There are 13 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2002 Ford Rangerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE PULLING UP TO A SECURITY GATE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AND I RAN INTO THE GATE. I COULD NOT STOP. DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED
WHILE LOOKING UNDER MY TRUCK I NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK WAS HANGING DOWN ON ONE END (REAR) ALMOST THE GROUND, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TWO STRAPS THAT HOLD THE TANK UP TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK HAD BROKEN LOOSE, THE PART THAT ATTACHES THE STRAP TO THE TRUCK FRAME HAD RUSTED AWAY, I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *TR
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AND I WENT TO PARK MY TRUCK IN THE FRONT YARD. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS ABOUT TO STOP THE ENGINE ROARED, AS IF I REALLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND I HAD TO JAM THE CAR IN PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. TODAY, AS I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK, I WAS COMING TO A FOUR WAY STOP IN A SCHOOL ZONE. WHEN I WAS ALMOST STOPPED THE TRUCK ENGINE ACCELERATED AND I HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. I NEED TO KNOW IS THERE A RECALL FROM FORD FOR THIS. I CANNOT LET ANYONE ELSE DRIVE MY TRUCK FOR FEAR IT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM AND THEY WILL NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR
ON 8/13/2013 THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP IN MY 2002 FORD RANGER WAS REPLACED WITH AN AIRTEX BRAND FUEL PUMP.ON 3/17/2015 I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AFTER IT FAILED,ONLY 18 MONTHS AND 5000 MILES LATER.DURING THE PERIOD OF 6/10/2013 AND 8/16/2013 AIRTEX HAD A FUEL PUMP RECALL ON THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLE MODELS,AS WELL AS HAVING RECALLED DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS SINCE.ALSO IN 12/2013 AIRTEX BEGAN OFFERING A LIFETIME WARRANTY AS OPPOSED TO THEIR PREVIOUS ONE YEAR WARRANTY.I HAVE OWNED 6 CARS AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP.I BELIEVE MY LOW MILEAGE MANAGED TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP,AND THEREFORE NEITHER ME OR MY REPAIR SHOP SHOULD BE LIABLE.I ALSO BELIEVE THE HISTORY OF FAILURE WITH AIRTEX PUMPS SHOULD MAKE THEM LIABLE FOR MY REPAIR,DESPITE ANY OUTDATED WARRANTY.I BELIEVE THEIR CONSTANT RECALLS AND OPTING TO PROVIDE A LONGER WARRANTY SUGGESTS THEY DON'T HAVE THE FAITH IN THEIR PRODUCT THEY EXPECT ME TO. I FEEL AIRTEX CUSTOMER SUPPORT FAILED TO ADDRESS MY ISSUE OR PROVIDE ANY MEANS FOR RESOLUTION.THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PUMP,NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.I STILL HAVE ALL REPAIR RECEIPTS AND THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER THAT WERE REMOVED FROM MY TRUCK.THERE IS ZERO CHANCE HOW I DRIVE,PARK OR ANYTHING I HAVE DONE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS FUEL PUMP FAILURE,I DO NOT WANT TO BE PUNISHED BECAUSE I PRESERVED THEIR DEFECT BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD,WHICH AIRTEX THEMSELVES DEEMED TO BE INSUFFICIENT,OTHERWISE WHY WOULD THEY CHANGE IT TO A LIFETIME WARRANTY? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINES ON THE VEHICLE WERE DRY ROTTEN AND BROKE. THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE ALL OF THE FUEL LINES REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
2002 FORD RANGER XLT, 4.0L, DIFFICULT FUELING TRUCK, GASOLINE JUST SPURTS BACK OUT OF THE REFUELING NOZZLE EVEN ON THE SLOWEST GAS PUMP SETTING, READING SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS IS ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE DUE TO ALL THE EXCESS GASOLINE RUNNING OUT OF THE NOZZLE. THE VENTING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TRYING TO START HIS VEHICLE IT WOULDN'T START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000. UPDATED 09/28/11*LJ THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. UPDATED 10/05/11
SLOWING DOWN WHILE COMING UP TO A SIGNAL LIGHT, AS I MADE THE RIGHT TURN THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME HARD TO HANDLE. THE TRUCK HOWEVER STARTED UP RIGHT AWAY BUT HAD A LOSS OF POWER FOR ABOUT HALF A MILE TO MY HOME. AFTER TURNING THE TRUCK OFF AND STARTING IT UP AGAIN, THE TRUCK RAN FINE UNTIL THE OTHER DAY WHEN IT STALLED AND LOST POWER AGAIN. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. READING ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FORD RANGERS HAS ME THINKING THAT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE FORD RANGERS. *NM
