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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

Electrical System complaints

17 reports
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80,000 miles · Oct 4, 2016
Electrical SystemStructure

DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER CAR IS STARTED AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE IS STOPPED BEFORE GOING OUT. DOES NOT HAPPEN IF VERY COLD 20 DEGREES F, OR LESS. ALSO DRIVERS DOOR WILL PARTIALLY OPEN OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING TO THE SAFETY CATCH POSITION. DOOR OPENING IS NORMALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS, …

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DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER CAR IS STARTED AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE IS STOPPED BEFORE GOING OUT. DOES NOT HAPPEN IF VERY COLD 20 DEGREES F, OR LESS. ALSO DRIVERS DOOR WILL PARTIALLY OPEN OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING TO THE SAFETY CATCH POSITION. DOOR OPENING IS NORMALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS, LESS THAN 30 MPH AND MOSTLY WHEN GOING AROUND TURNS. STARTED ALMOST A YEAR AGO.

NHTSA ODI #10913677

250,000 miles · Aug 16, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed ControlFire

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON HWY 79FROM PALISTINE TX TO JACKSONVILLE TX THURSDAY 7/11/2016 WHEN WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK WE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED FIRE UNDER THE HOOD I TRIED TO POOR WATER ON IT ALL IT DID WAS JUST GET WORSE AND OUR TRUCK ALL MY WORK TOOLS MY LIVELY HOOD BLEW UP.

NHTSA ODI #10896403

105,000 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

CANT COTROL CAR WANT TO LUNGE FORWARD OR STALL HARD TO DRIVE LIKE THIS I AM TOLD IT IS THE (ETB) ALSO DOOR WILL NOT STOP CHIMING

NHTSA ODI #10852399

162,277 miles · Oct 26, 2014
Electrical System

PASSENGER POWER WINDOW WILL NOT WORK. REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS BY AN ASE TECHNICIAN INCLUDING SWITCHES,MOTOR,AND TRACK. WINDOW WILL STILL NOT OPERATE. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE IS POWER TO THE WINDOW BUT IT JUST WON'T WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10654411

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE WAS SET TO WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL IF THE BATTERY HAPPENED TO DIE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE WAS SET TO WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL IF THE BATTERY HAPPENED TO DIE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS WERE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02/14/12*LJ UPDATED 02/24/12

NHTSA ODI #10444671

99,000 miles · Jun 11, 2009
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY HIS NEIGHBOR THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS SMOKING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND STATED THAT THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT, BUT A FIRE REPORT WAS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY HIS NEIGHBOR THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS SMOKING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND STATED THAT THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT, BUT A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. A CASE WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #10273550

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2007
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

DOOR AJAR LIGHTS IS LIT ON DASH AND DOME LIGHT STAYS ON. SOMETIMES WILL EVENTUALLY GO OFF, BUT EVENTUALLY COMES BACK ON BY ITSELF OR IF JARRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213126

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2007
Electrical System

FAILURE TO PERFORM SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203159

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2006
Electrical System

DOME LIGHT WONT SHUT OFF & DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON . THE DOME LIGHT COULD START A FIRE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10158951

30,000 miles · Apr 27, 2006
Electrical SystemFire

TRUCK COMBUSTION WHILE PARKED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO INVESTIGATION BY INSURANCE COMPANY. FIRE DEPT CLASSIFIED CAUSE AS UNKNOWN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156343

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.