT A BIT OF A BUMP, AS IF I HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING. THE STEERING WHEEL SHIFTED IN MY HANDS THEN WENT SHARPLY INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF CONTROL. AS THE TRUCK WAS FLIPPING I SAW THE GUARDRAIL THROUGH A SIDE WINDOW, THE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED BY THEN. THE TRUCK KEPT FLIPPING. THE TRUCK THEN LANDED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND SPUN SEVERAL TIMES, THEN FINALLY STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY SEAT BELT THEN STAND IN THE TRUCK. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR THAT WAS IN THE AIR, ABOUT 10 INCHES, ENOUGH TO LOOK OUT, SCREAM FOR HELP AND WAVE MY ARM. A MAN THEN PRIED THE DOOR OPEN ENOUGH FOR ME TO CLIMB THE TRUCK SEATS AND CONSOLE LIKE A LADDER THEN SQUEEZE OUT OF THE DOOR AND JUMP DOWN. AFTER EVALUATING THE TRUCK, THE TIRE TREAD HAD COME OFF OF THE TIRE, WHICH IS STILL ON THE TRUCK AND INFLATED.

NHTSA ODI #10724311

139,000 miles · Feb 9, 2015
StructureSuspensionTires

BRACKET FOR SPARE TIRE ROTTED, TIRE DROPPED OFF, NO CAR IN BACK OF ME, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN AT THE TIME, THAT HAPPENED 6 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE OTHER DAY THE FRAME CRACKED IN HALF. CAR DEALER SHIP SOLD TRUCK TO ME ROUGHLY 15 MONTH AGO TRUCK IS TOTALED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID WHOLE FRAME AND UNDER CARRIAGE IS ROTTED? H…

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BRACKET FOR SPARE TIRE ROTTED, TIRE DROPPED OFF, NO CAR IN BACK OF ME, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN AT THE TIME, THAT HAPPENED 6 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE OTHER DAY THE FRAME CRACKED IN HALF. CAR DEALER SHIP SOLD TRUCK TO ME ROUGHLY 15 MONTH AGO TRUCK IS TOTALED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID WHOLE FRAME AND UNDER CARRIAGE IS ROTTED? HELP. EXTERIOR OF TRUCK LOOKS BRAND NEW? HELP *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682191

111,000 miles · Dec 27, 2014
StructureTires

I RECENTLY CHECK THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT A MISSING SPARETIRE AND ALSO A VERY LOOSE REAR BUMPER AND THE CAUSE OF IT IS RUST, VERY BAD RUSTING ON THE FRAME, MOSTLY ON THE REAR END. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668446

44,000 miles · Aug 28, 2013
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER RADIAL (P) TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER RADIAL (P) TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SET OF THE SAME TIRES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A WEEK LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10537780

95,009 miles · Sep 27, 2010
Tires

PURCHASED P245 75R 16 DEFINITY DAKOTA A/T TIRES FORM PEPBOYS 02/08/2009. I HAVE HAD THEM IN TO BE CHECKED ABOUT 3 TIME FOR BEING OUT OF BALANCE AND KEEP ASK THEM ARE THE TIRE BELT AND ARE TREAD DEFECTED. THE TIRES SEEM TO VIBRATE CONSTANTLY EVEN AFTER A NEW BALANCE. I HAVE ASK THEM ARE THE BELTS SEPARATING AND IS THERE A RECALL…

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PURCHASED P245 75R 16 DEFINITY DAKOTA A/T TIRES FORM PEPBOYS 02/08/2009. I HAVE HAD THEM IN TO BE CHECKED ABOUT 3 TIME FOR BEING OUT OF BALANCE AND KEEP ASK THEM ARE THE TIRE BELT AND ARE TREAD DEFECTED. THE TIRES SEEM TO VIBRATE CONSTANTLY EVEN AFTER A NEW BALANCE. I HAVE ASK THEM ARE THE BELTS SEPARATING AND IS THERE A RECALL ON MY TIRES DOT UT70 PA8 0408 AND DOT UT70 PA8 4808? I BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRE ARE DEFECTED. THAT IS WHY I AM COMPLAINING. I AM GOING BACK TO PEPBOYS TODAY AGAIN AND HOPING THIS CAN BE RESOLVED. I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN AN INJURY OR CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10357869

