2002 Ford Ranger Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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
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...
THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY ROLLS AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK. TOLD THAT THE PARKING PAWL MAY BE DEFECTIVE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE VEHICLE ROLLING IN PARK.
CV JOINT PROBLEMS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY AND BRAKING ABILITY. USING AN OBD DIAGNOSTIC TOOL, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLAN VIGIL FORD OF FAYETTEVILLE, INC (LOCATED AT 275 GLYNN ST N, FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214, (770) 461-1151) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM NEEDED TO BE FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
WHILE SLOWLY BACKING UP THE THROTTLE UNEXPECTEDLY WENT TO WIDE OPEN THROWING GRAVEL, DIGGING HOLES AND LEAVING RUBBER BURN PATCHES. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL BEFORE HITTING A PARKED CAMPING TRAILER. LATER THE SAME DAY WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE AT A BANK THE SAME THING OCCURRED BUT MY FOOT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT. WHEN I GOT HOME AND WAS PARKING IT HAPPENED AGAIN, IN REVERSE, ALMOST RAMMING THE GARAGE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE THIS HAPPENED . FORD 2002 RANGER 4X4 AUTOMATIC TRANS.W
DRIVESHAFT THUMP CLUNK ON LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR WHEN BRAKING AND COMING TO A STOP. *TR
VIOLENT MISSING, CHUGGING, JERKING UPON ACCELERATION. ACCELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY, ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY, APPROX. 2500 - 3000 RPM. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 3.0 V6. NHTSA #10018746 ONLINE WITH MANY OTHERS REPORTING SAME PROBLEM. TRUCK WILL NOT ACCELERATE. INSTEAD JERKS AND HESITATES VIOLENTLY. *TR
THIS IS THE SECOND RANGER I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE GEARS IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ARE GRINDING AND THE PINS ARE LOOSE. I HAD SHOP TAKE OFF REAR DIFF COVER AND THEY VERIFIED METAL SHAVINGS/SHARDS IN OIL AND LOOSE DIFFERENTIAL PINS. IF THE PINS/GEARS LOCK UP THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE WRECK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE THIS ISSUE FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODEL RANGERS BUT NOT AUTO TRANSMISSION MODELS. LOOK AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND YOU WILL SEE OTHERS WHO HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH AUTO TRANS MODELS (I AM SURE OTHER SOURCES HAVE SAME COMPLAINTS). LOOKS LIKE SAME PARTS WERE USED IN BOTH MODELS BUT ONLY ONE WAS RECALLED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CRACKED, CAUSING THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK UP. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 02V035000 (POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT) AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE VIN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE FAILURE DUE TO IT BEING IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURE ADDRESSED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
2002 FORD RANGER, AUTOMATIC, EXTENDED CAB. SLOWING DOWN TO PULL INTO PARKING SPOT AND REAR TIRES LOCK UP, SENDING TRUCK INTO SKID. ONCE STOPPED, CANNOT MOVE TRUCK, EVEN IN NEUTRAL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD SOUND OF SPINNING TIRES. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUE DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SIX HOURS AND RESTARTED, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE THE WHEELS LOCKED. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE WHEELS. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AFTER THE WHEELS WERE UNLOCKED. ALSO, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT OPERATE UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A RECALL DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V035000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DIFFERENTIAL UNIT). THE RECALL PERTAINED TO MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WHICH RESULTED TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
IT SHIFTS THE FIRST GEAR EXTREMELY HARD, ONCE THIS HAPPENS, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS..AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR FORD RANGER
2002 FORD RANGER O\D LIGHT FLASHES AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND INCONSISTENTLY. *TR
I, AMONG OTHERS OWN A FORD RANGER XLT 4.0 LITER. I RECENTLY REPLACED MY BATTERY AND LOST MY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. AFTER SOME INVOLVED RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH FELLOW 2001, 2002 RANGERS. FORD'S REFUSAL TO CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINEERING FLAW IS UNSAFE, UNFAIR, AND UNACCEPTABLE. FORD IS MAKING A FORTUNE FROM THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS CRIMINAL! *TR
MY FORD 2002 RANGER EDGE PICK UPS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS UNDER ACCELERATION SUCH AS TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT OR MERGING ON INTO TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT FROM ONE GEAR THAN NOT GO INTO GEAR LEAVING VEHICLE ON OF GEAR AND WITHOUT FORWARD MOTION. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING ACROSS INTERCEPTIONS AND ONTO THE HIGHWAY. HAVE TO REMOVE FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS FOR TRANSMISSION TO FIND A GEAR TO SHIFT INTO. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS SOME SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING SHIFTING ISSUES BUT FALL WAY SHORT OF CORRECTING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAS AND IS AN ON GOING ISSUE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. *TR
