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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

What owners actually said

346 reports
49,310 miles · Sep 7, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLES CRUISE/SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS DISENGAGES AND ENGAGE ON IT'S OWN. STOPS WORKING WITH OUT NOTICE CAUSES VEHICLE TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY WITHOUT NOTICE. WILL NOT ENGAGE AGAIN AFTER SHUTTING IT OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. SOMETIMES VEHICLE IN SPEED CONTROL MODE WILL START SURGING AND THEN CONTROL STOPS WORKING ALL TO…

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VEHICLES CRUISE/SPEED CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS DISENGAGES AND ENGAGE ON IT'S OWN. STOPS WORKING WITH OUT NOTICE CAUSES VEHICLE TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY WITHOUT NOTICE. WILL NOT ENGAGE AGAIN AFTER SHUTTING IT OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. SOMETIMES VEHICLE IN SPEED CONTROL MODE WILL START SURGING AND THEN CONTROL STOPS WORKING ALL TOGETHER. VEHICLE HAS 49,499 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241246

64,000 miles · Aug 17, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF A 2002 FORD RANGER (64,000 MILES) ATTRIBUTED TO THE TIMING CHAIN. NO DAMAGE YET, BUT I HAVE ASKED AROUND AND FOUND THIS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND IN SOME CASES, LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238597

94,000 miles · Jul 11, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND THE VEHICLE HAS NO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 08/04/08 *BF THE SEALED FRONT WHEEL BEARING ABS FAILED. UPDATED 08/07/08.

NHTSA ODI #10233877

130,000 miles · Jun 23, 2008
StructureCrashInjury

MY SON WAS TRAVELING ON A 4 LANE STATE HWY AT ABOUT 65 MPH IN THE OUTSIDE LANE WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK TIRE FLEW OFF. HE SAID ALL HE REMEMBERS WAS THAT THE TRUCKS REAR DROPPED ON THAT SIDE, SPINNING THE TRUCK TO FACE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND CAUSING IT TO ROLLOVER NUMEROUS TIMES UNTIL IT LANDED IN THE DITCH ON THE OPPOSI…

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MY SON WAS TRAVELING ON A 4 LANE STATE HWY AT ABOUT 65 MPH IN THE OUTSIDE LANE WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK TIRE FLEW OFF. HE SAID ALL HE REMEMBERS WAS THAT THE TRUCKS REAR DROPPED ON THAT SIDE, SPINNING THE TRUCK TO FACE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND CAUSING IT TO ROLLOVER NUMEROUS TIMES UNTIL IT LANDED IN THE DITCH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HWY. NOT TO MENTION IT HAD TO GO UP AND EMBANKMENT TO GET THERE. HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. DPS , WRECKER DRIVER, MY HUSBAND AND MY SON COULD NOT FIND THE TIRE, WHICH STILL HAS THE BRAKE DRUM ON IT. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE BEHIND THE FLANGE WHERE THE LUG NUTS GO. I AM TOLD THIS MUST BE A DEFECT BECAUSE YOU RARELY HEAR THIS HAPPENING. DPS AND WRECKER DRIVER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD GOOD TIRES AND LOOKED AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. IT IS A 2002 FORD RANGER EDGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232063

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

62,000 miles · May 27, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT UNIT HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK COOLANT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC FOUND A SMALL HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. IN ADDITION, HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE BLOC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT UNIT HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK COOLANT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC FOUND A SMALL HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. IN ADDITION, HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK RUSTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10228966

23,525 miles · May 22, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SINCE I BOUGHT THE RANGER EDGE PICKUP SINCE 2002. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHANGED HANDS SINCE IS NOW LANDERS BUT WAS CALLED CRAIN FORD LINCOLN MERCURY. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGING WHEN ACTIVATED AND NOT ACTIVATING WHEN TURNED ON AND THEN WORKING SOME …

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I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SINCE I BOUGHT THE RANGER EDGE PICKUP SINCE 2002. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHANGED HANDS SINCE IS NOW LANDERS BUT WAS CALLED CRAIN FORD LINCOLN MERCURY. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGING WHEN ACTIVATED AND NOT ACTIVATING WHEN TURNED ON AND THEN WORKING SOME TIME AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN A WHILE. I HAVE 105,000 MILES ESTIMATED BUT WHEN ENGAGED I HAVE HAD IT DISENGAGE NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS CHECKED BY FORD DEALERSHIP OVER 7 TIMES SINCE 2002 AND THEY STATED COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL AND STATED EVERYTHING IS OK BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST AND IT SEEMS ONCE THE TRUCK GETS WARM IT STARTS WORKING BUT STOPS WORKING AS WELL. EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN THE TRUCK HASN'T BEEN RUNNING VERY LONG THE SPEED SYSTEM WANT ENGAGE AT ALL WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY SCARY THOUGH WHEN IT DISENGAGES AND YOU ARE AWARE THAT IT IS NOT WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO RUN INTO ME IF I DON'T NOTICE IT DUE TO THE CHANGE OF LOSS OF SPEED. ALSO THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OCCASIONS WHEN TRYING TO ACTIVATE THE SPEED CONTROL AND IT WILL NOT ENGAGE WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE FOR LONG DRIVE TIMES. WHAT CAN BE DONE???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228712

75,000 miles · May 7, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS ON 2002 FORD RANGER. DELAYED SHIFTS; ROUGH SHIFTS; OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS INDICATING TRANSMISSION FAULT; SERVO COVER BLOWN OFF ALLOWING TRANSMISSION FLUID LOSS - INOPERATIVE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226961

82,350 miles · Mar 23, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

A PLASTIC WATER HEATER CONTROL VALVE IN THE VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEM DENATURED AND CRUMBLED, LEAKING COOLANT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ENGINE SEIZURE HAD I NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THIS IS THE SECOND PLASTIC PART FAILURE (FIRST WAS THE THERMOSTAT/TEMP SENSOR HOUSING) WHICH FAILED AND LEAKED COOLANT DUR…

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A PLASTIC WATER HEATER CONTROL VALVE IN THE VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEM DENATURED AND CRUMBLED, LEAKING COOLANT OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ENGINE SEIZURE HAD I NOT BEEN AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THIS IS THE SECOND PLASTIC PART FAILURE (FIRST WAS THE THERMOSTAT/TEMP SENSOR HOUSING) WHICH FAILED AND LEAKED COOLANT DURING THE WARRANTY INTERVAL. COOLING SYSTEMS ARE NO PLACE FOR PLASTIC PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222065

88,889 miles · Feb 29, 2008
Air Bags

VEHICLE WAS HIT IN DRIVER SIDE IN APRIL 2005. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOYED THEN. TOOK TRUCK FOR INSPECTION IN JAN 08 AND WAS REJECTED FOR AIR BAG LIGHT ON. COULD BE AIR BAG MODULE DEFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219646

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.