The 2002 Ford Ranger has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,101,096 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 449 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
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,…
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
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…
POWER TRAIN02V0350002002-02-041,096 affected
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.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
45
6crashes2fires
SUSPENSION
28
STRUCTURE:BODY
23
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
19
TIRES
19
6crashes5injuries
AIR BAGS
17
7crashes1fires15injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
16
15crashes13injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
14
2crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
13
3fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12
3fires
Total complaints449
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Steel rim came apart while adding air to tire causing severe injuries to hands leg and foot only 20 psi in tire pressure when rim blew apart !”
“Extreme rusting of the entire frame and underside steel components. Attachments are rusting to the point of failure and falling off the vehicle.”
“The contact owns a 2002 ford ranger. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 mph and attempting to switch lanes, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed…”
“The contact owns a 2002 ford ranger. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the air bag warning light was illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the independent mechanic was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and…”
“Rear shake bracket rusted off”
“Rear shake bracket rusted off”
“Truck failed nh safety inspection 4/10/2021 due to badly rusted frame.”
“2002 ford ranger. Consumer writes in regards to frame on ranger vehicle. *ld *js”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Ford Ranger as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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