KnownCarProblems2002 Ford Ranger Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 346 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Ranger, most often about the transmission (18% of complaints, typically around 51,500 miles). It is 4th of 23 Ranger model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2002 Ford Ranger problems
Transmission
61 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, clutch assembly, axle assembly.
Replacement of transmission in a 2002 Ford edge Ranger. This transmission went bad with no indication of a problem until the day of failure. The vehicle had 51000 miles on it at the time of failure and the truck was maintained according to manufacturers suggested maintenance. According to the dealer where the repair/…
Car would not shift into overdrive. Gear indicator stuck in drive, even if vehicle is in parked. Preliminary Ford inspection revealed 3d gear failure.
Speed control
51 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, accelerator pedal.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Ranger. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 07v33600 (vehicle speed control). The dealer disconnected the deactivation switch. The ABS warning indicator light illuminated intermittently after the switch was disconnected. The dealer stated that the failure was…
After my 2002 Ford Ranger was recalled for a cruise control issue, I kept blowing fuses. In taking it in to my Ford dealer they indicated a short within the driver's side airbag deployment system. Went through about 20 - 10 amp fuses before I could take it in. Failure of a safety item like the airbag should not happen…
Body and structure
49 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Spare tire mount fell off truck going 50 MPH. Could have killed some one. Mounts were totally rusted off. Since then have had to weld frame several times to pass inspection. Frame is not going to pass again this year on a truck with great engine, tires, brakes, etc. Land fill here we come. Something was very wrong…
I bought this truck from a dealership in jan 2010. Truck was in good shape, had frame check out before I bought it and looked very good. Truck had only 48000 miles on it. In jan of 2015 the truck bed sat a little crooked check frame and seen a crack on frame 3' long by front shackle. At that time truck only has 94000…
Engine
45 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Ranger. The contact stated he heard a clicking noise coming from the engine while driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was…
Engine ejected spark plug from cylinder number three. Mechanic said it is a common problem with Ford vehicles manufactured with an aluminum head. I am fortunate that this occurred while accelerating from a stop sign at only 20mph. At higher speeds, the mechanic said the spark plug may have ejected itself straight…
Air bags
37 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly.
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.
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…
Suspension
36 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 94,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Ranger. While driving 65 MPH, the contact heard a rumbling sound coming from the front passenger side tire. He examined the vehicle and noticed that the passenger side front wheel bearing was very loose. The contact did not notice any differences in the vehicle beforehand and the vehicle…
I bought this truck from a dealership in jan 2010. Truck was in good shape, had frame check out before I bought it and looked very good. Truck had only 48000 miles on it. In jan of 2015 the truck bed sat a little crooked check frame and seen a crack on frame 3' long by front shackle. At that time truck only has 94000…
Wheels and tires
33 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt, temporary/emergency spare tire, sidewall.
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…
The tires started to wear in an odd cupping shape after checking tire pressure constantly to verify this was not the cause of the wear. Additionally multiple alignments had been performed to also verify this was not the cause of the wear. After driving for weeks later, the tire failed at 35 MPH in a busy suburban…
Brakes
23 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
After complaints to the Ford dealerabout shaking in the front brakes that they could not find, I took my 2002 Ford Ranger with 27,000 miles on it to my local mechanic who is a napa service center. The shaking became very bad and the mechanic would fit me in the next day to resuface the rotors. They found the silver…
After 25000 miles, the steering wheel would shake violently when braking at highway speeds. Took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer found that the rotors were warped. The dealer asked if I did a lot of stop and go driving. I explained that I drive 4 miles to the freeway, 75 miles on the freeway at 4:30am, barely…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Ford Ranger recalls
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: differential unit
Risk: Differential fractures could potentially result in wheel lock-up.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2002 Ford Ranger
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Ranger?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (61 complaints, typically around 51,500 miles); speed control (51 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); body and structure (49 complaints, typically around 97,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Ranger have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 13, 2009 (speed control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Ford Ranger?
- It is 4th of 23 Ranger model years by number of complaints, with 346 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.