2002 Ford F-250 SD Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Ford F-250 SD, 41% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 82,116 miles. The words owners use most often: “spark plug” (46% of reports).
- 101engine and engine cooling complaints
- 82,116median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Spark plug: mentioned in 46 of 101 complaints (46%)
- Cylinder head: mentioned in 13 of 101 complaints (13%)
- Super duty: mentioned in 12 of 101 complaints (12%)
- Position sensor: mentioned in 11 of 101 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the 2002 Ford F-250 SD at $2,300, and half of them between $1,500 and $4,950.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2010), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 91 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 101 complaints, 8 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford F-250 SD engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 F-250 SD | 1 | 3% | 9,000 |
| 2023 F-250 SD | 1 | 2% | 400 |
| 2022 F-250 SD | 2 | 2% | 56,227 |
| 2021 F-250 SD | 3 | 2% | 74,122 |
| 2020 F-250 SD | 2 | 1% | 101,500 |
| 2019 F-250 SD | 2 | 0% | 110,000 |
| 2018 F-250 SD | 1 | 0% | 73,785 |
| 2017 F-250 SD | 3 | 0% | 55,000 |
| 2016 F-250 SD | 7 | 2% | 105,269 |
| 2015 F-250 SD | 2 | 1% | 25,150 |
| 2014 F-250 SD | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2013 F-250 SD | 1 | 5% | 45,000 |
| 2012 F-250 SD | 7 | 12% | 54,236 |
| 2011 F-250 SD | 4 | 3% | 14,700 |
| 2010 F-250 SD | 11 | 34% | 15,268 |
| 2009 F-250 SD | 5 | 22% | 25,000 |
| 2008 F-250 SD | 33 | 23% | 30,000 |
| 2007 F-250 SD | 4 | 7% | 14,050 |
| 2006 F-250 SD | 18 | 7% | 77,403 |
| 2005 F-250 SD | 37 | 13% | 45,550 |
| 2004 F-250 SD | 101 | 40% | 30,750 |
| 2003 F-250 SD | 72 | 40% | 55,238 |
| 2002 F-250 SD | 101 | 41% | 82,116 |
| 2001 F-250 SD | 91 | 32% | 92,338 |
| 2000 F-250 SD | 69 | 30% | 99,450 |
| 1999 F-250 SD | 95 | 38% | 111,912 |
| 1997 F-250 SD | 11 | 28% | 89,000 |
| 1996 F-250 SD | 4 | 36% | 93,538 |
| 1995 F-250 SD | 2 | 22% | 157,605 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel
Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on december 29, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2002 ford f250 superduty. Consumer writes in regards to a strong diesel fuel odor and finding fuel on the passenger side of the engine compartment in the cab of the vehicle. The dealer informed the consumer, the diesel engine was designed with copper sleeves or cups around the fuel injectors. The…
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford f250 sd. While driving approximately 50 mph, the contact heard a loud noise outside of the vehicle and suddenly there was a reduction in the engine power. The contact maneuvered to the side of the road and then resumed cautiously to the residence. Upon reaching the…
Spark plug in the #8 cylinder was blown out breaking the coil pack and messing the threads up inside the head on the triton 5.4 v8. *kb
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Ford F-250 SDs have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 101 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2002 Ford F-250 SD (41% of the 245 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Ford F-250 SD engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 82,116 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Ford F-250 SD?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,300 (half paid between $1,500 and $4,950), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 Ford F-250 SD?
The most frequent phrase is “spark plug”, in 46 of 101 complaints, followed by “cylinder head” (13).
See all 2002 Ford F-250 SD problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all F-250 SD years.