Ford E-250 · model year

2002 Ford E-250

18 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 4 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
18
Recalls
4

The verdict

The 2002 Ford E-250 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

29th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
4
recall campaigns

The 2002FordE-250 carries 18 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2002 E-250 is tires:tread/belt with 2 filings, followed by tires (2) and service brakes, hydraulic (2). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 2002 E-250, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

18
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2002 Ford E-250

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

18 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
TIRES2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE1
WHEELS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1

Recalls (4)

09V39900013/10/2009

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS

04V23200013/05/2004

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

CERTAIN VANS AND WAGONS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." FOR CERTAIN 2003 E250 VANS BUILT WITH LT225/75R16E TIRES, THE REAR AXLE RATING IS INCORRECTLY LISTED ON THE LABEL. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE PRESSURE IS INCORRECTLY LISTED ON THE LABEL FOR THE REAR TIRES ON CER

08V05100004/02/2008

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY

07V33600003/08/2007

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Recent Complaints

20200627TIRES

BOTH FRONT TIRES MERELY DEVELOPED TREAD BULGES , LESS THAN 15K MILES, NEVER HAD A FLAT, BEEN OVERLOADED ,OVERINFLATED , ECT.. THEY JUST BECAME VERY POOR DRIVING AND VIBRATED BADLY TO FIND THEY BOTH HAVE BULGES IN THE TREAD. THEY SEEMED FINE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE DAYS AGO THE PROBLEM BECAME APPARENT. *TR

Mileage: 282,952

20150911FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE FUEL TANK STRAP DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO NEARLY TOUCH THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20090516ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWN A FORD F-250 WITH A 5.4 MOTOR. THIS TRUCK BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE MOTOR ON 4-15 -2008 AND IT BLEW A DIFFERENT SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE MOTOR ON 5-13-2009. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS TRUCK AND OTHER VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS DEFECT. I WILL BE TALKING WITH A LAWYER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN HOPES OF GETTING MY TRUCK REPAIRED AND TO RECOVER THE MONEY I HAVE ALREADY SPENT FOR REPAIRS.I F SAFERCAR.GOV WILL CHECK WITH PARTS HOUSES SUCH AS AUTO ZONE AND REPAIR SHOPS YOU WILL FIND THIS IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM, A VERY VERY BIG PROBLEM. I PULL A HORSE TRAILER AND IF THIS SPARK WOULD HAVE BLEW OUT WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ME OR MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED !!!!!! *TR WALTER GLENN JOHNSON BYRAM,MS

Mileage: 117,715

20070705ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

FAILURE OF CAM POSITION SENSOR ON 2002 FORD F250 DIESEL. MOTOR STOPS WORKING LOST OF POWER STEERING AND ALL POWER,AS IF KEY WAS TURNED OFF. IF PULLING TRAILER THIS WAS AN EXTREMLY DANGERIOS CONDITIONIN IN THE FORD 2002 F250 TRUCK WITH THE 7.3 DIESEL MOTOR. JUST CHECK THE INTERNET TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLLE WERE HAVING TROUBLE. *AK

Mileage: 40,000

20070226POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

4R70W TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PLANETARY GEAR SHATTERED RESULTING IN A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. REQUIRING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REBUILT. *NM

Mileage: 75,000

20070226ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

TOTAL CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE AT 51,000 MILES. SAT AT DEALERSHIP FROM JAN 3,2006 TO APRIL 7, 2005 WAITING FOR DEALER ONLY PART. NO CAUSE FOUND. TRUCK WAS IN EXCELLENT RUNNING CONDITION. *NM

Mileage: 51,000

20051001FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

FORD HAS RECALLS ON 1994-2002 FORD TRUCK 8500 GVW AND UNDER I HAVE A 2002 F250 FORD 8600 GVW THAT USES SAME CRUISE CONTROL PARTS AS THE OTHER TRUCKS. THIS UNIT WAS SITTING IN GARAGE WHEN NOT RUNNING WHEN THE SAME PARTS THAT ARE BEING REPLACED ON OTHER VEHICLES IGNITED ON FIRE. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE PARTS. *JB

Mileage: 90,000

20050323TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TIRE SEPARATION, GOODYEAR LT245/75R16E TIRES. AT APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES, THE TIRE BEGAN TO BOUNCE DUE TO A TREAD SEPARATION, CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

20050220CrashWHEELS

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE BACK WHEELS LOCKED-UP AND STARTED TO SKID. HE CALLED THE POLICE AND THE OFFICER SAID HE COULD SEE WHERE IT LOOK LIKE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED AND THERE WERE THREE OTHER WITNESSES TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND FEELS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. I AM WAITING TO SEE IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR ME TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED OUT. *JB

20031105SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

WHEN BRAKING AT 25 MPH THE BRAKES HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT ELECTRONIC HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ABS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SCC *JB

Mileage: 39,631

20030910FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED FOR OVER 24 HOURS. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING. *JB IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE B POST WHERE THE WIRING RUNS THROUGH THE POST TO THE RIGHT SIDE REAR POWER DOOR LOCKS. *SCC *NLM

Mileage: 12,000

20030812CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES AND THEN RAN INTO A TAXI CAB HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH NO PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE AND FRONT END DAMAGE. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 36,414

20030812CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES AND THEN RAN INTO A TAXI CAB HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH NO PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE AND FRONT END DAMAGE. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 36,414

20030622SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

VIBRATIONS FLOOR,STEERING WHEEL NEW PROBLEM BRAKES REAR INNER PADS AND ROTORS GONE 22K MILES. *NLM

Mileage: 373

20030408SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CONSUMER ALSO PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR BY ACCIDENT. *JB

20030405FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE HAS A 29 GALLON FUEL TANK. WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY AND I FUEL UP THE VEHICLE IT WILL ONLY TAKE 22 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A RESERVE, BUT A 7 GALLON RESERVE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1999 F-250 WITH THE SAME SPECS AND WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 29 GALLONS, I HAD THE 2002 VEHICLE AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY ALSO TELL ME THE GAUGE IS WORKING PROPERLY. *JB

Mileage: 65

20021209TIRES

TIRE TREAD SEPERATION AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILE ON THE VEHICLE. WAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE VAN BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW. THE ENITRE OUTER SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE WAS DESTROYED. DT

20021017TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER STATES ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (TIRES) GENERAL TIRE MODEL# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ DOT:#_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BELT IS BROKEN., DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MODEL# AND DOT #. TS

Compare 2002FordE-250 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 6 Open

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 Ford E-250 have?
The 2002 Ford E-250 has 18 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 Ford E-250?
Yes, the 2002 Ford E-250 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford E-250?
The most-complained component for the 2002 Ford E-250 is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2002 Ford E-250 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2002 Ford E-250; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.