IllustrationREAR SHOCK ABSORBERS BLEW OUT. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE, AND DRIVER LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF TRUCK. FRONT END CRASHED INTO A WALL AND SPUN AROUND. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. TWO OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED TO DETERMINE CAUSE FOR…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE, AND DRIVER LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF TRUCK. FRONT END CRASHED INTO A WALL AND SPUN AROUND. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. TWO OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED TO DETERMINE CAUSE FOR FAILURE OF AIR BAGS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
AFTER FILLING GAS TANK, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY NINE MILES AND WENT FROM A FULL TANK TO LESS THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS. VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN GASOLINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. AFTER REVIEW OF NHTSA WEB SITE IDENTIFIED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. CONCERNS WERE RAISED WITH REPAIRING …
Read full complaint
AFTER FILLING GAS TANK, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY NINE MILES AND WENT FROM A FULL TANK TO LESS THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS. VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN GASOLINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. AFTER REVIEW OF NHTSA WEB SITE IDENTIFIED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. CONCERNS WERE RAISED WITH REPAIRING DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS SELLING DEALERSHIP. REQUESTED FAILURE ANALYSIS OF FAILED PART TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE OF FAILURE, INFORMED THAT DEALERSHIPS DO NOT HAVE PERSONNEL TRAINED TO DO THIS. INFORMED DEALERSHIPS THAT I DO NOT FEEL VEHICLE IS SAFE AND WOULD LIKE THEM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK DUE TO IT ONLY BEING 35 DAYS OLD AND 1700 MILES, TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF A DIFFERENT FORD VEHICLE. WAS INFORMED THAT FORD DOES NOT HAVE A BUY BACK PROGRAM AND ANY NEGOTIATION WOULD HAVE TO BE DONT WITH REGIONAL FORD REP. WAITED UNTIL 12/11 TO HER FROM REP AND SHE WAS IN A MEETING AND TOLD ME SHE WOULD CALL ME BACK. AFTER NOT HEARING FROM REP FOR OVER A WEEK I BEGAN TO LEAVE HER VOICE MAIL AND STILL DID NOT GET A RETURN CALL. CONTINUED TO CALL CUSTOMER RELATIONS LINE AND DEALERSHIP AND STILL DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING ON MY CONCERN. FINALLY HEARD FROM FORD REP ON 12/15 AND WAS OFFERED AND ESP 5 YRS 75K MILES, INFORMED REP THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF MY TIME THAT WAS WASTED ON THIS ISSUE. REP INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL LINE ON THE RANGER, I INFORMED REP THAT THERE ARE OTHER DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. FORD REP BECAME DEFENSIVE AND ENDED UP HANGING UP ON ME. WHILE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THIS REP I REQUESTED A DSB APPLICATION AND IT TOOK THREE REQUESTS TO FINALLY GET ONE, THIS TOOK FROM 12/21 UNTIL 01/16 TO RECIEVE, NEVER RECIEVED A PHONE CALL FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER REQUESTING DSB APP AS INFORMED BY CUSTOMER LINE THAT I WOULD. CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF SUBMITTING DSP APP. PROBLEM UNRESOLVED PENDING RESULTS OF DSB. *AK
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
DEALER PRESENTED VEHICLE AS REPAIRED 12-22-1 (REPLACED SLAVE CYLINDER FOR CLUTCH). WAS STILL NOT DISENGAGING. STILL AT WILLEY FORD.
THE CLUTCH FAILED WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES, WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. TOWED TO DEALER. *YD
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.