Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 37, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the air bag warning light was illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the independent mechanic was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
HARD FRONT END COLLISION WITH TELEPHONE POLE. ICE ON ROAD. TOTAL DAMAGE, VEHICLE STATUS IS SCRAP. DRIVER INJURY. HEAD AND JAW. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS SECOND FRONT COLLISION. FIRST COLLISION, VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. STRUCK BY WRONG WAY DRIVER. $3400 DAMAGE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPAIRS AT FORD DEALER, ST. LOUIS , MO.
THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION TRAVELING 50 MPH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN
MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS FORD RANGER XL 2002 WHEN DUE TO A PEDESTRIAN, THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES CAUSING MY SON TO REAR END THEM. SNOWY WEATHER WAS A FACTOR. THE BRAKES DIDN'T CATCH AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. HIS AIRBAGS BLEW UP, NOT DEPLOY- BLEW UP AND CAUGHT FIRE! THE STEERING WHEEL BLEW UP! EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE STEERING COLUMN STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD COMPONENTS. THE STARTER WENT OUT AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. INSURANCE DEEMED THE TRUCK TOTALED. OBVIOUSLY THE AIRBAGS WERE DEFECTIVE!! WAS THERE A RECALL CONCERNING ANY OF THESE COMPONENTS THAT WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF? WHAT COMPENSATION IS AVAILABLE TO US FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT?...UPDATED 02-03-15 *BF
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A WIRE UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT IS TOO SHORT. IF SOMEONE TALL LIKE ME PUSHES THE SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY IT STRETCHES THE WIRE AND CAUSES THE SAFETY SYSTEM TO ERROR AND SHUT OFF. AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT LIGHTS UP ON THE DASHBOARD. FORD ISSUED A BULLETIN TO THE DEALERS AND ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I'VE READ CASES OF PEOPLE BEING CHARGED $600 TO FIX IT. *TR
VEHICLE WAS HIT IN DRIVER SIDE IN APRIL 2005. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOYED THEN. TOOK TRUCK FOR INSPECTION IN JAN 08 AND WAS REJECTED FOR AIR BAG LIGHT ON. COULD BE AIR BAG MODULE DEFECTED. *TR
AFTER MY 2002 FORD RANGER WAS RECALLED FOR A CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE, I KEPT BLOWING FUSES. IN TAKING IT IN TO MY FORD DEALER THEY INDICATED A SHORT WITHIN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. WENT THROUGH ABOUT 20 - 10 AMP FUSES BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT IN. FAILURE OF A SAFETY ITEM LIKE THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ESPECIALLY WITH LESS THAT 70,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
SEAT BELT NEVER STAYS CONNECTED ( POPS OUT) ALL SPEEDS. (5 YRS) I ASKED DEALER ABOUT FIXING HE SAID MY WARRANTY EXPIRED BUY A NEW ONE (FORD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SAFETY AFTER WARRANTY DATE) THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR A WEEK THEN OFF FOR A MONTH THEN REPEAT ( 5 YRS) DOOR AJAR LIGHT HAS NEVER TURNED OFF (MAYBE IT WILL BURN OUT SO I DON'T SEE IT ANYMORE) TAILGATE LATCH REPLACED 3 TIMES ( DANG THAT CHEAP PLASTIC) FRONT END REALIGNED NUMEROUS TIMES (ANTI NASCAR, ALWAYS TURNS RIGHT) ENGINE SHUDDERS BAD FEW TIMES A YEAR(BAD GAS MAYBE ONCE, OTHERS PROBABLY NOT) COIL PACK REPLACED TWICE (IM STILL UNDER 60,000 MILES) REAR WINDOW LEAKS ALSO :) *TR
I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 15:45 ON COLORADO HIGHWAY. 66. I WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND AT 65 MPH WHEN THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF IN MY 2002 FORD RANGER. BECAUSE OF THIS I ENDED UP CROSSING THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC AND INTO THE DITCH. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT END SUSPENSION TO BE DAMAGED. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS AND WAS BASICALLY GIVEN A RUN AROUND FOR 9 WEEKS. ON APRIL 13, 2006 FORD CONTACTED ME AND SAID THAT THEIR ENGINEERS HAD DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF BECAUSE I WENT INTO THE DITCH NOT BEFORE. SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO FATALITIES OR ACCIDENTS. *JB
VEHICLE HIT TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE; IMPROPER DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; FAILURE OF OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. *JB
TRUCK HYDROPLAINED AND HIT THE MEDIAN WALL AT 50 MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
2002 FORD RANGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *BF THE CONSUMERS SON FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. *JB
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH BLINKING 4X THEN 7 TIMES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THE REASON MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME WAS BECAUSE THE CONNECTION WAS DIRTY. MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS WHY IS THEIR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS IN NEED OF CLEANING? THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND CHARGE YOU LABOR TO CLEAN THE CONNECTION. *JB
CONSUMER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK *TC
