Illustration2002 FORD RANGER STALLED. *BF THE DRIVE SHAFT JERKED AND SLAMMED WHEN ACCELERATING IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *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 reports2002 FORD RANGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *BF THE CONSUMERS SON FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. *JB
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE WHICH TOOK ABOUT 3 MINUTES. ON THE RETURN TRIP HOME HE BEGAN SMELLING SMOKE. THEN CONSUMER BEGAN TO SEE THE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND COULD SEE THE ENGINE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS OUT, BUT SMOKE CONTINUED …
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE WHICH TOOK ABOUT 3 MINUTES. ON THE RETURN TRIP HOME HE BEGAN SMELLING SMOKE. THEN CONSUMER BEGAN TO SEE THE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND COULD SEE THE ENGINE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS OUT, BUT SMOKE CONTINUED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNDER WARRANTY. *AK THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. FIRE REPORT ON FILE. *TC
NHTSA CAMPAIGN 02V035000; FORD ISSUED AN REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL CASE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT HAS A BENT AXLE IN WHICH IT COULD BREAK. THE VIN IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *NM *NM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AND WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES. *AK
ALL FOUR OF THE VEHICLE TIRES (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) ARE SHOWING SIGN OF PREMATURE WEAR WITH LESS THEN 30,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE THE TIRE INFORMATION (MAKE, MODEL, TIRE SIZE AND THE DOT NUMBERS). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
CORRECTION TO MY ORIGINAL COPMPLAINT MY 2002 RANGER REAR TIRES GOT STUCK IN A LIL SNOW ON THE STREET AND AS THEY HIT PAVMENT WHILE MOVING FOWARD I HEARD A POP FROM THE REAR THEN HEARD A FEW MORE WHILE TURNING CORNERS AND HAD A REAR END LOCK UP. TOOK TO DEALER ON FLAT BED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER HAD SNA…
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CORRECTION TO MY ORIGINAL COPMPLAINT MY 2002 RANGER REAR TIRES GOT STUCK IN A LIL SNOW ON THE STREET AND AS THEY HIT PAVMENT WHILE MOVING FOWARD I HEARD A POP FROM THE REAR THEN HEARD A FEW MORE WHILE TURNING CORNERS AND HAD A REAR END LOCK UP. TOOK TO DEALER ON FLAT BED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER HAD SNAPPED (REAR AXLE HOUSING) AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. REAR AXLE HOUSINGS DO NOT BREAK LIKE THIS AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2002 FX4 MANUAL TRANS RANGERS FOR THIS SAME REASON AND FEEL THE AUTOS NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT. CONSEQUENCE IS REAR END LOCKUP.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE SNOW WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD POP NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH BLINKING 4X THEN 7 TIMES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THE REASON MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME WAS BECAUSE THE CONNECTION WAS DIRTY. MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS WHY IS THEIR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS IN NEED OF CLEANING? THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND CHARGE YOU LABOR TO CLEAN THE CONNECTION. *JB
SINCE ABOUT 10,000 MILES MY ENGINE HAS MADE A CRACKLING NOISE UNDER ACCELERATION. 'VE TALKED TO MANY OTHER RANGER OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY TOOK THEIR TRUCKS TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THE NOISE WAS FROM THE TIMING IN THE ENGINE AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED. IT W…
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SINCE ABOUT 10,000 MILES MY ENGINE HAS MADE A CRACKLING NOISE UNDER ACCELERATION. 'VE TALKED TO MANY OTHER RANGER OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM SAID THEY TOOK THEIR TRUCKS TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THE NOISE WAS FROM THE TIMING IN THE ENGINE AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED. IT WAS TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF A AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY MAKES A MISTAKE AND IT IS NOT EASILY REPAIRABLE AND IS FREQUENT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SO THE PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED. I'M GOING TO SELL MY TRUCK IN THE SPRING BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS TIMING PROBLEM WILL HAVE ANY LONG TERM EFFECT ON THE ENGINE ITSELF BUT I DO NOT WANT TO WAIT AROUND AND SEE SINCE FORD ONLY OFFERS A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND I HAVE 45,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK.*AK
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.