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 reports
45,556 miles · Aug 29, 2005
Steering
THE STEERING MECHANISM WOULD LOCK UP, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. BETWEEN PUTTING IT BETWEEN PARK AND DRIVE IT WOULD START BY SHIFTING IT. LOCAL FORD DEALERS WOULD STATE NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. NOW, I NEED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY THREE MONTHS. NOW IT WON'T EVEN START. STARTER IS OKAY BECAUSE WHEN I TURN IT OVER IT CLICKS.…
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THE STEERING MECHANISM WOULD LOCK UP, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. BETWEEN PUTTING IT BETWEEN PARK AND DRIVE IT WOULD START BY SHIFTING IT. LOCAL FORD DEALERS WOULD STATE NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. NOW, I NEED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY THREE MONTHS. NOW IT WON'T EVEN START. STARTER IS OKAY BECAUSE WHEN I TURN IT OVER IT CLICKS. IT'S NOT THE FX PACKAGE, A 2002 FORD RANGER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134613
30,000 miles · Aug 12, 2005
Tires
DT: CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD A FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS A PRONOUCED WHOPPING NOISE"AT LOW SPEEDS. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS MAKING THE NOISE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION OR EXTENSIVE WEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 DEALERS, THE FIRST SAID IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT, AND THE SECOND SAID THE TIRE WEAR WAS GOOD, AND NO LOOSE NUTS OR BO…
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DT: CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD A FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS A PRONOUCED WHOPPING NOISE"AT LOW SPEEDS. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS MAKING THE NOISE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION OR EXTENSIVE WEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 DEALERS, THE FIRST SAID IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT, AND THE SECOND SAID THE TIRE WEAR WAS GOOD, AND NO LOOSE NUTS OR BOLTS WERE FOUND. CONSUMER HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH A GOODYEAR DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE WHAT THE NOISE WAS. GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS , P235/75R15.*AK NO REPAIRS OR REPLACEMNTS AS OF YET. NO CONFIRMATION AT THIS TIME TO DETERMINE THAT ONGOING NOISE. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10129087
34,000 miles · Aug 3, 2005
Tires
CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH. TRAVELING IN LEFT HAND LANE I-70 W ILLINOIS. TIRE BLEW OUT. MAINTAINED CONTROL OF TRUCK. THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANY EXTERNAL DAMAGE. TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED. 2002 FORD RANGER XLT 4 WHEEL DRIVE. GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT-S P255-70R16. CURRENTLY, GOODYEAR'S RESPONSE IS BLAME THE CONSUME…
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CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH. TRAVELING IN LEFT HAND LANE I-70 W ILLINOIS. TIRE BLEW OUT. MAINTAINED CONTROL OF TRUCK. THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANY EXTERNAL DAMAGE. TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED. 2002 FORD RANGER XLT 4 WHEEL DRIVE. GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT-S P255-70R16. CURRENTLY, GOODYEAR'S RESPONSE IS BLAME THE CONSUMER" WILL ONLY PROVIDE 50% REPLACEMENT COST OF DESTROYED TIRE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10131358
Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2005
Seat Belts
DT: CONTACT STATES DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. THIS COMPONENT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10127461
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2005
Equipment
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT HIS PROBLEM WITH HIS ALARM SYSTEM AND THEY WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CURRENTLY, HE STATES, VEHICLE WILL NOT EVEN CRANK BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY DEVICE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10126288
53,000 miles · Jun 20, 2005
Tires
DT: WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON HIGHWAY 8 WEST IN CALIFORNIA THE TREAD PEELED OFF THE TIRE. THE TIRE DIDN'T GO FLAT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10125948
43,500 miles · Jun 13, 2005
Air BagsCrash
TRUCK HYDROPLAINED AND HIT THE MEDIAN WALL AT 50 MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
NHTSA ODI #10125130
3,486 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Tires
GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRE EQUIPMENT ON THE 2002 FORD RANGER WERE CUPPING. *MR THE TIRES WERE CUPPING ON BOTH EDGES OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAD GIVEN THE VEHICLE AN ALIGNMENT AND SUGGESTED THAT THE TOE:D WAS TOO STRONG. ALL OF THE TIRES CONTINUED TO CUP EVEN THOUGH THE CONSUMER MAINTAINED IT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT…
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GOODYEAR WRANGLER TIRE EQUIPMENT ON THE 2002 FORD RANGER WERE CUPPING. *MR THE TIRES WERE CUPPING ON BOTH EDGES OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAD GIVEN THE VEHICLE AN ALIGNMENT AND SUGGESTED THAT THE TOE:D WAS TOO STRONG. ALL OF THE TIRES CONTINUED TO CUP EVEN THOUGH THE CONSUMER MAINTAINED IT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A BROADCAST MESSAGE WHICH REFERENCED TO A PROBLEM WITH RST P245 75R16 TIRES ON 2001-2004 RANGERS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH P255 70R16. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10124719
83,100 miles · Mar 31, 2005
Structure
WHILE LOADING A GENERATOR ONTO THE FLAT BED OF A PICK UP TRUCK WITH THE TAILGATE DOWN BOTH OF THE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE AND CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO FALL DOWN. BOTH SUPPORT CABLES SHOWED SIGNS OF CORROSION. NO INJURY, EXCEPT MINOR BURNS ON CONSUMER'S ARM AND LEGS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. BOTH INFORMED THE CONSUME…
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WHILE LOADING A GENERATOR ONTO THE FLAT BED OF A PICK UP TRUCK WITH THE TAILGATE DOWN BOTH OF THE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE AND CAUSED THE TAILGATE TO FALL DOWN. BOTH SUPPORT CABLES SHOWED SIGNS OF CORROSION. NO INJURY, EXCEPT MINOR BURNS ON CONSUMER'S ARM AND LEGS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. BOTH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117185
1,578 miles · Mar 10, 2005
Exterior Lighting
2002 FORD RANGER, TURN SIGNAL LEVER DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN TURNING LEFT (BLINKER MALFUNCTION). *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT ENGAGE AT TIMES, BUT WAS LESS FREQUENT THAN THE LEFT. THE DEALER FAILED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE BLINKER PROBLEM BEFORE FINALLY GIVING UP. *JB
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.
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.
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.
2002 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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