2002 Ford F-350 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-350 years
- About as many complaints as other years 12th of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford F-350. That ranks 12th out of 24 F-350 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is tires (20 complaints, 17%), typically at around 61,043 miles. Complaints mention 11 crashes, 7 fires, 9 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 116owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 11complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Ford F-350 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 20 | 17% | 61,043 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 16% | 60,400 | — | — |
| Steering | 16 | 14% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 14 | 12% | 62,901 | — | — |
| Power Train | 10 | 9% | 65,780 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 8% | 43,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 6% | 41,651 | — | — |
| Structure | 6 | 5% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 5% | 31,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3% | 97,550 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 3% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 3% | 600 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 3% | 150,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 3% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | 113,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 176,057 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 187,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 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-350 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.
We were just driving when the truck started smoking and the brakes wouldnât work. After a few minutes the truck completely caught on fire.
The frame at the leaf spring hangars has cracked apart at only 131,000 miles on the truck. This issue is becoming more and more common over the years it seems and comparable age trucks from other manufacturers are having this issue for the same age.
[XXX] tire on driver's rear began to have significant vibration while towing 16,000 lb. fifth-wheel RV. Stopped and visually/tactilely determined unusual wear pattern so went to commercial tire shop in Pahrump, NV. Their inspection determined tread separation rendering the tire unusable so we…
[XXX] tire on passengerâs rear began to have significant vibration while towing 16,000 lb. fifth-wheel RV. Stopped and visually/tactilely determined unusual wear pattern so went to commercial tire shop in Pahrump, NV. Their inspection determined tread separation rendering the tire unusable so we…
there has been intense rust and corrosion in the roof seams and welds. This has led to water leaks and damage to the interior of the vehicle. The integrity of the roof has been compromised, and I am concerned about the possibility of roof crush should there be an accident. Not to mention the mold…
Other Ford F-350 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 F-350 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 F-350 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 F-350 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 F-350 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 F-350 | 91 | 0 |
| 2013 F-350 | 76 | 1 |
| 2012 F-350 | 149 | 4 |
| 2011 F-350 | 136 | 4 |
| 2010 F-350 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 F-350 | 28 | 2 |
| 2008 F-350 | 131 | 8 |
| 2007 F-350 | 36 | 3 |
| 2006 F-350 | 145 | 3 |
| 2005 F-350 | 114 | 3 |
| 2004 F-350 | 159 | 2 |
| 2003 F-350 | 90 | 2 |
| 2002 | 116 | 2 |
| 2001 F-350 | 160 | 5 |
| 2000 F-350 | 304 | 4 |
| 1999 F-350 | 413 | 12 |
| 1998 F-350 | 12 | 1 |
| 1997 F-350 | 155 | 3 |
| 1996 F-350 | 130 | 3 |
| 1995 F-350 | 134 | 2 |
See all Ford F-350 problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford F-350?
Owners most often report tires, engine and engine cooling, steering problems. The top one, tires, accounts for 20 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Ford F-350?
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-350 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-350 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.