IllustrationDOME LIGHT WONT SHUT OFF & DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON . THE DOME LIGHT COULD START A FIRE. *NM
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 reportsI OWNED A 2002 FORD RANGER WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT AND CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AFTER EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY. BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THE TRUCKS ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND COCKPIT WERE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE TRUCK WAS DESTROYED…
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I OWNED A 2002 FORD RANGER WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT AND CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AFTER EXITING AN EXPRESSWAY. BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THE TRUCKS ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND COCKPIT WERE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THE TRUCK WAS DESTROYED. *JB
TRUCK COMBUSTION WHILE PARKED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO INVESTIGATION BY INSURANCE COMPANY. FIRE DEPT CLASSIFIED CAUSE AS UNKNOWN. *JB
I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 15:45 ON COLORADO HIGHWAY. 66. I WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND AT 65 MPH WHEN THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF IN MY 2002 FORD RANGER. BECAUSE OF THIS I ENDED UP CROSSING THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC AND INTO THE DITCH. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT END SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS AND WA…
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I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 15:45 ON COLORADO HIGHWAY. 66. I WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND AT 65 MPH WHEN THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF IN MY 2002 FORD RANGER. BECAUSE OF THIS I ENDED UP CROSSING THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC AND INTO THE DITCH. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT END SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS AND WAS BASICALLY GIVEN A RUN AROUND FOR 9 WEEKS. ON APRIL 13, 2006 FORD CONTACTED ME AND SAID THAT THEIR ENGINEERS HAD DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF BECAUSE I WENT INTO THE DITCH NOT BEFORE. SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO FATALITIES OR ACCIDENTS. *JB
AUTO TRANSMISSION ON 2002 FORD RANGER EDGE WITH 43000 MILES FAILED DUE TO TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. VEHICLE NOT USED FOR TOWING OR HAULING. REQUIRED COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. *NM
02 RANGER 4X4. FORD IS USING JUCKY VALVE BODY ON THERE AUTO TRANSMISSION!!! THIS PROBLEM MAKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIP & SLOW SHIFT. ON THE RANGER STATION THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM ON RANGER& A BIG ONE ON EXPLORER. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. AK
THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR (SUICIDE DOOR) LATCHES AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM. THE BOTTOM LATCH WILL NOT LATCH. AS A RESULT, WHENEVER YOU CLOSE THE REGULAR PASSENGER DOOR IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR A SECURE LATCH. THE INSIDE LIGHT AND THE IP LIGHT (DOOR AJAR) REMAINS ON UNLESS YOU GO OUTSIDE AND PUSH ON THE DOOR. IF YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD…
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THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR (SUICIDE DOOR) LATCHES AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM. THE BOTTOM LATCH WILL NOT LATCH. AS A RESULT, WHENEVER YOU CLOSE THE REGULAR PASSENGER DOOR IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR A SECURE LATCH. THE INSIDE LIGHT AND THE IP LIGHT (DOOR AJAR) REMAINS ON UNLESS YOU GO OUTSIDE AND PUSH ON THE DOOR. IF YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE LIGHT CONDITION WILL REAPPEAR. THIS DOOR HAS PROBABLY NOT BEEN USED MORE THAN 25 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD RANGER SUPERCAB. *NM
TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO FAIL TO FLASH ON OCCASION. A LOUD BUZZING SOUND SEEMED TO COME FROM THE FLASHER. A SLIGHT PULLING BACK ON THE INDICATOR STALK WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE THE SIGNALS TO WORK. THIS, HOWEVER ALSO CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLASH (FLASH TO PASS). THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO COME ON OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS A…
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TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO FAIL TO FLASH ON OCCASION. A LOUD BUZZING SOUND SEEMED TO COME FROM THE FLASHER. A SLIGHT PULLING BACK ON THE INDICATOR STALK WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE THE SIGNALS TO WORK. THIS, HOWEVER ALSO CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLASH (FLASH TO PASS). THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO COME ON OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. HAPPENS WITH BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL. I AM AWAITING APPOINTMENT TO HAVE REPAIRED. *NM
VEHICLE HIT TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE; IMPROPER DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; FAILURE OF OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. *JB
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.