IllustrationPROBLEMS ENGAGING ACCELERATOR WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED.*MR (NAR)PLEASE REVIEW FOR FURTHER DETAILS. *CB
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 reportsTHIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS. RECENTLY I BOUGHT A USED 2002 FORD RANGER XLT, W/ 4.0 LITER ENGINE, AND I NOTED THE 125 MPH SPEEDOMETER. LAST EVENING AN 18 WHEELER CUT INTO MY LANE AND I QUICKLY ACCELERATED HITTING ABOUT 90 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE TO AVOID BEING CRUSHED. HOWEVER JUST AS I WAS CLEARING THE FRONT END OF THE…
Read full complaint
THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS. RECENTLY I BOUGHT A USED 2002 FORD RANGER XLT, W/ 4.0 LITER ENGINE, AND I NOTED THE 125 MPH SPEEDOMETER. LAST EVENING AN 18 WHEELER CUT INTO MY LANE AND I QUICKLY ACCELERATED HITTING ABOUT 90 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE TO AVOID BEING CRUSHED. HOWEVER JUST AS I WAS CLEARING THE FRONT END OF THE SEMI THE ENGINE BEGAN TO FAULTER AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW. PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR DIDN'T INCREASE VEHICLE SPEED OR ENGINE RPM. I WAS SCARED OUT OF MY WITS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT NIGHT AND THEY AGREED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. WHICH THEY LATER DEFERRED ON (BASICALLY THEY KNEW OF THE DEFECT). AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPS AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THE FUEL EJECTORS ARE DESIGNED TO CUT OUT AT HIGH SPEEDS. I PRESSED FURTHER AND TALKED TO OTHER DEALERSHIPS TO FIND OUT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DETEREMINED UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS BY FORD, SO THIS SAFETY FEATURE WAS INCORPORATED IN THE VEHICLE. I GOT LITTLE "POSITIVE" RESPONSES WHEN I ASKED WHY A)THE SPEEDOMOTER WENT TO 125 MPH (NOTING THAT OLER VEHICHLES MANUFACTURED IN THE MID TO LATE 1980'S ONLY HAD 85 MPH SPEEDOMETERS) B)WHY AM I PAYING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLARS FOR A 4.0 LITER ENGINE AND C) WHY IS THIS UNSAFE CONDITION NOT DISCLOSED ANYWHERE OR AT ANY TIME DURING MY PURCHASE? I ASKED IF FATTY FOODS ARE BAD FOR ME WOULD I PAY FULL PRICE FOR A 2 LB. STEAK AND ONLY BE SERVED A 6 OZ. ONE? HE HAD NO RESPONSE. *AK
SLIGHT JERKING COMING FROM DRIVE TRAIN WHEN LIGHTLY ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. DEALER REPLACED DRIVESHAFT IN AUG. 2002, PROBLEM WENT AWAY TEMPORARILY, CAME BACK AND RETURNED TO DEALER. WAS TOLD THERE IS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. CALLED FORD MOTOR TO COMPLAIN AND GOT NO SATISFACTION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30-MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FIFTEEN MINUTES PRIOR TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR FLASHED THEN IT STAYED ON.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, MINUTES LATER THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE HIT A WALL. *JB
VEHICLE LOCKED UP IN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THIS CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO LOCK UP. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A FENCE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROAD SIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER BLACKED OUT, AND SUSTAINED SEVERE BODILY INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING LEAKED FLUID. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR.THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
BUZZ FROM FRONT WHILE GOING SLOW/ THUMP/CLICKING NOISE FROM UNDER TRUCK IT'S BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES,THUMP FEELING WHEN TACKING OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 - 40 MPH RIGHT REAR END COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND FELL OFF THE TRUCK. WHEN THIS OCCURRED DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, BUT DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT A PIN INSIDE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SHEARED OFF.*AK PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS
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.