49 of the 449 complaints about the 2002 Ford Ranger are about the body and structure — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 97,000 miles.
49
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Extreme rusting of the entire frame and underside steel components. Attachments are rusting to the point of failure and falling off the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11441221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Rear shake bracket rusted off
NHTSA complaint #11421242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TRUCK FAILED NH SAFETY INSPECTION 4/10/2021 DUE TO BADLY RUSTED FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #11407362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2002 FORD RANGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRAME ON RANGER VEHICLE. *LD
NHTSA complaint #11376590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED OFF WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11323411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRONT FRAME SPRING POCKETS ARE CRACKED.MAIN FRAME NEAR TRANSMISSION MOUNT BRACKET CRACKING,BACK REAR FRAME SPARE TIRE MOUNT GONE..MATEL MISSING NO BACK BUMMER.BOTH MAIN FRAME UNDER CAB ARE RUSTED STARTING TO CRUMBLE .
NHTSA complaint #11164009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY. FRONT COIL SPRING POCKETS CRACKING.FRAME NEAR FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE RUSTED,AND CRACKING.BACK FRAME SPEAR TIRE BRACKET ARE GONE.FRAME RUSTED BACK LEAF SPRING SHACKELS NO MATEL FRAME FOR BACK BUMPER MOUNT.
NHTSA complaint #11157308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
AT THE ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR FRAME HAS BEEN PERFORATED BY RUST. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO HOW THE FRAME IS SHAPED WHERE THE SPARE TIRE ATTACHES. AN OTHERWISE MECHANICALLY SOUND AND SOLID VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11119366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TRUCK EXHIBITED A 'CLUNK' NOISE FROM LEFT REAR WHEN TRAVERSING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK DONE. SERVICE MANAGER SAID NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE'FRAME RUST WAS SO BAD A NEW LEAF SPRING, ETC. COULD NOT BE ATTACHED AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SEE ATTACHED INVOICE. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY HOME AND IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. (DATE OF OCCURRENCE IS APPROXIMATE. IT BECAME WORSE AS TIME WENT ON AND OCCURS AT ANY SPEED.)
NHTSA complaint #10968652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR SPRING HANGERS ROTTED AND FAILED AND BOTH SIDES OF FRAME RUSTED BAD..SPARE TIRE HOLDER RUSTED ROTTED AND BROKE LETTING SPARE TIRE AND REAR BUMPER TO DROP DOWN. I CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT MADE IT TO THE ROAD.WE WERE ON THE ROAD WHEN THE RIGHT HAND SIDE CAME DOWN.LEFT SIDE HAPPENED A YEAR BEFORE THE RIGHT SIDE[ESTIMATE].
NHTSA complaint #10956965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE ROT RESULTING IN AN UNSTABLE HANDLING FEEL TO THE TRUCK WHILE DRIVING. ALSO THE LEAF SPRING MOUNTS ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND ABOUT TO FALL APART, I FEEL THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10945300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXCESSIVE RUST UNDERNEATH. LEAF SPRING HANGERS FAILED AT 11 YEARS/120K MILES. SPARE TIRE WINCH SEPARATED FROM TRUCK AT 14 YEARS/155K MILES. . AN EXHAUST MOUNT HAS RUSTED AWAY LEAVING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MARGINALLY SUPPORTED - UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED. LOGGING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO THE GAS TANK STRAP FAILURE. ONE GAS TANK STRAP SEPARATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK BED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO - AGE 14.5 YEARS, ~160K MILES. WITH THE SPARE TIRE, I NOTICED IT HANGING LOW (3 OF 4 FASTENERS HAD PULLED AWAY FROM THEIR MOUNTS), AND WITH LITTLE EFFORT, WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT FALL OFF. HAD THE REMAINING FASTENER FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY, OBVIOUSLY BAD THINGS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. WITH THE GAS TANK STRAP, LUCKILY IT SEPARATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE BED RATHER THAN FROM THE FRAME, AND I COULD HEAR IT RUBBING AGAINST THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE OTHER STRAP WAS ABLE TO CARRY THE ENTIRE WEIGHT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE GAS TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10926229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER CAR IS STARTED AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE IS STOPPED BEFORE GOING OUT. DOES NOT HAPPEN IF VERY COLD 20 DEGREES F, OR LESS. ALSO DRIVERS DOOR WILL PARTIALLY OPEN OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING TO THE SAFETY CATCH POSITION. DOOR OPENING IS NORMALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS, LESS THAN 30 MPH AND MOSTLY WHEN GOING AROUND TURNS. STARTED ALMOST A YEAR AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10913677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY DURING AN OIL CHANGE, THE VEHICLE'S FRAME BEDDING WAS DISCOVERED TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED. UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE FRAME ENCOUNTERED THE BEDDING CAUSING THE FAILURE TO PROGRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,546.
