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

4,000 miles · Dec 22, 2004

Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK *TC

NHTSA ODI #10101922

48,678 miles · Dec 20, 2004

Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.DEALER SAID HARNESS UNDER FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAME UNDONE FROM MOVING SEAT BACK AND FORTH WHEN ENTERING REAR SEAT OF VEHICLE.THEY RECONNECTED HARNESS AND CLEARED COMPUTER LIGHTCOST $162.50 TO RECONNECT HARNESS . WOULD LIKE REFUND FROM FORD FOR DEFECT IN WIRING HARNESS.NO NEW PARTS INVOLVED IN FIXING PROBLEM…

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NHTSA ODI #10104148

4,000 miles · Dec 1, 2004

SteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THIS RESULTED IN A CONCUSSION. DRIVER HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVERE HEADACHES. MANUFACTURER WAS PROVIDING NO ASSISTANCE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10101920

60,000 miles · Oct 1, 2004

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE BRAKES ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WORE NORMALLY BUT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. CONSUMER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WAS TO COVER THE VEHICLE FOR UP TO 60,000 MILES. DEALER WILL NOT HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10090062

58,000 miles · Sep 10, 2004

Tires

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY APPROX 70 MPH WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF OF TIRE AND WRAPED IT SELF AROUND REAR AXEL. THIS CAUSED HEAVY DAMEGE TO LEFT REAR WUARTER PANEL AND TAIL LIGHT. TIRE STILL INFLATED BUT WITH NO TREAD. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER (FUTURA AND PEP BOYS REFUSE TO RETURN ANY PHONE CALLS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10090772

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2004

Power TrainTires

A LOUD KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISE WAS HEAD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AXLES/TIRES, AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091627

20,500 miles · Aug 24, 2004

Seats

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RATTLED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND WHEN THE SEAT WAS NOT BEING OCCUPIED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS. THEY REPLACED THE SEAT TRACKS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089660

20,450 miles · Aug 17, 2004

Tires

SIDEWALL OF TIRE FAILED WHILE ON HIGHWAY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088089

23,000 miles · Jul 30, 2004

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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I HAVE A 2002 FORD RANGER XLT EXT. CAB AND THE BRAKES STARTED SOME SQUEALING AROUND 23,000 MILES. WELL, I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD TO RESURFACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND REAR DRUMS. THE DEALER I THINK DID A GREAT JOB, IT TOOK THEM 4-5 HOURS, ALTHOUGH THEY DID IT AT THEIR COST. THE PADS THEY SAID WERE OK. I TALKED TO FORD ALREADY (DUE TO A SURVEY I FILLED OUT), AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD PASS IT ON TO THEIR ENGINEERS. WHAT GETS ME IS I ALSO OWN ANOTHER FORD AND THE BRAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN TOUCHED AT 68,500 MILES! NOW I HAVE GOT ALMOST 25,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND WHEN THEY HEAT UP AND/OR YOU APPLY THEM THEY ARE BARLY SQUELLING AGAIN. SO I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO EITHER TAKE IT BACK TO FORD OR GET ANOTHER TRUCK BRAND. IT SEEMS FORD KNOWS SOMETHING BECAUSE GO LOOK AT NEW FORD RANGER'S AT A DEALERSHIP AND THE BRAKES ARE BIGGER & BETTER! *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083018

13,438 miles · Jul 19, 2004

Electrical System

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I HAVE LEARNED OF THIS "AUTO REV LIMITER" FUNCTION ON MY 2002 FORD RANGER PICKUP. I NOTICED THIS WHEN CLEARING SOME CLEANING FLUID FORM THE INTAKE OF THE ENGINE. IT LIMITED THE ENGINE TO 3500 RPM WERE IT OSCILLATED. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER INSTANCES OF A GOVERNOR SET AT 85 MPH ON THIS TRUCK. I FEEL THIS IS UN-NECESSARY FOR FORD TO INSTALL THIS AND NOT MENTION IT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. IF IT IS MENTIONS I DO NOT SEE IT. I FEEL THIS PROPOSES A RISK FACTOR IN DRIVING OR PASSING WHEN A LITTLE EXTRA SPEED MAY BE NEEDED. I HAVE NOT EXCEEDED 85 MPH IN THIS TRUCK AND KNOWING IT IS LIMITED TO THIS SPEED HELPS ME JUDGE WEATHER OR NOT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD WITH THIS RESTRICTION OR IF I NEED TO ACT IN AN EMERGENCY WHAT THE TRUCK IS CAPABLE OF. IT NEEDS TO TOLD TO THE BUYING PUBLIC BEFORE A PURCHASE IS MADE ON THIS TRUCK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10082230

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.