2002 Ford Ranger: jerking or lurching

Filed Apr 19, 2014 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · CO

Violent missing, chugging, jerking upon acceleration. Accelerating onto highway, accelerating on highway, approx. 2500 - 3000 RPM. Automatic transmission 3.0 v6. The federal safety agency #10018746 online with many others reporting same problem. Truck will not accelerate. Instead jerks and hesitates violently.

Filed Nov 14, 2008 · Transmission · 26,500 miles · WA

At approx. 26,500 miles vehicle made popping/clunk sound accompanied by a jerking movement when turning. Especially slow turns after making a stop. Sound came from rear end. 1 or both rear tires would bind in slow corners and skid. Ford dealer confirmed broken gears in differential. 2002 ranger ext. Cab with manual trans, 4 cyl, 2wd. $1,650 to repair. Ford will not assist in paying for any part of this. Evidently ford is satisfied with their bread and butter trucks failing so quickly. This is how they lose a customer for life, by not standing behind their vehicles. Too many reports of this failure for it not to be taken care of by ford. Very angry, ford, your huge losses are well deserved.

Filed Mar 7, 2005 · Transmission · 43,131 miles · VA

2002 ford ranger stalled. *bf the drive shaft jerked and slammed when accelerating in drive or reverse. The drive shaft assembly was replaced but that did not solve the problem.

Filed Jan 3, 2004 · Transmission · 1,000 miles · MA

Slight jerking coming from drive train when lightly accelerating and braking. Dealer replaced driveshaft in aug. 2002, problem went away temporarily, came back and returned to dealer. Was told there is no repair available. Called ford motor to complain and got no satisfaction.

Filed Oct 6, 2003 · Engine · 9,900 miles · OH

Exhaust odor after engine reaches normal operating temp. The odor is like rotten eggs, sulphur, phosphorus. Problem began when vehicle was approx. 9 months old with less than 10,000 miles. Vehicle was bought new and is a 2002 ford ranger with 4.0, auto, 4x4. Vehicle now has 17,405 miles and has been back to the dealer 4 or 5 times without resolve and is about to go back again. The dealer said they have done everything ford has advised them to do and they do not know what to try next. The dealer said ford will not authorize replacing the catalytic convertor because the problem would start over again when the new convertor "burns" in. The dealer told me the first time it would go away in approx. 5,000 miles. The smell remains and, if anything, is getting worse. The frustration began when I took the truck in the first time for the exhaust odor and a severe jerk when putting the trans. Into reverse. The service manager said the "jerk" was because the vehicle (10,008 miles) was getting "broke in" but the smell was due to the convertor just "burning in" because it was new! I've had 5 rangers since 1996 and purchase 3 other vehicles since 1990 and have never had this odor in any of them.

Filed Oct 4, 2002 · Acceleration, Brakes · WA

The consumer states that vehicle rocks while driving. The consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer, and the dealer suggested that the spark plugs needed replacing. *mr the consumer sates that the vehicle goes at a rate of 2500+3000 RPM 202 ranger, shakes in the net or park. The engine cuts out and jerks at high speeds, also when passing vehicles or trucks on the freeways-cuts out, its very unsafe, and the brakes pulsate/shake when applied at highway speeds. (6000 RPM, plus the speedometer shows 120 MPH) certified mechanic(s) have stated that there's something wrong with the vehicle.

Filed Sep 17, 2002 · Transmission · IN

At 55 to 60 MPH vehicle jerks and lunges. Took vehicle to dealer,and they stated this was normal. *ak consumer believes that the vehicle is defective.