10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 41,527 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I've owned my 2002 Ford Ranger since new and have had all service performed by the dealer. The vehicle has 60,000 miles and was serviced under a contract purchased with the vehicle when new. Issues with the brakes started within the first year of ownership and have steadily worsened since. The complaint has been submitted to various dealers at least ten times with no trouble found. One failure mode I have observed resulted in three very close calls where the brake pedal is firm, but the vehicle does not slow. Pressing the brake harder does not increase braking effectiveness. In one instance, I was forced to drive off the road to avoid (killing) a pedestrian. A second failure mode is the opposite; a slight amount of pressure applied to the brake pedal results in the front brakes locking. A third failure mode is where braking results in a violent shimmy, which caused me to lose control on snowpack and slide off the road. None of these failure modes has been consistent, nor have they repeated at the dealership. I am very concerned for my safety and that of those around me. My research has revealed many folks with similar issues.
- Erie, CO, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Ranger. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 07V33600 (vehicle speed control). The dealer disconnected the deactivation switch. The ABS warning indicator light illuminated intermittently after the switch was disconnected. The dealer stated that the failure was caused by a failed pressure control switch. The contact stated that not being able to use the cruise control was an inconvenience. The dealer stated that the part wouldn't be available until after January of 2008. The failure mileage was 65,000 and current mileage was 66,000. Updated 03/13/08.
- Des Moines , IA, USA
On February 1, 2007, I was slowly following an SUV in a crowded parking lot as we both looked for a parking spot. The SUV stopped. I applied the brakes and then suddenly my 2002 Ford Ranger accelerated. The tires squealed as the brakes fought the acceleration. I hit the SUV from behind. The SUV pulled forward and the Ranger continued to accelerate an hit the SUV again. I shut off the engine. The Ranger was towed to a body shop. When the body work is complete I will have the Ranger towed to a Ford dealer to address the sudden, unintended acceleration problem.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
Consumer complained about a brake problem. The brakes on one side of the vehicle wore normally but the driver side front brake was completely destroyed. Consumer purchased an extended warranty which was to cover the vehicle for up to 60,000 miles. Dealer will not honor the extended warranty.
- Daly City, CA, USA
- Muskegon, MI, USA