IllustrationAT THE ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR FRAME HAS BEEN PERFORATED BY RUST. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO HOW THE FRAME IS SHAPED WHERE THE SPARE TIRE ATTACHES. AN OTHERWISE MECHANICALLY SOUND AND SOLID VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE.
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
What owners actually said
346 reportsTHE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY ROLLS AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK. TOLD THAT THE PARKING PAWL MAY BE DEFECTIVE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE VEHICLE ROLLING IN PARK.
CV JOINT PROBLEMS
REAR BUMPER AND SPARE TIRE HOLDER ROTTED OFF .. REAR SHACKLES ON BOTH SIDES.. GAS TANK STRAPS AND CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS IT UP... NOW THE FRAME HAS ROTTED IN HALF RIGHT IN MIDDLE OF TRUCK... SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY AND BRAKING ABILITY. USING AN OBD DIAGNOSTIC TOOL, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY AND BRAKING ABILITY. USING AN OBD DIAGNOSTIC TOOL, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD OF FAYETTEVILLE, INC (LOCATED AT 275 GLYNN ST N, FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214, (770) 461-1151) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM NEEDED TO BE FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
I BOUGHT MY RANGER NEW, IT CURRENTLY HAS 232,000 MILES. FRAME RUST IS SO BAD IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REAR SPRING SHACKLE MOUNTS RUSTED AWAY, BED IS RESTING ON SPRINGS. RUST RAINS FROM UNDERNEATH WHEN HOOD IS ALLOWED TO CLOSE. BRAKE LINE MOUNTS ARE NEARLY GONE, AS IS GAS TANK STRAPS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN FRAME ROT THIS BAD, EVEN…
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I BOUGHT MY RANGER NEW, IT CURRENTLY HAS 232,000 MILES. FRAME RUST IS SO BAD IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REAR SPRING SHACKLE MOUNTS RUSTED AWAY, BED IS RESTING ON SPRINGS. RUST RAINS FROM UNDERNEATH WHEN HOOD IS ALLOWED TO CLOSE. BRAKE LINE MOUNTS ARE NEARLY GONE, AS IS GAS TANK STRAPS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN FRAME ROT THIS BAD, EVEN IN NORTHERN STATES WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED.
TRUCK EXHIBITED A 'CLUNK' NOISE FROM LEFT REAR WHEN TRAVERSING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK DONE. SERVICE MANAGER SAID NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE'FRAME RUST WAS SO BAD A NEW LEAF SPRING, ETC. COULD NOT BE ATTACHED AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SEE…
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TRUCK EXHIBITED A 'CLUNK' NOISE FROM LEFT REAR WHEN TRAVERSING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK DONE. SERVICE MANAGER SAID NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE'FRAME RUST WAS SO BAD A NEW LEAF SPRING, ETC. COULD NOT BE ATTACHED AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SEE ATTACHED INVOICE. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY HOME AND IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. (DATE OF OCCURRENCE IS APPROXIMATE. IT BECAME WORSE AS TIME WENT ON AND OCCURS AT ANY SPEED.)
REAR SPRING HANGERS ROTTED AND FAILED AND BOTH SIDES OF FRAME RUSTED BAD..SPARE TIRE HOLDER RUSTED ROTTED AND BROKE LETTING SPARE TIRE AND REAR BUMPER TO DROP DOWN. I CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT MADE IT TO THE ROAD.WE WERE ON THE ROAD WHEN THE RIGHT HAND SIDE CAME DOWN.LEFT SIDE HAPPENED A YEAR BEFORE THE RIGHT SIDE[ESTIMATE].
FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE ROT RESULTING IN AN UNSTABLE HANDLING FEEL TO THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING. ALSO THE LEAF SPRING MOUNTS ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND ABOUT TO FALL APART, I FEEL THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE.
EXCESSIVE RUST UNDERNEATH. LEAF SPRING HANGERS FAILED AT 11 YEARS/120K MILES. SPARE TIRE WINCH SEPARATED FROM TRUCK AT 14 YEARS/155K MILES. . AN EXHAUST MOUNT HAS RUSTED AWAY LEAVING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MARGINALLY SUPPORTED - UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED. LOGGING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO THE GAS TANK STRAP FAILURE. ONE G…
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EXCESSIVE RUST UNDERNEATH. LEAF SPRING HANGERS FAILED AT 11 YEARS/120K MILES. SPARE TIRE WINCH SEPARATED FROM TRUCK AT 14 YEARS/155K MILES. . AN EXHAUST MOUNT HAS RUSTED AWAY LEAVING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MARGINALLY SUPPORTED - UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED. LOGGING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO THE GAS TANK STRAP FAILURE. ONE GAS TANK STRAP SEPARATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK BED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO - AGE 14.5 YEARS, ~160K MILES. WITH THE SPARE TIRE, I NOTICED IT HANGING LOW (3 OF 4 FASTENERS HAD PULLED AWAY FROM THEIR MOUNTS), AND WITH LITTLE EFFORT, WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT FALL OFF. HAD THE REMAINING FASTENER FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY, OBVIOUSLY BAD THINGS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. WITH THE GAS TANK STRAP, LUCKILY IT SEPARATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE BED RATHER THAN FROM THE FRAME, AND I COULD HEAR IT RUBBING AGAINST THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE OTHER STRAP WAS ABLE TO CARRY THE ENTIRE WEIGHT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE GAS TANK.
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.