Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Dec 21, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 346 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 8 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.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 21, 2019
WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF A 2002 FORD RANGER XLT NOW WITH 57,000 HIGHWAY MILES, ALWAYS GARAGED/WASHED/MAINTAINED, LITTLE DRIVING IN WINTER (MOSTLY IN SUMMER), ALWAYS FORD MAINTAINED/SERVICED AT SAME DEALERSHIP, BODY/ENGINE/TRANSMISSION IN GREAT SHAPE, WILL LIKELY FAIL INSPECTION THIS SPING BECAUSE FRAME AND FRAME COMPONENTS ARE SEVERELY RUSTED OUT. - SEVERE RUST ON THE ENTIRE FRAME INCLUDING BOTH CROSS MEMBERS (ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION), ARM BOLT POINTS AND CONTROL ARMS. - FRAME ALSO HAS SEVERE RUST DOWN BOTH SIDES TO REAR BUMPER, REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTAL, LEAF SPRINGS AND ALL MOUNTS. - THE PASSENGER SIDE STEARING KNUCKLE IS DELAMINATING. - ALL BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING: FIRST THE REAR BRAKES INCLUDING ALL AXLE COUPLINGS AND DRUM COUPLINGS; SECOND THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FAILED AT THE DISK BRAKES AND RUBBER COUPLINGS. ALL BRAKE TUBES HAD TO BE REPLACED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE WHEELS. - SERVICE MANAGER IS WORRIED ABOUT FRONT CROSS MEMBER FAILING UNDER THE ENGINE, MIDDLE CROSS MEMBER FAILING UNDER THE TRANSMISSION AND THE GAS TANK BRACKETS/STRAPS. - THE FRAME AND MEMBERS AND MOUNTS MUST BE REPLACED; THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS MECHANICALLY SOUND. SERVICE MANAGER SAID NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE TO FRAME RUST IS SO BAD PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED AND/OR VEHICAL INSPECTED BY NHTSA IF DESIRED. ALL BRAKE LINES AND COUPLINGS PERFORMED AROUND AUGUST 29, 2019.
NHTSA ID
11290615
Incident
Aug 29, 2019
Mileage
57,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 7, 2015
Crash reported1 death reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STEER VEER TO THE LEFT. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED FROM THE IMPACT AND SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THE FATAL INJURIES TO THE DRIVER WERE CAUSED BY THE IMPACT FROM THE AIR BAG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 03/04/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG EXPLODED WITH GREAT FORCE. THE AUTOPSY SAYS HE DIED OF MULTIPLE BLUNT TRAUMA INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND HEAD. UPDATED 10/15/2015*JS
NHTSA ID
10670785
Incident
Oct 4, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 1, 2014
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. *TR
NHTSA ID
10607591
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Steering
Filed Aug 29, 2005
THE STEERING MECHANISM WOULD LOCK UP, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE. BETWEEN PUTTING IT BETWEEN PARK AND DRIVE IT WOULD START BY SHIFTING IT. LOCAL FORD DEALERS WOULD STATE NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. NOW, I NEED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY EVERY THREE MONTHS. NOW IT WON'T EVEN START. STARTER IS OKAY BECAUSE WHEN I TURN IT OVER IT CLICKS. IT'S NOT THE FX PACKAGE, A 2002 FORD RANGER. *JB
NHTSA ID
10134613
Incident
Aug 27, 2005
Mileage
45,556 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 1, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THIS RESULTED IN A CONCUSSION. DRIVER HAD BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVERE HEADACHES. MANUFACTURER WAS PROVIDING NO ASSISTANCE. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY. *AK
NHTSA ID
10101920
Incident
Jun 21, 2004
Mileage
4,000 mi
Interior & seatsExterior lightingSteering
Filed Jul 11, 2003
THE STEERING WHEEL CONTAINED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PLAY. *JB. THE STEERING FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. PH. THE HEAD LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, AND THE DOOR LATCHES WERE LUBRICATED. *JB
NHTSA ID
10019530
Incident
May 8, 2003
Mileage
36,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 18, 2002
VEHICLE FAILED TO START DUE TO ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM LOCKING MODE KICKING IN. VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF HAVING POWER, AND WOULDN'TSTART UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY. DEALER STATED THAT FORD ENGINEERS WERE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
8014284
Incident
Jul 14, 2002
Steering
Filed Jul 11, 2002
2 injuries reported
VEHICLE WAS GOING 40-45MPH AND UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE FELL DUE TO CARTER PIN POSSIBLY NOT BEING ATTACHED. BRACKET WHERE THE CARTER PIN WAS HELD DIDN'T SHOW ANY INDENTATIONS OR FRAGMENT PIECES OF PIN BEING IN TACK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED IT WAS VERY UNUSAL FOR THIS TYPE OF IMPACT. *AK *JG
NHTSA ID
8013732
Incident
May 25, 2002
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own