NHTSA complaint #10864759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE TRUCK FRAME HAS MULTIPLE SPOTS OF SEVERE RUST THAT CAUSED IT TO SNAP IN 2 MAKING THE TRUCK UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ONE OF THE AREAS IS NEXT TO THE GAS TANK (WHERE IT SNAPPED) AND THE RUST DOES NOT AFFECT ANY OTHER SPOT AROUND THE FRAME IN THIS AREA. I WAS MAKING A WIDE RIGHT HAND TURN ON A HIGHWAY ON RAMP AND IT SNAPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10862461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT PASSED INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTING ON THE AXLE AND THE SUBFRAME ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10760361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FROM A DEALERSHIP IN JAN 2010. TRUCK WAS IN GOOD SHAPE, HAD FRAME CHECK OUT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AND LOOKED VERY GOOD. TRUCK HAD ONLY 48000 MILES ON IT. IN JAN OF 2015 THE TRUCK BED SAT A LITTLE CROOKED CHECK FRAME AND SEEN A CRACK ON FRAME 3' LONG BY FRONT SHACKLE. AT THAT TIME TRUCK ONLY HAS 94000 MILES ON IT. TOOK BED OFF AND FOUND MORE AREAS THAT WOULD NEED ADRESSING SOON. I TRIED TO KEEP TRUCK UNDER SIDE CLEAN DURING THE WINTER, I GUESS THE STUFF THE STATE USES ON THE ROAD WAS TO MUCH FOR THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10730800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR LEAF SHACKLES REPLACED, ROTTED FROM FRAME, LAST AUG 2014 TO PASS INSPECTION. THIS WINTER 2014-2015, THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER FRAME ROTTED AND FELL FROM THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE SPARE TIRE. NOW, UPON INSPECTION OF THE BED APPEARING CROOKED, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT LEAF SPRING MOUNT IS TOTALLY ROTTED. THIS HAS CAUSED THE GAS TANK MOUNTS TO THE FRAME TO BREAK. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED THE BED TO TWIST AND THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THIS VEHICLE IS NOW ONLY SUPPORTED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #10725543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
FRAME IS RUSTED AND ROTTING AWAY, BOUGHT IT FROM DEALER 1/21/2015. FOUND OUT TRUCK WAS IN BAD SHAPE 1/23/2015 AFTER GETTING OIL CHANGE FROM LOCAL SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10683101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
BRACKET FOR SPARE TIRE ROTTED, TIRE DROPPED OFF, NO CAR IN BACK OF ME, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN AT THE TIME, THAT HAPPENED 6 MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT, THE OTHER DAY THE FRAME CRACKED IN HALF. CAR DEALER SHIP SOLD TRUCK TO ME ROUGHLY 15 MONTH AGO TRUCK IS TOTALED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID WHOLE FRAME AND UNDER CARRIAGE IS ROTTED? HELP. EXTERIOR OF TRUCK LOOKS BRAND NEW? HELP
NHTSA complaint #10682191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I RECENTLY CHECK THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OUT A MISSING SPARETIRE AND ALSO A VERY LOOSE REAR BUMPER AND THE CAUSE OF IT IS RUST, VERY BAD RUSTING ON THE FRAME, MOSTLY ON THE REAR END.
NHTSA complaint #10668446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THIS TRUCK IS RUSTING FROM FRONT TO BACK.THE MAIN FRAME AND ALL CONNECTING PARTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE NUMEROUS METAL PARTS. THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF DEFECT EITHER IN THE METAL OR THIS TRUCK WAS NEVER UNDERCOATED. IT HAS 84000 MILES AND I HAVE BEEN REPLACING PARTS SINCE 75000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10628483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE REAR FRAME BECAME DETACHED ALONG WITH THE CROSS MEMBER, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FRACTURE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE TWO CROSS MEMBERS, THE FRAME BEDDING AND THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA complaint #10614637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I TOOK MY 2002 FORD RANGER TRUCK IN FOR INSPECTION AND I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK WAS UNINSPECTABLE BECAUSE MY FRAME,CROSSMEMBER, FRONT AARMS ARE RUSTED THIN. IT ONLY HAS 80 SOME K ON IT I ONLY HAVE IT FOR 2YEARS I DON'T DRIVE VERY FAR I BOUGHT IT WITH 74K.
NHTSA complaint #10607591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 1 YR AGO . I TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND THAT IT HAD SEVERE RUST PROBLEMS . THE SHACKLES FOR THE LEAF SPRING HAD COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY CAUSING THE SPRING TO REST UPON THE BOX. THE RESTRAINT FOR THE GAS TANK WAS ROTTED TO THE POINT THAT TANK WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THERE WAS SEVERE RUSTING OF THE FRAME , ESPECIALLY IN THE REAR .OBVIOUSLY, THE TRUCK FAILED INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10596999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, HE ERRONEOUSLY DEPRESSED BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND PROCEEDED THROUGH THE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10583088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
YESTERDAY I HAD SOMETHING GO WRONG WITH MY FORD RANGER AND I NEEDED TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. THIS PROBLEM WILL BE THE END OF MY WONDERFUL TRUCKS LIFE BECAUSE THE INSPECTION IS ALSO DUE AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST AND A CRACKED REAR FRAME, MY TRUCK WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. THE BODY, INTERIOR AND ENGINE ARE ALL IN GREAT SHAPE. THE SPARE TIRE SUPPORT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY EATEN AWAY AND THE GAS TANK SUPPORTS ROTTED AWAY YEARS AGO. MY MECHANIC HAD TO RIG A WIRE HANGER FOR THE GAS TANK. WHILE MY TRUCK WAS ON THE FLAT BED, THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT RANGERS ARE KNOW FOR THE FRAMES BEING EATEN AWAY. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND NOW HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. WHY HAS FORD NOT RECALLED THIS POORLY MADE FRAME JUST LIKE TOYOTA DID? IS IT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM IT???
NHTSA complaint #10577601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE FUEL TANK STRAP TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000, UPDATED 02/11/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME ROTTED WHERE THE FUEL TANK STRAP FAILED, CAUSING THE TANK TO HANG LOWER THAN IT SHOULD. IT WAS HOLDING BY ONE STRAP. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME. UPDATED 02/12/14
NHTSA complaint #10558691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER FRACTURED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE BED WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10550027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
WHEN PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD CRACK FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. AFTER INSPECTION, THE REAR FRAME HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE LEAF SPRING MOUNT DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE HAULING A LOAD, OR PULLING A TRAILER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT COULD HAVE LED TO A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10514495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.