AT APPROX. 26,500 MILES VEHICLE MADE POPPING/CLUNK SOUND ACCOMPANIED BY A JERKING MOVEMENT WHEN TURNING. ESPECIALLY SLOW TURNS AFTER MAKING A STOP. SOUND CAME FROM REAR END. 1 OR BOTH REAR TIRES WOULD BIND IN SLOW CORNERS AND SKID. FORD DEALER CONFIRMED BROKEN GEARS IN DIFFERENTIAL. 2002 RANGER EXT. CAB WITH MANUAL TRANS, 4 CYL, 2WD. $1,650 TO REPAIR. FORD WILL NOT ASSIST IN PAYING FOR ANY PART OF THIS. EVIDENTLY FORD IS SATISFIED WITH THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER TRUCKS FAILING SO QUICKLY. THIS IS HOW THEY LOSE A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE, BY NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. TOO MANY REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE FOR IT NOT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD. VERY ANGRY, FORD, YOUR HUGE LOSSES ARE WELL DESERVED. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD RANGER THAT WHEN I GOT THE TRUCK IT HAD TO HAVE THE SLAVE CYLINDER FOR THE CLUTCH REPLACED WHICH THE DEALER DID, AND THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES, BUT THEN AGAIN BEFORE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT, IT WENT OUT AGAIN AT ABOUT 52000 MILES, AND NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN, AT 66,000 MILES, THE SLAVE CYLINDER AGAIN FOR THE CLUTCH, AND I AM NOT NEW TO DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I AM 47 AND LEARNED TO DRIVE ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN 16, IT ALSO UPSETS ME THAT FORD SAID MY EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE SECOND REPAIR DID NOT COVER THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE A VEHICLE SHOULD REQUIRE THIS PART TO BE REPLACED APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWENTY OR THIRTY THOUSAND MILES. I ALSO BELIEVE SINCE I PURCHASED A MANUAL WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED, MY SON ALSO HAS A 2000 FORD RANGER AND HE RECENTLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WE BOTH HAVE THE V6 WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR
TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS ON 2002 FORD RANGER. DELAYED SHIFTS; ROUGH SHIFTS; OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS INDICATING TRANSMISSION FAULT; SERVO COVER BLOWN OFF ALLOWING TRANSMISSION FLUID LOSS - INOPERATIVE VEHICLE. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD RANGER, SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING REALLY HARD INTO SECOND GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED AND THE AIRBAG SWITCH WAS BAD.. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION SINCE IT CAME OUT. IT IS A SEALED TRANSMISSION, IN THAT,THE FLUID CANT BE CHECKED. IT'S VERY POORLY DESIGNED AND FORD DOESN'T WANT TO DO A RECALL EVEN THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.... *TR
1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NORMAL EVERYDAY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION VIA HIGHWAY AND SURFACE STREETS. 2)FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES: THE REAR LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL UNIT OF MY 2002 FORD RANGER FX4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLE BROKE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO STOP ABRUPTLY NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE REAR LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL UNIT EXPLODED CAUSING THE GEARS TO BREAK AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING. I HAD CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (TORSEN) OF THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND STATED THE UNIT I HAD WAS RECALLED ACCORDING TO THE SERIAL NUMBER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEGELANTLY DID NOT RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THE RECALLED DIFFERENTIAL UNITS. 3) THE TRUCK'S REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND GEAR WAS REPLACED WITH OEM RING AND PINION GEARS, BEARINGS AND SIMILAR TYPE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER (DETROIT TRUETRAC) FROM WHICH WAS ORGINALLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. COST $1,400.00.*CN
TRUCK STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AFTER COMPLETE OVERHAUL BY FORD ON 5/22/04 ( COMPLAINT ODI NO. 10215891). FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ROAD TEST TRUCK AND VERIFIED PROBLEM. CALLED HOTLINE (5LSB2012) R&R TO OVERHAUL, FOUND STICKING VALVE IN MAIN CONTROL(7A100), RESEALED TRANS.,REPLACED MAIN CONTROL AND TORQUE CONVERTER,FLUSHED COOLER LINES. BUT I RETURNED THE TRUCK COMPLAINING THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING WINING NOISE AND STILL NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. SERVICE MANAGER ROAD TESTED AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WORK WAS PERFORMED AT 60,206 MILES AND NOW AT 90,125 MILES I CAN'T DRIVE THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION S BROKEN AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS HE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER FIXED PROPERLY AT THE FIRST OVER HAUL OR THE SECOND TIME IT WAS OVERHAULED BY FORD. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK WITH A TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED TWICE BY FORE AND NEEDS OVERHAULED AGAIN. NOW FORD INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND THEY CAN NOT HELP ME. *TR
THE RIGHT REAR AXLE FLANGE SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, STARTING A GREASE FIRE IN THE AXLE HOUSING, AND DAMAGED THE REAR BODY PANEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING AND CLUNKING NOISE. HE ALSO NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CASE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V035000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DIFFERENTIAL UNIT). THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
2002 FORD RANGER FX4- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAD APPROX. 65K MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. DROVE VEHICLE NORMALLY, STARTED NOTICING "CLUNKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT THAT WAS VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING AXLE TO LOCK UP. PARTS REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC AT THE COST OF APPROX. $1500. SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL #02V035000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION VERSION. *NM
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Quick Summary
The 2002 Ford Ranger has 49 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.