IllustrationVEHICLE HIT TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE; IMPROPER DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; FAILURE OF OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. *JB
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
Air Bags complaints
37 reportsTRUCK HYDROPLAINED AND HIT THE MEDIAN WALL AT 50 MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
2002 FORD RANGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *BF THE CONSUMERS SON FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. *JB
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH BLINKING 4X THEN 7 TIMES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THE REASON MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME WAS BECAUSE THE CONNECTION WAS DIRTY. MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS WHY IS THEIR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS IN NEED OF CLEANING? THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND CHARGE YOU LABOR TO CLEAN THE CONNECTION. *JB
CONSUMER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK *TC
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.DEALER SAID HARNESS UNDER FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAME UNDONE FROM MOVING SEAT BACK AND FORTH WHEN ENTERING REAR SEAT OF VEHICLE.THEY RECONNECTED HARNESS AND CLEARED COMPUTER LIGHTCOST $162.50 TO RECONNECT HARNESS . WOULD LIKE REFUND FROM FORD FOR DEFECT IN WIRING HARNESS.NO NEW PARTS INVOLVED IN FIXING PROBLEM…
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AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.DEALER SAID HARNESS UNDER FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAME UNDONE FROM MOVING SEAT BACK AND FORTH WHEN ENTERING REAR SEAT OF VEHICLE.THEY RECONNECTED HARNESS AND CLEARED COMPUTER LIGHTCOST $162.50 TO RECONNECT HARNESS . WOULD LIKE REFUND FROM FORD FOR DEFECT IN WIRING HARNESS.NO NEW PARTS INVOLVED IN FIXING PROBLEM WITH HARNESS. I HAD 48,678 MILES GUARANTEED FOR 50,000 MILES. *AK
I PURCHASED A 2002 RANGER EDGE 4X4 , IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE AIRBAG SENSOR, ABS SENSOR, FRONT END HAD TOBE REALIGNED DUE TO A BAD ALIGNMENT AT THE FACTORY,THE TIRES IN THE FRONT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 4500 MILES. NOW AT 38000 MILES THE 4X4 DRIVETRAIN WAS LEAKING AT THE FRONT COVER. THE BREATHING TUBE WAS…
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I PURCHASED A 2002 RANGER EDGE 4X4 , IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE AIRBAG SENSOR, ABS SENSOR, FRONT END HAD TOBE REALIGNED DUE TO A BAD ALIGNMENT AT THE FACTORY,THE TIRES IN THE FRONT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 4500 MILES. NOW AT 38000 MILES THE 4X4 DRIVETRAIN WAS LEAKING AT THE FRONT COVER. THE BREATHING TUBE WAS THROWING OIL OUT ONTO THE ENGINE . I WAS TOLD BY FORD COMPANY AND A FORD TECH. THAT THIS WAS A E4NGINNERING PROBLEM. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST OF 796.00. THE COVER WAS REPLACED WITH A PART THAT WAS USED PREVIOUS TO 1995, PART NUMBER IS FOF6TZ-4033-BA. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL AND CAN I EXPECT FUTURE PROBLEMS. *JB
ON 12/14/03 I WAS DRIVING EAST AT 50 MPH. WHEN A CAR RAN A STOP SIGN AND A FLASHING RED LIGHT. MY RANGER EDGE FULLY IMPACTED HIS VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AT 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I PUSHED HIS VEHICLE OFF OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE WHICH BROKE AND CAME DOWN ACROSS THE …
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ON 12/14/03 I WAS DRIVING EAST AT 50 MPH. WHEN A CAR RAN A STOP SIGN AND A FLASHING RED LIGHT. MY RANGER EDGE FULLY IMPACTED HIS VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AT 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I PUSHED HIS VEHICLE OFF OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE WHICH BROKE AND CAME DOWN ACROSS THE TOP OF MY TRUCK. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT & SHOULDER HARNESS. I WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR APPROXIMATELY. 20 MINUTES. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY RIGHT KNEE, LEFT ELBOW AND TO THE BACK OF MY HEAD. THE FRONT END OF MY RANGER EDGE WAS PUSHED BACK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ABOUT 16 INCHES. THIS IMPACT COVERED THE WHOLE OF THE FRONT END OF THE RANGER WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BEND THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE CAB AND THE FRONT OF THE BED. I HAVE OFFICIALLY INFORMED FORD AND SENT ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION INCLUDING PICTURES BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM. THEY SAID THEY MIGHT DO AN INVESTIGATION??? *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 30-MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FIFTEEN MINUTES PRIOR TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR FLASHED THEN IT STAYED ON.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, MINUTES LATER THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE HIT A WALL. *JB
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROAD SIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER BLACKED OUT, AND SUSTAINED SEVERE BODILY INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
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.