How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Ranger have?

NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2002 Ford Ranger model year. Whether one car had the recall work done depends on that car, so check its VIN with NHTSA.

1995: 377 owner complaints, Worthy

Our take: worth a look. Owners filed about as many complaints as in a typical year of this model.

Year verdict

Worthy

1.0× a typical year

About as many owner complaints as a typical year. Still get it inspected.

Confidence: Medium

NHTSA did not answer for 6 years, so the typical year may shift.

NHTSA did not answer for 6 years, so this may change.

Past 100,000 miles

Locked

How this year held up past 100,000 miles.

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How the dial was counted

Year verdict: Typical year: 217 complaints, the median of 8 nearby years. Each counted over its first 8 years from January 2001; this one had 220.

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Odometer check

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WhipWorthy sticker

2002 Ford Ranger

Complaints347From owners
Loading owner complaints
Recalls7On file
Loading recalls
NHTSA did not answer just now, so we cannot show crash ratings. Try again in a minute. You can also check it on their site.
Loading crash ratings
MPG15 to 23Combined, EPA
Loading fuel economy

Complaints are unverified owner reports, not adjusted for how many were sold.

Compare this car Every Ranger year

Car report

Park this car in My Garage and see its recalls at a glance.Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Value signals

We do not price cars.

These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.

Costly problem zones ahead at your miles come with a Car Hunt Pass or Pro. See plans
Fuel: $2,800 to $4,300 a year.The EPA’s estimate for 15,000 miles a year, 55% in town, at its fuel prices. Each version
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
Have the VIN? Check it is this car, and see its open recalls at NHTSA.
VIN
On the dash at the base of the windshield, or on the driver’s door sticker.

What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

The full record

Tap to open

What owners complain about

347 complaints; the part named most is the transmission and drivetrain

Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Dec 16, 2001 to Aug 2, 2025. 43% name a part that is usually costly to fix.

Owners reported 43 crashes, 12 fires, 40 injuries and 2 deaths in these complaints.

Transmission and drivetrain62 · 18%Usually costly to fix
Cruise and speed control51 · 15%
Body and frame49 · 14%Usually costly to fix

What one owner wrote about the transmission and drivetrain

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…

Filed Nov 19, 2018NHTSA complaint 111523861 of 18 owner quotes

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15 more parts, and 18 owner quotes

Every part owners name for the 2002 Ford Ranger, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Engine.

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SourceOwner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Ranger. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Seller kit

Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points

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Walk up to the seller ready

Questions to ask the seller of a 2002 Ford Ranger, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.

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Write your offer

A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email

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Send the seller a fair offer

Type the asking price and your own offer for the 2002 Ford Ranger, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.

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Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.

When problems show up

Transmission and drivetrain: the middle complaint around 40,000 miles

The bar holds the middle half of the complaints that gave a mileage; the dark mark is the middle one. 85 complaints of 347 gave one. Owners file when something fails, so this shows when problems were reported, not how long the cars last.

Transmission and drivetrainCostly20,000 to 65,000 mi
Half of these 16 complaints came between about 20,000 and 65,000 miles, the middle one around 40,000.

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Mileage for 2 more parts, 1 usually costly

The mileage band for every part owners name, and your car's miles laid across them.

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SourceMileage from owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Ranger. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Will it outlast the loan?

The month of your loan each problem zone lands in

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2 problem zones to lay against your loan, 2 usually costly

See the month of your loan each one lands in, and what you would still owe then.

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Recalls

7 recalls on file

Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.

Cruise and speed control
Oct 13, 2009 · Recall 09V399000
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.
What can happen
A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
The fix
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.
Lights
May 11, 2009 · Recall 09E025000
Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
Lights
Apr 7, 2009 · Recall 09E012000
Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Cruise and speed control
Aug 3, 2007 · Recall 07V336000
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.
What can happen
This could result in an underhood fire.
The fix
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.
Lights
Jul 17, 2006 · Recall 06E065000
Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
What can happen
Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on july 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026.
Lights
May 24, 2006 · Recall 06E049000
Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
What can happen
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix
Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

Show 1 more recall

Transmission and drivetrain
Feb 4, 2002 · Recall 02V035000
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.
What can happen
Differential fractures could potentially result in wheel lock-up.
The fix
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.

SourceRecalls listed by NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Ranger. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Crash ratings

NHTSA did not answer

NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight. The tests changed for 2011 models, so these stars do not line up with newer ones.

