The 2002 Ford F Series has 1 safety recall and 34 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (11 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints34filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Structure
NHTSA recall 03V094000 · Mar 7, 2003 · 3,674 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
Risk: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Exhaust system
11
0
1
0
77,249 mi
Engine
6
0
0
0
149,500 mi
Power train Driveline; Automatic transmission
4
0
0
0
40,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
4
0
0
0
125,000 mi
Vehicle speed control Cruise control; Accelerator pedal
3
1
0
0
154,000 mi
Electrical system Ignition
3
0
0
0
70,000 mi
Unknown or other
2
0
0
0
—
Steering Column
2
0
0
0
—
Fuel/propulsion system
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, other
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, diesel Storage › Tank assembly
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Apr 11, 2022Fuel/propulsion system I was driving my truck and it began vibrating; shortly thereafter it was running as if half the engine was working , with a loss of power. I pulled the fuel filter and there was trash all in the filter. I bought another filter and replaced it and ran the truck again and it was working fine. Shortly thereafter the same thing happened again, loss of power, running like half the engine was working and then stalled. After a few minutes it started up but ran terrible. I got it home. I pulled the fuel filter and it was loaded with trash again. I called the Ford dealer and spoke to a mechanic and he advised he has fixed numerous trucks like mine and the gas tank was deteriorating from the inside…
Dec 30, 2014 · 119,000 milesEngine DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A SPARK PLUG CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND LOOSE POWER. THE DEALER AND A SHOP I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STATED THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. *TR
Sep 2, 2014 · 134,549 milesSteering WHILE BACKING INTO MY TRUCK STARTED MAKING A LOAD NOISE, IT WAS OBVIOUS IT WAS IN THE FRONT END. TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS STUCK. STOPPED THE TRUCK, LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT OF TRUCK AT STEERING, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FRAME, IT WAS THEN THAT I SAW THE STEERING LINK, AGAINST THE RIGHT CV AXLE. THE IDLER ARM HAD SOME HOW RIPPED OFF THE FRAME, LEAVING NA HOLE WHERE THE IDLER ARM WAS, THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK HAD WEAKENED, CAUSING THE METAL TO WEAKEN AND SEPARATE, THANK AGAIN FORD. *TR
Aug 18, 2014 · 190,000 milesService brakes FAILURE OF THE ABS MODULE HAS LED TO A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT THAT WAS AVOIDED VIA STEERING AROUND THE OBSTRUCTION INSTEAD OF BRAKING. THE OBDII MODULE IS THROWING CODE C1185 AS A PART OF THE FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROLLER.. *TR
Apr 26, 2014 · 212,003 milesVehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal GAS PETAL STICKS AND WHEN PUSHED ON TRUCK ACCELERATES RAPIDLY, THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP AND DURING ALL DRIVING. *JS
Mar 24, 2014 · 206,000 milesEngine WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH AND HEARD A POP THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC SAID THAT I HAD A BLOWN SPARK PLUG. *TR
Feb 26, 2014 · 154,000 milesFuel system, gasoline THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE "PLASTIC COVER CLAMSHELL" CRACKED IN HALF AT PLASTIC HINGE (OXIDIZED PLASTIC) . LOOSE PLASTIC COVER WEDGED OPEN THROTTLE FULLY CAUSING "DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING" DRIVING STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. I HAVE THE COVER AND PHOTOS IF YOU WANT ME TO SEND THEM. *TR
Jan 4, 2014 · 180,000 milesEngine A SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE HEAD OF THE ENGINE HEAD WHILE RUNNING DOWN THE HWY AT 60 MPH. THE HEAD MIGHT BE DAMAGED. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET IT FIXED. BEEN A FORD TRUCK GUY ALL MY LIFE & I CAN'T BELIEVE FORD HASN'T ACCEPTED ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY PORTION OR KIND FOR THIS. MY ESTIMATED EXPENSE TO REPAIR THIS IS $1,000 TO $3,000 DEPENDING ON ANY DAMAGE TO THE HEAD ETC.. I PAID $4200 FOR THE TRUCK IN APRIL OF 2013...IT IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION & TO GOOD TO JUNK IN MY OPINION. BESIDES I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER TRUCK SO I HAVE TO TRY TO FIX IT. THIS IS BEYOND DISAPPOINTING, IT IS A MAJOR BLOW TO THE BUDGET ETC. ETC. ETC...... *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP05005 · opened Sep 22, 2005 · closed Jan 4, 2006SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY…