Model year record

2002 Ford Ranger

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 450 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V399000

Vehicle speed control

Component: Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 4,500,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2009-10-13
Owners notified: 2009-10-27

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V336000

Vehicle speed control

Component: Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 3,600,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-08-03
Owners notified: 2007-08-13

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V035000

Power train: driveline: differential unit

Component: Power train: driveline: differential unit
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 1,096
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-02-04
Owners notified: 2002-03-29

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

DIFFERENTIAL FRACTURES COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN WHEEL LOCK-UP.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Vehicle speed control	45	65,000 mi
Suspension	28	115,000 mi
Structure: body	23	104,604 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	19	59,825 mi
Tires	19	34,000 mi
Air bags	17	48,678 mi
Air bags: frontal	16	17,000 mi
Unknown or other	14	70,200 mi
Engine and engine cooling	13	20,000 mi
Electrical system	12	80,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	12	5,185 mi
Power train	12	100,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	10	13,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit	9	46,000 mi
Seat belts	9	64,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	9	70,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	9	123,060 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	7	15,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	7	19,831 mi
Engine	6	143,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	6	35,700 mi
Tires: tread/belt	6	29,000 mi
Wheels	6	6,000 mi
Equipment	5	28,866 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	5	100,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	5	60,000 mi
Steering	5	45,556 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	4	69,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	4	23,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	4	43,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system	3	16,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	3	105,000 mi
Interior lighting	3	1,066 mi
Power train: axle assembly	3	39,177 mi
Power train: driveline	3	26,500 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft	3	6,643 mi
Structure	3	92,000 mi
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments	3	83,100 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire	3	111,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	—
Electrical system: wiring	2	—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	2	26,502 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan	2	5,000 mi
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer	2	38,000 mi
Exterior lighting	2	105,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal	2	1,578 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery	2	—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	2	36,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch	2	6,643 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	2	21,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	2	—
Service brakes	2	57,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	2	—
Suspension: front	2	94,000 mi
Suspension: rear	2	5,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	2	16,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	2	1 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	2	—
Air bags: on-off switch assembly	1	4,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	1	82,350 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	9,900 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	1	—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	—
Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices	1	—
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift	1	—
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	34,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	36,000 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	44,879 mi
Fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	1	22,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail	1	55,400 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting	1	72,000 mi
Parking brake	1	10,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	1	25,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	1	43,000 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	1	20,000 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage	1	115,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor	1	5,000 mi
Seats	1	45,029 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner	1	20,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	88,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum	1	21,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings	1	—
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device	1	—
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	4,000 mi
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm	1	—
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments	1	17,000 mi
Structure: body: tailgate	1	1 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint	1	37,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint	1	49,240 mi
Suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly	1	59,000 mi
Suspension: rear: shock absorber	1	—
Tires: sidewall	1	20,450 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core	1	150,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	1	14,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	—

The 2001 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.