Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford Ranger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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
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.
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. …
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.
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.
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. The consumer stated the brakes failed to stop the vehicle, minutes later the driver side air bag deployed and the vehicle hit a wall.
Tl 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
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. …
My husband drives a 2002 Ford Ranger truck.. He was in a accident on 3/05/03 when a car pulled out in front of his truck he was going approx. 35 to 40 MPH, he hit her car hard enough to flip her car on it's side. My complaint/concern is his air bag did not deploy, he did have on a seat belt and only sustained minor injuries. My concern is if this had been a more serious accident is there a problem with the air bag not deploying. My husband voiced his concerns with the Ford service and requested that they evaluate the air bag system, the technician claims since the accident was not head on or full frontal hit that this is why it did not deploy. Am unable to find info regarding this, so why did it not deploy. Is this a defect or normal.
Airbag complaints in other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Ford Ranger, 11% of the model year's 346 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Ranger airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2002 Ford Ranger, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Ranger airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 22 crashes, 1 fire and 28 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.