NHTSA lists 346 complaints for the 2002 Ford Ranger, 43 of them mention a crash and 12 mention a fire. 25 complaints mention an injury, with 40 injuries and 2 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-08.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD RANGER.
At a glance
Complaints
346
With crash
43
With fire
12
With injury (complaints)
25
Injuries
40
Deaths
2
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
4,500,000
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
128
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The required sales year is missing.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
POWER TRAIN
61
17.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
51
14.7%
STRUCTURE
49
14.2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
39
11.3%
AIR BAGS
37
10.7%
SUSPENSION
36
10.4%
TIRES
30
8.7%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
20
5.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
17
4.9%
SEAT BELTS
16
4.6%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
STRUCTURE
BODY
28
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
22
AIR BAGS
FRONTAL
20
STRUCTURE
FRAME AND MEMBERS
18
POWER TRAIN
DRIVELINE
14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
8
SEAT BELTS
FRONT
7
POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
6
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Defect: 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 OVERHEA (excerpt)
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. (excerpt)
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. (excerpt)
Defect: 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. (excerpt)
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. (excerpt)
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 (excerpt)
Defect: 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: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
0 investigations; 0 open.
Manufacturer communications
128 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
41
POWER TRAIN
34
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
STRUCTURE
9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
EQUIPMENT
4
SUSPENSION
3
10177863
Date: 2020-07-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is
10155551
Date: 2019-02-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition
10156863
Date: 2019-02-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE.
Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition
10020173
Date: 2006-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE - INSTALL SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS PRIOR TO REMOVING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT - SERVICE TIP. *TT
10018746
Date: 2005-11-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
BUCK/JERK AND MISS DURING DRIVE CYCLE ABOVE 3000 RPM - NO DTC - 3.0L 2V GAS AND FFV ENGINE. *TT
10014138
Date: 2005-06-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT
10017923
Date: 2005-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
SERVICE WIRING HARNESS REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
10017891
Date: 2005-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM VENT TUBE - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4X4 OR AWD. *TT
10013300
Date: 2005-01-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
INSIDE DOOR PULL HANDLE LOOSE - VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 11/15/2002 AND EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS/DOOR LOCKS. *TT
10013315
Date: 2005-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
HIGH IDLE AT COLD START. *TT
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.