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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

Visibility complaints

7 reports
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150,000 miles · Feb 28, 2010
Visibility

HEATER CORE STARTED LEAKING WINDOWS FOGGED UP I ALMOST WRECKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314918

1 miles · Oct 26, 2007
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

SEAT BELT NEVER STAYS CONNECTED ( POPS OUT) ALL SPEEDS. (5 YRS) I ASKED DEALER ABOUT FIXING HE SAID MY WARRANTY EXPIRED BUY A NEW ONE (FORD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SAFETY AFTER WARRANTY DATE) THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A WEEK THEN OFF FOR A MONTH THEN REPEAT ( 5 YRS) DOOR AJAR LIGHT HAS NEVER TURNED OFF (MAYBE IT WILL BURN …

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SEAT BELT NEVER STAYS CONNECTED ( POPS OUT) ALL SPEEDS. (5 YRS) I ASKED DEALER ABOUT FIXING HE SAID MY WARRANTY EXPIRED BUY A NEW ONE (FORD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SAFETY AFTER WARRANTY DATE) THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A WEEK THEN OFF FOR A MONTH THEN REPEAT ( 5 YRS) DOOR AJAR LIGHT HAS NEVER TURNED OFF (MAYBE IT WILL BURN OUT SO I DON'T SEE IT ANYMORE) TAILGATE LATCH REPLACED 3 TIMES ( DANG THAT CHEAP PLASTIC) FRONT END REALIGNED NUMEROUS TIMES (ANTI NASCAR, ALWAYS TURNS RIGHT) ENGINE SHUDDERS BAD FEW TIMES A YEAR(BAD GAS MAYBE ONCE, OTHERS PROBABLY NOT) COIL PACK REPLACED TWICE (IM STILL UNDER 60,000 MILES) REAR WINDOW LEAKS ALSO :) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207043

51,079 miles · Oct 29, 2006
Visibility

DRIVING WITH THE A/C OFF. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOWN. I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOWN ABOUT AN 1.5' DOWN . THE PASSAGE SIDE WINDOW CRACKED INTO A MILLION PIECES. THE WIND WAS BLOWING PRETTY STRONG I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172096

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD STARTED TO CRACK HORIZONTALLY. *JB THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER A STONE POSSIBLY HIT THE WINDSHIELD.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10054139

14,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

R DOOR POWER WINDOW INOP FIXED PROLEM NOTICED PAINT PEELING ON HOOD EDGE TOOK IN FOR REPAIRS THEY REPAINTED ONLY AROUND THE EDGES, PICKED UP TRUCK TODAY NEEDS TO GO BACK SO THEY CAN FIX TAPE LINE ON EDGE OF HOOD AND FOUND ANOTHER CHIP WHERE THEY JUST PAINTED

NHTSA ODI #10069094

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2003
Air BagsVisibility

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. *AK THE DEALER INSTALLED NEW WIPER BLADES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10037901

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING DURING RAIN NEXT DAY WIPERS ARE FINE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. DT

NHTSA ODI #768868

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.