60,000 miles · Oct 28, 2009
TiresCrashInjury

BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF AND FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL VERIFIED THE LEFT REARCOOPER TIRE ON MY '02 FORD PICK-UP TRUCK DELAMINATED CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK ON HWY 95 AND GO AIRBORN AND ROLL OVER THREE (3) TIME, LANDING IN THE MEDIAN STRIP OF HWY 95 IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, TOTALLY DESTROYING MY TRUCK. I WAS REMOVED F…

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BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF AND FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL VERIFIED THE LEFT REARCOOPER TIRE ON MY '02 FORD PICK-UP TRUCK DELAMINATED CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK ON HWY 95 AND GO AIRBORN AND ROLL OVER THREE (3) TIME, LANDING IN THE MEDIAN STRIP OF HWY 95 IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, TOTALLY DESTROYING MY TRUCK. I WAS REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK WITH JAWS OF LIFE, TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. MY INJURIES WERE CONSIDERED MINOR, TREATED AND MANAGED IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT AN AREA HOSPITAL. FOLLOW UP CARE WITH VERO BEACH, FL PHYSICIANS FOLLOWED. THE DELAMINATION OF THE COOPER TIRE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIRE. TIRE SIZE WAS 31" X 10.5 , TIRE LINE: OWL ALL TERRAIN TIRES; VEHICLE INFO: FORD RANGER 2002 PICK-UP TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290162

40,000 miles · Sep 14, 2009
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER WITH TWO FRONT FIRESTONE DESTINATION LE P245/75R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. THE CONTACT DECREASED THE SPEED EXPECTING THE VIBRATION TO STOP; HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT FENDER TO EX…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER WITH TWO FRONT FIRESTONE DESTINATION LE P245/75R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. THE CONTACT DECREASED THE SPEED EXPECTING THE VIBRATION TO STOP; HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT FENDER TO EXTEND OUTWARD APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH. A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BLOW OUT WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD MATERIALS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VIBRATION CAUSED THE TIRE BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES AND SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW LONG THE TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 10/06/09 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10283878

46,476 miles · Apr 26, 2009
Tires

DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT APPROX 65 MPH FELT SEVERE VIBRATION AND MANAGED TO PULL OVER ACROSS THREE LANES TO GORE POINT AT AN ON RAMP FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM TREAD VEHICLE 2002 FORD RANGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266741

40,000 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Tires

THE TIRES STARTED TO WEAR IN AN ODD CUPPING SHAPE AFTER CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE CONSTANTLY TO VERIFY THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE WEAR. ADDITIONALLY MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS HAD BEEN PERFORMED TO ALSO VERIFY THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE WEAR. AFTER DRIVING FOR WEEKS LATER, THE TIRE FAILED AT 35 MPH IN A BUSY SUBURBAN STATE ROUTE INT…

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THE TIRES STARTED TO WEAR IN AN ODD CUPPING SHAPE AFTER CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE CONSTANTLY TO VERIFY THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE WEAR. ADDITIONALLY MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS HAD BEEN PERFORMED TO ALSO VERIFY THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE WEAR. AFTER DRIVING FOR WEEKS LATER, THE TIRE FAILED AT 35 MPH IN A BUSY SUBURBAN STATE ROUTE INTERSECTION. AFTER PULLING ASIDE AND REPLACING THE TIRE, I DISCOVERED A DELAMINATION OF THE TREAD. I HAD INSPECTED THE TIRES AND HAD SEEN ANOTHER STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF DELAMINATION. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO PRICE TIRES. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THE TIRE IS NOT ON THE RECALL. THREE DAYS LATER, AND THE OTHER TIRE IS CLEARLY DELAMINATED. I FEEL BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES ON THE TIRES, THE CONSTANT AND PROPER PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, THE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258367

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2008
TiresCrash

WHILE TRAVELING FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD THE TREAD COME OFF OF MY REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THIS SENT ME INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND PRECEDED TO FLIP MY TRUCK OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TIRES SHOULD NO SIGNS OF UNUSUAL WEAR, TEAR OR DEFECT AT THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230507

Official recalls

3

09V399000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.