Problems · by component

2002 Ford Ranger vehicle speed control problems

54 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Ranger cite vehicle speed control, 14% of all 389 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
54
14% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2024Vehicle speed controlODI 11566008
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2020Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11350274
“MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON HWY 79FROM PALISTINE TX TO JACKSONVILLE TX THURSDAY 7/11/2016 WHEN WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK WE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED FIRE UNDER THE HOOD I TRIED TO POOR WATER ON IT ALL IT DID WAS JUST GET WORSE AND OUR TRUCK ALL MY WORK TOOLS MY LIVELY HOOD BLEW UP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2016Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineFire reportedODI 10896403
“2002 FORD RANGER, CONSUMER STATED HIS ISSUE DEALS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WORKED SPORADICALLY. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PRESSED THE BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE GREEN LIGHT WOULD FLASH, BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. TWO MONTHS AGO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. *JB..UPDATED 03/16/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE ON ITS OWN. IN FEB 2015, ALL THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. HOWEVER, ALL THE BULB WERE STILL GOOD. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/22/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2016Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 10838435
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED TO FUNCTION AND THE LIGHT ON THE FUNCTION BUTTON FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2015Vehicle speed controlODI 10816866
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN HESITATED TO REDUCE SPEED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2015Vehicle speed controlODI 10702162

Showing 6 of 54 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

2 recalls on this component

Vehicle speed control

Free remedy

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.

Vehicle speed controlReported Oct 13, 2009NHTSA 09V399000

Vehicle speed control

Remedy pending

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.

Vehicle speed controlReported Aug 3, 2007NHTSA 07V336000
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.