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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

What owners actually said

346 reports
86,000 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHEN LOADING ITEMS INTO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH TAILGATE CABLES FAILED AND CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO SLAM DOWN. THE TAILGATE STRUCK THE BUMPER AND WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. SHE SPOKE WITH THE FORD DEALER AND MANUFACTU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHEN LOADING ITEMS INTO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH TAILGATE CABLES FAILED AND CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO SLAM DOWN. THE TAILGATE STRUCK THE BUMPER AND WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. SHE SPOKE WITH THE FORD DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY BOTH DECLINED TO ASSIST. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #10219555

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

2002 FORD RANGER SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE LACK OF PARTS. HE STATES THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE IN. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10219535

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN THE SUMMER OF 2007. HE HAS BEEN WAITING ON THE PARTS TO ARRIVE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO PROVIDE DATES AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL ARRIVE, BUT THEY ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN THE SUMMER OF 2007. HE HAS BEEN WAITING ON THE PARTS TO ARRIVE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO PROVIDE DATES AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL ARRIVE, BUT THEY ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER, PURCHASE DATE, AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,763.

NHTSA ODI #10219521

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED HIM WITH ANY SOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT IS DISPLEASED THAT THE REPAIR WORK HAS NOT YET BEEN PERF…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED HIM WITH ANY SOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT IS DISPLEASED THAT THE REPAIR WORK HAS NOT YET BEEN PERFORMED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 04/11/08 *BF UPDATED 04/11/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219088

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

I RECEIVED A LETTER IN AUG, 2007 ABOUT A SPEED CONTROL DEVICE ON MY TRUCK THAT WAS BAD. SAID TO GO HAVE IT DISCONNECTED WHICH I DID. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE PART AND WAS TOLD ON 2/14/08 THAT THE PART STILL ISN'T AVAILABLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG TO GET THIS FIXED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218112

66,680 miles · Feb 11, 2008
Power Train

I HAVE A 2002 FORD RANGER THAT WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK IT HAD TO HAVE THE SLAVE CYLINDER FOR THE CLUTCH REPLACED WHICH THE DEALER DID, AND THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES, BUT THEN AGAIN BEFORE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT, IT WENT OUT AGAIN AT ABOUT 52000 MILES, AND NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, AT 66,000 MILES, THE SLAVE CYLINDER AG…

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I HAVE A 2002 FORD RANGER THAT WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK IT HAD TO HAVE THE SLAVE CYLINDER FOR THE CLUTCH REPLACED WHICH THE DEALER DID, AND THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES, BUT THEN AGAIN BEFORE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT, IT WENT OUT AGAIN AT ABOUT 52000 MILES, AND NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, AT 66,000 MILES, THE SLAVE CYLINDER AGAIN FOR THE CLUTCH, AND I AM NOT NEW TO DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I AM 47 AND LEARNED TO DRIVE ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN 16, IT ALSO UPSETS ME THAT FORD SAID MY EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE SECOND REPAIR DID NOT COVER THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE A VEHICLE SHOULD REQUIRE THIS PART TO BE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWENTY OR THIRTY THOUSAND MILES. I ALSO BELIEVE SINCE I PURCHASED A MANUAL WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED, MY SON ALSO HAS A 2000 FORD RANGER AND HE RECENTLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WE BOTH HAVE THE V6 WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217748

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED IN OCTOBER. WHEN OCTOBER ARRIVED, THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER CURRENTLY STATES THAT THE PARTS WILL …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED IN OCTOBER. WHEN OCTOBER ARRIVED, THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER CURRENTLY STATES THAT THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN A FEW MONTHS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF UPDAYED*JB

NHTSA ODI #10216371

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD IN AUGUST 2007. THE RECALL NUMBER IS: 05S28. I TRIED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IN SEP. 07 WITH SUPERSTITION FORD IN MESA, AZ. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE BACK ORDERED AND THAT THEY WOULD PUT MY NAME ON A LIST AND CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS WERE IN. I DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL FROM THAT DAY IN SEP.,…

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I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD IN AUGUST 2007. THE RECALL NUMBER IS: 05S28. I TRIED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IN SEP. 07 WITH SUPERSTITION FORD IN MESA, AZ. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE BACK ORDERED AND THAT THEY WOULD PUT MY NAME ON A LIST AND CALL ME WHEN THE PARTS WERE IN. I DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL FROM THAT DAY IN SEP., AND THEREFORE, CALLED THEM AGAIN TODAY, JAN. 28, 08. I WAS ONCE AGAIN TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE ORDERED IN AUG. 07, BUT HAD STILL NOT ARRIVED AS THE DATE OF MY CALL. I WAS STILL ON THEIR LIST WITH MANY OTHERS TO GET THE RECALL SCHEDULED AND SATISFIED. I STRONGLY FEEL FOR THIS RECALL THAT THE TIME INTERVAL IS UNREASONABLE AND UNSAFE. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10216258

90,125 miles · Jan 24, 2008
Power Train

TRUCK STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AFTER COMPLETE OVERHAUL BY FORD ON 5/22/04 ( COMPLAINT ODI NO. 10215891). FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ROAD TEST TRUCK AND VERIFIED PROBLEM. CALLED HOTLINE (5LSB2012) R&R TO OVERHAUL, FOUND STICKING VALVE IN MAIN CONTROL(7A100), RESEALED TRANS.,REPLACED MAIN CONTROL AND TORQUE CONVERTER,FLUSHED COOLE…

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TRUCK STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AFTER COMPLETE OVERHAUL BY FORD ON 5/22/04 ( COMPLAINT ODI NO. 10215891). FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ROAD TEST TRUCK AND VERIFIED PROBLEM. CALLED HOTLINE (5LSB2012) R&R TO OVERHAUL, FOUND STICKING VALVE IN MAIN CONTROL(7A100), RESEALED TRANS.,REPLACED MAIN CONTROL AND TORQUE CONVERTER,FLUSHED COOLER LINES. BUT I RETURNED THE TRUCK COMPLAINING THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING WINING NOISE AND STILL NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. SERVICE MANAGER ROAD TESTED AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WORK WAS PERFORMED AT 60,206 MILES AND NOW AT 90,125 MILES I CAN'T DRIVE THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION S BROKEN AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS HE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER FIXED PROPERLY AT THE FIRST OVER HAUL OR THE SECOND TIME IT WAS OVERHAULED BY FORD. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK WITH A TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED TWICE BY FORE AND NEEDS OVERHAULED AGAIN. NOW FORD INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND THEY CAN NOT HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10215917

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HE CALLED FORD ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY CONTINUED TO STATE THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE WAIT IS EXCESSIVE. THE DEACTIVAT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HE CALLED FORD ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY CONTINUED TO STATE THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE WAIT IS EXCESSIVE. THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #10215372

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.