Skip to content
KLUNK
KLUNK

2002 Ford Ranger

The Verdict

39 Check Engine

The 2002 Ford Ranger has 346 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (160 complaints) and engine (59 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 39/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Ranger, consider the 2020 model year which has 65% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2020 has 65% fewer complaints

View the 2020 Ford Ranger dashboard →

39

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

02V035000 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

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 O...

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...

Reported Apr 2, 2002

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2002 Ford Ranger. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000368701086961
200128748876747
200216018535956
200311032424415
2004116212004025
2005728139645
2006564174323
200723123352
200819228870
200910514172
201113719195
20198517443678
2020398161739

By Category

Body
160
Engine
59
Transmission
56
Electrical
53
Brakes
18

By Severity

1
143
2
145
3
4
4
52
5
2

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2002 Ford Ranger stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Body 3

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 !

11mo ago
Body 2

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 Control). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to three separate independent mechanics to be diagnosed. After each diagnostic test, the contact was informed that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

30mo ago
Body 1

Extreme rusting of the entire frame and underside steel components. Attachments are rusting to the point of failure and falling off the vehicle.

56mo ago
Electrical 2

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 referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

59mo ago
Body 1

Rear shake bracket rusted off

61mo ago
Body 2

TRUCK FAILED NH SAFETY INSPECTION 4/10/2021 DUE TO BADLY RUSTED FRAME.

64mo ago
Body 1

2002 FORD RANGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRAME ON RANGER VEHICLE. *LD *JS

68mo ago
Engine 4

WHILE PULLING UP TO A SECURITY GATE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AND I RAN INTO THE GATE. I COULD NOT STOP. DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED

71mo ago
Body 4

RECENTLY MY TRUCK UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AS I WAS BACKING UP IN DRIVEWAY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I PICKED UP TRUCK AFTER COLLISION REPAIR, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON HIGHWAY CAUSING IT TO FISH-TAIL OUR OF CONTROL AND NEARLY CAUSING ANOTHER ACCIDENT.

71mo ago
Body 1

THE REAR STRAP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK IS HANGING DOWN. ON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE MOUNT THAT IS CONNECTED/PART OF THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND IS NOW MISSING. I ONLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE "CHECK FUEL CAP" AND I STARTED TO TRY AND LOCATE THE PROBLEM.

72mo ago
Body 1

THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

75mo ago
Brakes 2

WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF A 2002 FORD RANGER XLT NOW WITH 57,000 HIGHWAY MILES, ALWAYS GARAGED/WASHED/MAINTAINED, LITTLE DRIVING IN WINTER (MOSTLY IN SUMMER), ALWAYS FORD MAINTAINED/SERVICED AT SAME DEALERSHIP, BODY/ENGINE/TRANSMISSION IN GREAT SHAPE, WILL LIKELY FAIL INSPECTION THIS SPING BECAUSE FRAME AND FRAME COMPONENTS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED OUT. - SEVERE RUST ON THE ENTIRE FRAME INCLUDING BOTH CROSS MEMBERS (ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION), ARM BOLT POINTS AND CONTROL ARMS. - FRAME ALSO HAS SEVERE RUST DOWN BOTH SIDES TO REAR BUMPER, REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTAL, LEAF SPRINGS AND ALL MOUNTS. - THE PASSENGER SIDE STEARING KNUCKLE IS DELAMINATING. - ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING: FIRST THE REAR BRAKES INCLUDING ALL AXLE COUPLINGS AND DRUM COUPLINGS; SECOND THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FAILED AT THE DISK BRAKES AND RUBBER COUPLINGS. ALL BRAKE TUBES HAD TO BE REPLACED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE WHEELS. - SERVICE MANAGER IS WORRIED ABOUT FRONT CROSS MEMBER FAILING UNDER THE ENGINE, MIDDLE CROSS MEMBER FAILING UNDER THE TRANSMISSION AND THE GAS TANK BRACKETS/STRAPS. - THE FRAME AND MEMBERS AND MOUNTS MUST BE REPLACED; THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS MECHANICALLY SOUND. SERVICE MANAGER SAID NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE TO FRAME RUST IS SO BAD PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED AND/OR VEHICAL INSPECTED BY NHTSA IF DESIRED. ALL BRAKE LINES AND COUPLINGS PERFORMED AROUND AUGUST 29, 2019.

80mo ago
Electrical 4

HARD FRONT END COLLISION WITH TELEPHONE POLE. ICE ON ROAD. TOTAL DAMAGE, VEHICLE STATUS IS SCRAP. DRIVER INJURY. HEAD AND JAW. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS SECOND FRONT COLLISION. FIRST COLLISION, VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. STRUCK BY WRONG WAY DRIVER. $3400 DAMAGE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPAIRS AT FORD DEALER, ST. LOUIS , MO.

81mo ago
Body 1

REAR TIRE FELL OUT ONTO ROAD, ROTTED CARRIER , FRAME ROTTED AT AXLE, CRACKED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, REAR END SHIFTED, CAN KNOW LONGER DRIVE VEHICLE SAFELY, HAD TO BUY NEW TRUCK DAYS LATER! BODY IN GOOD SHAPE, FRAME TOTALLY ROTTED! SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME THING ON GOOGLE SEARCH. TOYOTA TOYOTA HAD SAME THING, WE CALLED ALL THEIR TRUCKS AND REPLACED ALL TRUCK F WE CALLED ALL THEIR TRUCKS AND REPLACED ALL TRUCK FRAMES FRAMES, STILL TO THIS DAY FORD HAS NOT RECOGNIZED A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THEIR FRAMES!!! THESE VEHICLES ARE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD AND A RECALL NEEDS TO HAPPEN !!

88mo ago
Body 1

TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 4X4 LOW

91mo ago
Body 1

FRONT FRAME SPRING POCKETS ARE CRACKED.MAIN FRAME NEAR TRANSMISSION MOUNT BRACKET CRACKING,BACK REAR FRAME SPARE TIRE MOUNT GONE..MATEL MISSING NO BACK BUMMER.BOTH MAIN FRAME UNDER CAB ARE RUSTED STARTING TO CRUMBLE .

91mo ago
Body 1

FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY. FRONT COIL SPRING POCKETS CRACKING.FRAME NEAR FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE RUSTED,AND CRACKING.BACK FRAME SPEAR TIRE BRACKET ARE GONE.FRAME RUSTED BACK LEAF SPRING SHACKELS NO MATEL FRAME FOR BACK BUMPER MOUNT.

92mo ago
Transmission 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. EBY FORD LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 2714 ELKHART RD, GOSHEN, IN 46526, (574) 534-3673) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V035000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED REAR END LOCKED UP AND BLEW HOLES THROUGH THE COVER AND DESTROYED IT. *JB

93mo ago
Transmission 1

DRIVING TO WORK REAR END LOCKED UP AND EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2002 FORD RANGER FX2 AXLE BUT ONLY FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN RESEARCH SHOWS IT DOES IT ON AUTOMATIC ONES TO. LOOKED UP RECALL DOCUMENTS AND SYMPTOMS AND EVERYTHING WAS THE EXACT SAME! I DO HAVE RECALL NUMBER 02S32. HAD TO BE TOWED HOME...

93mo ago
Body 1

THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT LOCK, AND AS A RESULT IT'S CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO GO OFF AND IT FLASHES CODE NUMBER 46 AS FOR THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER.

96mo ago

346 total

1/ 18
Report a Klunk