NHTSA did not answer just now, so we cannot show crash ratings for this car. Try again in a minute. You can also check it on their site.

Fuel economy

15 to 23 mpg combined, across 11 versions

The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in. Figures for 2007 and older use the EPA's 2008 method, so they may be lower than the original sticker.

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
Ranger 2WD FFV · FFV · Rear wheel drive · Gasoline or E85
City
15 mpg
Highway
20 mpg
Combined
17 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,800
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
Ranger Pickup 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
18 mpg
Highway
23 mpg
Combined
20 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,200
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
Ranger Pickup 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
15 mpg
Highway
20 mpg
Combined
17 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,800
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L
Ranger Pickup 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
15 mpg
Highway
20 mpg
Combined
17 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$3,800
This one on fueleconomy.gov

Show 7 more versions

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L
Ranger Pickup 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
21 mpg
Highway
25 mpg
Combined
23 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$2,800
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
Ranger Pickup 2WD · Rear wheel drive · Regular gas
City
17 mpg
Highway
21 mpg

SourceEPA fuel economy data, fueleconomy.gov. EPA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

True cost to own

The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years

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What it really costs to own

What the 2002 Ford Ranger costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.

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Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.

Every year of the Ranger

12 Worthy, 3 Maybe, 3 Pass, of 28 years on file, 7 with no answer

Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.

Best and worst years of the Ranger

NHTSA did not answer for 15 years, so the chart may be missing some.

SourceNHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Ranger. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Before you buy this one

5 checks, with a close look at the transmission and drivetrain

Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.

Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 7 recalls on file. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the transmission and drivetrain. It is the part owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look hard at the transmission and drivetrain. It is usually costly to fix.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the transmission and drivetrain.
Feel for slipping, hesitation, harsh or late shifts, and shudder at low speed.

Going to see it? Take the checklist52 checks with the bad signs to look for, saved on your phone.

Check this exact car

The verdict is about the model year. These checks are about the one in front of you. Most are free or a few dollars.

VIN for these checks

Copy it, then paste it into each check. Nothing is sent until you open one.

Official checks on this VIN

Open recallsFree
NHTSA
Safety recalls on this VIN that are not fixed yet, from the last 15 years.
A recall already fixed does not show.
Check recalls at NHTSAnhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Theft and total lossFree
NICB VINCheck
Whether an insurer reported it stolen and not found, or wrote it off as a total loss.
Only insurer records. Five checks a day.
Open NICB VINChecknicb.org (opens in a new tab)
Title brandsA few dollars
NMVTIS, the federal title system
Salvage, flood, junk and rebuilt brands from any state, and the last miles on the title.
No repairs, service or recalls. Sold by approved sellers listed on the site.
See the approved sellersvehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov (opens in a new tab)
Title statusVaries by state
The state motor vehicle office
Whether the title is branded in that state and, where the state offers it, whether a lender still has a lien.
It will not name the owner. Each state asks its own way, and some only by mail. Ask to see the seller’s title too.
Find your state’s officeusa.gov (opens in a new tab)

What a paid report adds

A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:

Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.

It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.

Red flags in a history

Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.

Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.

Model year	Owner complaints	Verdict
1995	377	Worthy
1996	485	Worthy
1997	453	Worthy
1998	656	Maybe
1999	818	Maybe
2000	694	Maybe
2001	540	Worthy
2002	347	Worthy
2003	243	Worthy
2004	405	Worthy
2005	289	Worthy
2006	272	Worthy
2007	270	Worthy
2008	326	Worthy
2009	169	Worthy
2010	No answer	Not judged
2011	235	Pass
2014	1	Not judged
2016	1	Not judged
2017	1	Not judged
2019	271	Pass
2020	130	Pass
2021	No answer	Not judged
2022	No answer	Not judged
2023	No answer	Not judged
2024	No answer	Not judged
2025	No answer	Not judged
2026	No answer	Not judged

The verdict on the 2002 Ford Ranger

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Cruise and speed control

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Cruise and speed control

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Transmission and drivetrain

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

Fuel economy

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L

Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L

Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L

True cost to own

Every year of the Ranger

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Cruise and speed control

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Cruise and speed control

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Lights

What can happen

The fix

Transmission and drivetrain

What can happen

The fix

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L

Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L

Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L

Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L

Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L

Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L

Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L

Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.0 L