Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 Ford Ranger Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control — runs 2.5× the fleet median for that category across the 1731 model-years tracked on this site.
346Complaints
7Recalls
43Crashes
12Fires
40Injured
2Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Vehicle Speed Control (13% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints here are 2.5× the median for that category across the 1731 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 45 · 13% | Recalled | Recall 09V399000 · Recall 07V336000 |
| Suspension | 28 · 8.1% | not available | — |
| Structure:body | 23 · 6.6% | not available | — |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 19 · 5.5% | Recalled | Recall 02V035000 |
| Tires | 19 · 5.5% | not available | — |
| Air Bags | 17 · 4.9% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 346 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 7 campaigns
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 09V399000 · 2009 · reported 10/13/2009
A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E049000 · 2006 · reported 05/24/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
NHTSA campaign 02V035000 · 2002 · reported 02/04/2002
DIFFERENTIAL FRACTURES COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN WHEEL LOCK-UP. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 07V336000 · 2007 · reported 08/03/2007
THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E065000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO FLOOR.THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO…”NHTSA complaint 10046621 — filed 11/07/2003 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“THE JACK BROKE WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS CHANGING A TIRE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS A DIFFERENT SIZE FROM THE REGULAR TIRES WHICH CAUSED REAR END…”NHTSA complaint 10024370 — filed 08/01/2003 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“ON OCTOBER 30 2002,I WAS DRIVING A 2002 FORD RANGER,MY WIFE AND I WERE GOING TO K-MART AND JUST AS I WAS TURNING INTO THE…”NHTSA complaint 10023968 — filed 06/29/2003 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Ranger?
Vehicle speed control issues are the most-reported category, cited in 45 of 346 NHTSA complaints (13%), followed by suspension (28), structure:body (23), power train:automatic transmission (19). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 Ford Ranger have?
346 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 43 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, and 40 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Ford Ranger's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
