2002 Ford F-250 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-250 years
- About as many complaints as other years 11th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 156 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford F-250. That ranks 11th out of 24 F-250 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (23 complaints, 15%), typically at around 88,715 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 9 fires, 12 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 156owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Ford F-250 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 15% | 88,715 | — | — |
| Tires | 22 | 14% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 14 | 9% | 87,896 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 9% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 12 | 8% | 156,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 12 | 8% | 61,253 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 8% | 86,734 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 6% | 127,040 | — | — |
| Suspension | 10 | 6% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 5% | 104,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 5% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 7 | 4% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 6 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 3% | 281,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 3% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% | 151,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 2% | 152,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 120,589 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Ford F-250 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights; exterior lighting:tail lights
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 ranger trucks built from january 25, 2011, through april 25, 2011 at the twin cities assembly plant, and service parts distributed to dealers for certain 2004 through 2011 model year ranger trucks, 2002 through 2005 model year excursion vehicles, and 2002 through 2007 model year f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (slider) that may experience deformation. A multi-function switch with a deformed slider may malfunction causing the turn signal, tail lights, hazard warning signal flashers and/or brake lights not to activate.
Risk: Non-functioning lights could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the switches free of charge. The safety recall began on august 15, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
Risk: Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on august 7, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 05v388)
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
- Engine compartment fires (EA05005) — opened Mar 22, 2005, closed Aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V388000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle started after several attempts…
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-250. The contact initially discovered patches of fluid on the garage floor. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The dealer discovered a leak in the engine oil pan due to a faulty silicone gasket. The contact stated that the…
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being lifted onto a tow truck, fuel began to leak from the middle plastic made fuel tank. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank hoses were faulty. The mechanic…
The vehicle is equipped with adjustable brake and accelerator. The pedals should move up and down together. But the brake pedal is several inches higher causing a safety issue.
Both front driver and passenger seat belts will pop out of buckle while driving. This happens at any speed.
Other Ford F-250 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 F-250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 F-250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 F-250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 F-250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 F-250 | 142 | 0 |
| 2013 F-250 | 95 | 0 |
| 2012 F-250 | 266 | 1 |
| 2011 F-250 | 248 | 2 |
| 2010 F-250 | 73 | 0 |
| 2009 F-250 | 54 | 0 |
| 2008 F-250 | 196 | 7 |
| 2007 F-250 | 60 | 4 |
| 2006 F-250 | 221 | 4 |
| 2005 F-250 | 144 | 3 |
| 2004 F-250 | 154 | 2 |
| 2003 F-250 | 116 | 2 |
| 2002 | 156 | 2 |
| 2001 F-250 | 220 | 4 |
| 2000 F-250 | 326 | 5 |
| 1999 F-250 | 581 | 14 |
| 1998 F-250 | 56 | 6 |
| 1997 F-250 | 304 | 10 |
| 1996 F-250 | 176 | 4 |
| 1995 F-250 | 184 | 3 |
See all Ford F-250 problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford F-250?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, tires, electrical system problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 23 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Ford F-250?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Ford F-250 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-250 model years, the 2002 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.