WHILE DRIVING FUEL TANK STARTED LEAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
AS I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, I ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE SPED UP; I SLOWED; HE SLOWED; OBVIOUSLY A GAME OF SOME KIND WAS BEING PLAYED THAT I WANTED NO PART OF, SO I TRIED TO GET AWAY AND WHEN I HIT 85MPH, MY VEHICLE CEASED TO ACCELERATE AND BEGAN ACTING LIKE IT WAS STARVED FOR GAS. I SPOKE TO MY DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A "REV LIMITER" WHICH IS APPARENTLY A GOVERNOR THAT STOPS ALL ACCELERATION AT 85MPH. AS FAR AS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE, FORD IS THE ONLY VEHICLE MADE THAT HAS SUCH A LIMITER AND IT CANNOT BE REMOVED OR ALTERED. WHEN I ASKED FORD WHY, I WAS TOLD IT WAS FOR MY OWN GOOD SINCE SPEED LIMITS ARE MAXIMUM OF 70-75 MPH ACROSS AMERICA . I THEN ASKED WHY THE SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 120 MPH AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED FOR IT BUT FORD CHOSE TO NOT LET DRIVERS EXCEED 85. I ASKED WHY FORD FELT COMPELLED TO HOLD A DRIVER TO 85 WHEN EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER DID NOT AND HOW SAFE WAS IT TO ALLOW ME TO GO ONLY 10MPH OVER THE MAXIMUM SPEED WHEN THAT ALSO MEANT I COULD GO 55MPH OVER IN AN AREA POSTED FOR 30MPH. SAME ANSWER--FOR MY OWN GOOD. ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS IS THAT IN RARE EMERGENCY OCCASIONS (SUCH AS PASSING AN 18 WHEELER AND SOMEONE AHEAD PULLING OUT FROM A SIDE ROAD COMING IN MY DIRECTION--THERE ARE PROBABLY BETTER EXAMPLES), I MAY BE PAST THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO SLOW DOWN OR ANOTHER CAR MAY BE BEHIND ME, AND WE ALL GET KILLED BECAUSE FORD DECIDED THEIR CARS SHOULD GO SLOWER THAN EVERY COMPARABLE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I COULD UNDERSTAND ALL CARS TOPPING OFF AT 85, BUT NOT ONLY ONE--AND NOT ONE THAT HAS EVERY INDICATION IT WOULD GO FASTER IN AN EMERGENCY AND FORD NEVER TELLING YOU ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY UNTIL THE EMERGENCY OCCURS. THIS MAY BE THE FIRST, OR ONLY, COMPLAINT YOU EVER RECEIVE ABOUT A CAR GOING TOO SLOW, BUT IT WAS A REAL PROBLEM AND I FOUND IT EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS.*AK
AFTER FILLING GAS TANK, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY NINE MILES AND WENT FROM A FULL TANK TO LESS THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS. VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN GASOLINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. AFTER REVIEW OF NHTSA WEB SITE IDENTIFIED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. CONCERNS WERE RAISED WITH REPAIRING DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS SELLING DEALERSHIP. REQUESTED FAILURE ANALYSIS OF FAILED PART TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE OF FAILURE, INFORMED THAT DEALERSHIPS DO NOT HAVE PERSONNEL TRAINED TO DO THIS. INFORMED DEALERSHIPS THAT I DO NOT FEEL VEHICLE IS SAFE AND WOULD LIKE THEM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK DUE TO IT ONLY BEING 35 DAYS OLD AND 1700 MILES, TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF A DIFFERENT FORD VEHICLE. WAS INFORMED THAT FORD DOES NOT HAVE A BUY BACK PROGRAM AND ANY NEGOTIATION WOULD HAVE TO BE DONT WITH REGIONAL FORD REP. WAITED UNTIL 12/11 TO HER FROM REP AND SHE WAS IN A MEETING AND TOLD ME SHE WOULD CALL ME BACK. AFTER NOT HEARING FROM REP FOR OVER A WEEK I BEGAN TO LEAVE HER VOICE MAIL AND STILL DID NOT GET A RETURN CALL. CONTINUED TO CALL CUSTOMER RELATIONS LINE AND DEALERSHIP AND STILL DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING ON MY CONCERN. FINALLY HEARD FROM FORD REP ON 12/15 AND WAS OFFERED AND ESP 5 YRS 75K MILES, INFORMED REP THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF MY TIME THAT WAS WASTED ON THIS ISSUE. REP INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL LINE ON THE RANGER, I INFORMED REP THAT THERE ARE OTHER DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. FORD REP BECAME DEFENSIVE AND ENDED UP HANGING UP ON ME. WHILE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THIS REP I REQUESTED A DSB APPLICATION AND IT TOOK THREE REQUESTS TO FINALLY GET ONE, THIS TOOK FROM 12/21 UNTIL 01/16 TO RECIEVE, NEVER RECIEVED A PHONE CALL FROM DEALERSHIP AFTER REQUESTING DSB APP AS INFORMED BY CUSTOMER LINE THAT I WOULD. CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF SUBMITTING DSP APP. PROBLEM UNRESOLVED PENDING RESULTS OF DSB. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026