NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
346 reports73,000 miles · Jan 13, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SOUND OF SPINNING TIRES. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUE DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS AND RES…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SOUND OF SPINNING TIRES. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUE DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS AND RESTARTED, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE THE WHEELS LOCKED. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE WHEELS. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AFTER THE WHEELS WERE UNLOCKED. ALSO, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT OPERATE UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A RECALL DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V035000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DIFFERENTIAL UNIT). THE RECALL PERTAINED TO MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WHICH RESULTED TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10376514
30,000 miles · Jan 6, 2011
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRAME WAS RUSTING. OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW YEARS, THE RUSTING HAD PROGRESSED AND WORSENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRAME WAS RUSTING. OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW YEARS, THE RUSTING HAD PROGRESSED AND WORSENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDTATED 2/17/11 *CN UPDATED 04/29/11
NHTSA ODI #10374903
77,000 miles · Nov 26, 2010
Suspension
FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING IS GOING OUT WITH JUST 77,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10367914
95,009 miles · Sep 27, 2010
Tires
PURCHASED P245 75R 16 DEFINITY DAKOTA A/T TIRES FORM PEPBOYS 02/08/2009. I HAVE HAD THEM IN TO BE CHECKED ABOUT 3 TIME FOR BEING OUT OF BALANCE AND KEEP ASK THEM ARE THE TIRE BELT AND ARE TREAD DEFECTED. THE TIRES SEEM TO VIBRATE CONSTANTLY EVEN AFTER A NEW BALANCE. I HAVE ASK THEM ARE THE BELTS SEPARATING AND IS THERE A RECALL…
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PURCHASED P245 75R 16 DEFINITY DAKOTA A/T TIRES FORM PEPBOYS 02/08/2009. I HAVE HAD THEM IN TO BE CHECKED ABOUT 3 TIME FOR BEING OUT OF BALANCE AND KEEP ASK THEM ARE THE TIRE BELT AND ARE TREAD DEFECTED. THE TIRES SEEM TO VIBRATE CONSTANTLY EVEN AFTER A NEW BALANCE. I HAVE ASK THEM ARE THE BELTS SEPARATING AND IS THERE A RECALL ON MY TIRES DOT UT70 PA8 0408 AND DOT UT70 PA8 4808? I BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRE ARE DEFECTED. THAT IS WHY I AM COMPLAINING. I AM GOING BACK TO PEPBOYS TODAY AGAIN AND HOPING THIS CAN BE RESOLVED. I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN AN INJURY OR CRASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10357869
12,000 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A 2002 FORD RANGER WITH A 3.0FEV IT HAS HAD THE PROBLEM RELATED TO NHTSA ID 10018746, FORD TSB 052212. WHILE THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALERS COULD NOT "FIND THE PROBLEM" AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT THEY FOUND THIS ISSUE AND ARE WILLING TO FIX IT FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10352302
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
WHEN THE DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED OUR SPEED CONTROL (RECALL) THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY WOULD LOCK UP WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES AND WHEELS REBUILT AND SPENT OVER $1,000 ON REPAIRS. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER D…
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WHEN THE DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED OUR SPEED CONTROL (RECALL) THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY WOULD LOCK UP WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES AND WHEELS REBUILT AND SPENT OVER $1,000 ON REPAIRS. WHEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER DISCONNECTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL THE DEALERSHIP CHECK IT OUT AND SAID IT WOULD BE FINE. I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT THIS VEHICLE JUST DEVELOPED A SUDDEN BRAKE ISSUE THAT JUST HAPPENED TO CO-INSIDE WITH THE DISCONNECTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHAT IS EVEN HARDER TO BELIEVE IS THAT ONCE IT WAS FIXED THE BRAKE LIGHT MAGICALLY WENT OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325512
70,000 miles · Apr 6, 2010
Air BagsCrash
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A WIRE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT IS TOO SHORT. IF SOMEONE TALL LIKE ME PUSHES THE SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY IT STRETCHES THE WIRE AND CAUSES THE SAFETY SYSTEM TO ERROR AND SHUT OFF. AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT LIGHTS UP ON THE …
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WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A WIRE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT IS TOO SHORT. IF SOMEONE TALL LIKE ME PUSHES THE SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY IT STRETCHES THE WIRE AND CAUSES THE SAFETY SYSTEM TO ERROR AND SHUT OFF. AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT LIGHTS UP ON THE DASHBOARD. FORD ISSUED A BULLETIN TO THE DEALERS AND ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I'VE READ CASES OF PEOPLE BEING CHARGED $600 TO FIX IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324023
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2010
Power Train
IT SHIFTS THE FIRST GEAR EXTREMELY HARD, ONCE THIS HAPPENS, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS..AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR FORD RANGER
NHTSA ODI #10322770
34,000 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 40-45 MPH; PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT AND MORE FREQUENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVA…
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TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 40-45 MPH; PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT AND MORE FREQUENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
NHTSA ODI #10320227
70,000 miles · Mar 12, 2010
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE SPARE TIRE WELL DETACHED FROM ITS FRAME AND ONTO THE ROAD. A REPLACEMENT SPARE TIRE WELL WAS INSTALLED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE SPARE TIRE WELL DETACHED FROM ITS FRAME AND ONTO THE ROAD. A REPLACEMENT SPARE TIRE WELL WAS INSTALLED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME EXHIBITED SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THUS CAUSING DEFECTS IN THE FUEL TANK STRAP AND TRANSMISSION CROSS BEAM. THE BRAKE LINE AND SHACKLES WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10319294
Official recalls
3Oct 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.
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.
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 ↗