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.DEALER SAID HARNESS UNDER FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAME UNDONE FROM MOVING SEAT BACK AND FORTH WHEN ENTERING REAR SEAT OF VEHICLE.THEY RECONNECTED HARNESS AND CLEARED COMPUTER LIGHTCOST $162.50 TO RECONNECT HARNESS . WOULD LIKE REFUND FROM FORD FOR DEFECT IN WIRING HARNESS.NO NEW PARTS INVOLVED IN FIXING PROBLEM WITH HARNESS. I HAD 48,678 MILES GUARANTEED FOR 50,000 MILES. *AK
I PURCHASED A 2002 RANGER EDGE 4X4 , IT HAD 4 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE AIRBAG SENSOR, ABS SENSOR, FRONT END HAD TOBE REALIGNED DUE TO A BAD ALIGNMENT AT THE FACTORY,THE TIRES IN THE FRONT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 4500 MILES. NOW AT 38000 MILES THE 4X4 DRIVETRAIN WAS LEAKING AT THE FRONT COVER. THE BREATHING TUBE WAS THROWING OIL OUT ONTO THE ENGINE . I WAS TOLD BY FORD COMPANY AND A FORD TECH. THAT THIS WAS A E4NGINNERING PROBLEM. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST OF 796.00. THE COVER WAS REPLACED WITH A PART THAT WAS USED PREVIOUS TO 1995, PART NUMBER IS FOF6TZ-4033-BA. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL AND CAN I EXPECT FUTURE PROBLEMS. *JB
ON 12/14/03 I WAS DRIVING EAST AT 50 MPH. WHEN A CAR RAN A STOP SIGN AND A FLASHING RED LIGHT. MY RANGER EDGE FULLY IMPACTED HIS VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AT 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I PUSHED HIS VEHICLE OFF OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE WHICH BROKE AND CAME DOWN ACROSS THE TOP OF MY TRUCK. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT & SHOULDER HARNESS. I WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR APPROXIMATELY. 20 MINUTES. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY RIGHT KNEE, LEFT ELBOW AND TO THE BACK OF MY HEAD. THE FRONT END OF MY RANGER EDGE WAS PUSHED BACK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ABOUT 16 INCHES. THIS IMPACT COVERED THE WHOLE OF THE FRONT END OF THE RANGER WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BEND THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE CAB AND THE FRONT OF THE BED. I HAVE OFFICIALLY INFORMED FORD AND SENT ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION INCLUDING PICTURES BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THEM. THEY SAID THEY MIGHT DO AN INVESTIGATION??? *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 30-MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FIFTEEN MINUTES PRIOR TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR FLASHED THEN IT STAYED ON.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, MINUTES LATER THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE HIT A WALL. *JB
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROAD SIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER BLACKED OUT, AND SUSTAINED SEVERE BODILY INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 30/35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP.*AK *NLM *JB
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. *AK THE DEALER INSTALLED NEW WIPER BLADES. *JB
MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHEN HE DROVE INTO A SANDY DITCH WHILE AVOIDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. HE HIT A SAND HILL HEAD ON, AT APPROX 25 MPH. THE RANGER/EDGE WAS TOTALLED, NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPOLYED. THE BODY SHOP LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE ARE NO AIR BAG SENSORS, OR AIR BAG HARNESSES FOR THE SENDORS LOCATED IN THE FRONT PORTION OF THE TRUCK. THE SHOP CALLED FORD AND REQUESTED A DIAGRAM OF WHERE THE SENSORS AND WIRING SHOULD BE. USING THE FORD DIAGRAM IT IS OBVIOUS THERE WERE NO SENSORS OR WIRING. I AM WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER FORD RANGERS / EDGES ARE OUT THERE WITH NO SENSORS AT THE FRONT BUMPER. CONTACTED KEN GRODY FORD AND TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO DID NOT APPEAR CONCERNED. HE DIRECTED ME TO THE FORD COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT. *AK
LABOR DAY 2002 MY 2002 FORD RANGER 2.3 LET ME DOWN. APPROX. 4000 MILE ON IT LEAVING SEQUIM WASHINGTON ON HWY 101 GOING TO PORT ANGELES WASHINGTON, I WAS TRAVELING 55 MILES HOUR. ALL A SUDDEN I SMELT GAS, THEN MY RANGER STARTED TO SPEW OUT LOTS OF BLACK SMOKE. THE MOTOR QUIT AND I PULLED OFF THI HWY. IT WON'T STATR UP. CALLED THE DEALER, THEY WERE JUST CLOSING UP TIME 4:30 PM LABOR DAY I SOPKE TO A SALEMAN, SERVIDE DEPT NOT WORKING, NO ONE TO HELP ME. I TOLD THE SALESMAN I WOULD GO BACK AND TRY TO START IT, IF I GOT IT STSRTID I WOULD TAKE IT HOME. NO HELP THE RANGER WAS INSURED. I WENT BACK, AFTER A FEW TIMES I GOT IT STARTED. BLACK SMOKE WAW COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. I REVERED THE ENGINE UP AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR MAINTANING 35 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR. GOPT UP THE NEX MORNING THE RANGER WOULD NOT START TILL I TRIED IT SEVERAL TIMES. IT DID START AND RAN PRETTY GOOG BUT WITH IGNITION TROUBLES. TRAVELING, MOTOR RUNNING 1800 TO 2800 RPM IN 5TH GEAR RANGER FELT LIKE IT WOULD SHIFT UP AND DOUN. TIMING WAS CHANING. SOME TIME ENGINE WOUL SHUT DOWN THEN COME BACK ON. FORD DEALER CAN'T FINED ANY THING WRONG. APPROX 16000 MILES LATER I TOOK RANGER TO A GARAGE. THERE COMPUTER SHOWED THE ENGINE WOUD DROP TWO CLYNDERS NOW AND THEN. SHUT DOWN AND RIGHT BACK ON. TOOK IGNITION PRINT OUT TO FORD DEALER, THEY STILL SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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