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2002 Ford Ranger recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 3 US recalls for the 2002 Ford Ranger, and 3 in Canada. Owners filed 346 complaints with NHTSA, most often about power train.

3US recalls
0urgent recalls
346owner complaints
–overall crash rating

Is your car affected?

Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (3)

Vehicle speed control

2009-10-13 · campaign 09V399000 · 4,500,000 vehicles

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: 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.

Vehicle speed control

2007-08-03 · campaign 07V336000 · 3,600,000 vehicles

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: 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.

Power train: driveline, differential unit

2002-02-04 · campaign 02V035000 · 1,096 vehicles

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: 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.

Canadian recalls (3)

Show 3 Canadian recalls

Other

2009-10-14 · campaign 2009-292

On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is in operation. Correction: Dealers will install a new switch or fused wiring harness. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2005028 (05S28) for vehicles not previously included in the campaign.

Electrical

2007-08-07 · campaign 2007-258

On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The failure mode appears to be different than that of Recall 2005028 (05S28). This time, the concern is with long term durability performance issues causing the switch to fail. Correction: Initially as an interim repair, owners will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. As soon as replacement parts are available, owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness designed to eliminate the potential risk of fire.

Powertrain

2002-01-31 · campaign 2002-017 · 78 vehicles

Certain 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. Differential fractures could potentially result in wheel lock-up. Correction: Dealer will replace the rear differential assembly.

Owner complaints (346)

Owners filed 346 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Ranger (43 crashes, 12 fires, 40 injuries, 2 deaths reported). Among 42 model years of this model, it ranks #9 for the most complaints (median 156).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Power train61
Vehicle speed control51
Structure49
Engine and engine cooling39
Air bags37
Suspension36
Tires29
Service brakes, hydraulic20

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Ford Ranger.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2002 Ford Ranger Supercab–––2★
2002 Ford Ranger Regular Cab–––2★

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2002 Ford Ranger version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
Ranger 2WD FFV 3.0 L Automatic 5-spd152017$3,950
Ranger Pickup 2WD 2.3 L Automatic 5-spd182320$3,350
Ranger Pickup 2WD 2.3 L Manual 5-spd212523$2,900
Ranger Pickup 2WD 3.0 L Automatic 5-spd152017$3,950
Ranger Pickup 2WD 3.0 L Manual 5-spd172118$3,700
Ranger Pickup 2WD 4.0 L Automatic 5-spd152017$3,950
Ranger Pickup 2WD 4.0 L Manual 5-spd162017$3,950
Ranger Pickup 4WD 3.0 L Automatic 5-spd141716$4,200
Ranger Pickup 4WD 3.0 L Manual 5-spd162017$3,950
Ranger Pickup 4WD 4.0 L Automatic 5-spd131715$4,450
Ranger Pickup 4WD 4.0 L Manual 5-spd141815$4,450
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.