Problems · by component

2002 Ford Ranger power train problems

71 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Ranger cite power train, 18% of all 389 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
71
18% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2018Power trainODI 11152386
“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...”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2018Power trainODI 11152392
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 28, 2018Power trainODI 11090760
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2017Power trainODI 11020161
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2015Power trainODI 10760262
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2014Power trainODI 10583633

Showing 6 of 71 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: differential unit

Free remedy

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.

Power trainReported Feb 4, 2002NHTSA 02V035000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 5, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.