Ford E-350 · model year

2002 Ford E-350

61 NHTSA complaints, 2 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
61
Recalls
4

The verdict

The 2002 Ford E-350 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

21st pctile
complaint volume, own model years
4
recall campaigns

The 2002FordE-350 carries 61 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 10 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-350 is engine and engine cooling with 8 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (5) and tires:tread/belt (5). 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 4 investigation files overlapping the 2002 E-350. 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.

61
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2002 Ford E-350

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

61 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
TIRES:TREAD/BELT5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL4
ENGINE4
SEAT BELTS2
TIRES2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SUSPENSION2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2

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

20180906ENGINE

HEAD ON VEHICLE STRIPPED BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT IS MADE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON REGULAR E350 BUT MINE IS AN RV. IT WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON I-65 IN BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA.

Mileage: 114,000

20170926ENGINE

THIS 350 ECONOLINE, 8CYL., EXTENDED BODY VAN WAS PURCHASED NEW, AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 120K MILES ON IT SINCE 2002. BEGINNING SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY MECHANIC COMPLAINED OF SEVERE FRAME EROSION, HAVING HAD TO REINFORCE AND RE-WELD SEVERAL PARTS BACK ONTO THE FRAME, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE BRACKETS WHICH SUPPORT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. (TWO OCURRANCES-- LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES). LAST WEEK, MY EMPLOYEE COMPLAINED OF SOME REAR END SWAYING AT MODERATE SPEED CORNERING. WE DISCOVERED A CROSS-TIE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SIDE RAILS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE'S FRAME HAD ROTTED AWAY, THUS CAUSING SOME UNWANTED FRAME MOVEMENT. IF IT WEREN'T FOR A HEAVY-DUTY TOWING PACKAGE I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE IN 2002, I BELIEVE THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE'S UNDER-FRAMING WOULD HAVE TWISTED AND SEPARATED FROM THE BODY YEARS AGO ! ALSO BEGINNING A FEW YEARS AGO, WAS THE DECAY OF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BLOCK, AS THREE SEPARATELY TIMED SPARK PLUGS HAD LI

20170926SUSPENSION

THIS 350 ECONOLINE, 8CYL., EXTENDED BODY VAN WAS PURCHASED NEW, AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 120K MILES ON IT SINCE 2002. BEGINNING SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY MECHANIC COMPLAINED OF SEVERE FRAME EROSION, HAVING HAD TO REINFORCE AND RE-WELD SEVERAL PARTS BACK ONTO THE FRAME, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE BRACKETS WHICH SUPPORT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. (TWO OCURRANCES-- LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES). LAST WEEK, MY EMPLOYEE COMPLAINED OF SOME REAR END SWAYING AT MODERATE SPEED CORNERING. WE DISCOVERED A CROSS-TIE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SIDE RAILS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE'S FRAME HAD ROTTED AWAY, THUS CAUSING SOME UNWANTED FRAME MOVEMENT. IF IT WEREN'T FOR A HEAVY-DUTY TOWING PACKAGE I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE IN 2002, I BELIEVE THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE'S UNDER-FRAMING WOULD HAVE TWISTED AND SEPARATED FROM THE BODY YEARS AGO ! ALSO BEGINNING A FEW YEARS AGO, WAS THE DECAY OF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BLOCK, AS THREE SEPARATELY TIMED SPARK PLUGS HAD LI

20170926UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS 350 ECONOLINE, 8CYL., EXTENDED BODY VAN WAS PURCHASED NEW, AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 120K MILES ON IT SINCE 2002. BEGINNING SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY MECHANIC COMPLAINED OF SEVERE FRAME EROSION, HAVING HAD TO REINFORCE AND RE-WELD SEVERAL PARTS BACK ONTO THE FRAME, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE BRACKETS WHICH SUPPORT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. (TWO OCURRANCES-- LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES). LAST WEEK, MY EMPLOYEE COMPLAINED OF SOME REAR END SWAYING AT MODERATE SPEED CORNERING. WE DISCOVERED A CROSS-TIE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SIDE RAILS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE'S FRAME HAD ROTTED AWAY, THUS CAUSING SOME UNWANTED FRAME MOVEMENT. IF IT WEREN'T FOR A HEAVY-DUTY TOWING PACKAGE I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE IN 2002, I BELIEVE THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE'S UNDER-FRAMING WOULD HAVE TWISTED AND SEPARATED FROM THE BODY YEARS AGO ! ALSO BEGINNING A FEW YEARS AGO, WAS THE DECAY OF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BLOCK, AS THREE SEPARATELY TIMED SPARK PLUGS HAD LI

20170227FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

BLOWING OUT SPARK PLUGES.

Mileage: 120,000

20170227UNKNOWN OR OTHER

BLOWING OUT SPARK PLUGES.

Mileage: 120,000

20150831FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE VAN STARTED SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF FUEL STARVATION AND WITH THE FAMILY AND A SEMI ON MY BUMPER THINGS GOT QUITE HAIRY AND STARTED AND ARGUMENT WITH MY WIFE! I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND PUT CLEAN DIESEL FUEL AND FUEL ADDITIVE TO GET ME BACK HOME; THIS DID NOT WORK AS THE VAN ACTED UP AGAIN SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD. AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING NUMEROUS TIMES ON A SIDE STREET, I GOT TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER; I NOTICED THAT IT WAS FULL OF RUST AND ALUMINUM FLAKES. THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER, I HAD TO TRAILER IT HOME, THE NEXT DAY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ALUMINUM COATING THE FUEL TAKE HAD COME OFF AND WAS PLUGGING UP THE FUEL PICKUP, EMERGENCY VALVE AND THE FILTER. YOU CAN DO AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FIND WERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT I WOULD HAVE PERFORMED PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE FUEL TANK AND FILTERS. VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR WHE

Mileage: 240,000

20150715TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-350 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LT24575R16 TIRES, SIZE: 245/756/16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT VIBRATIONS FROM THE FRONT TIRES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13T012000 (TIRES). THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,362 AND THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Mileage: 108,362

20150223ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

20140116ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20130116EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20120920SUSPENSION

TRUCK WOBBLING TO THE POINT OF ALMOST WRECKING...WAS TOLD IT WAS WHEELBEARING,ROTORS,TIEROD ECT. I NOW REALIZE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCKS REGARDING UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING , IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ALSO OWNED A 2003 AND 2004 HAD TO SELL THEM BECAUSE THE TURBO KEPT BLOWING OFF AND FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLOGGED. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I HOPE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20120920SERVICE BRAKES

TRUCK WOBBLING TO THE POINT OF ALMOST WRECKING...WAS TOLD IT WAS WHEELBEARING,ROTORS,TIEROD ECT. I NOW REALIZE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCKS REGARDING UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING , IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ALSO OWNED A 2003 AND 2004 HAD TO SELL THEM BECAUSE THE TURBO KEPT BLOWING OFF AND FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLOGGED. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I HOPE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20120920STEERING

TRUCK WOBBLING TO THE POINT OF ALMOST WRECKING...WAS TOLD IT WAS WHEELBEARING,ROTORS,TIEROD ECT. I NOW REALIZE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCKS REGARDING UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING , IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ALSO OWNED A 2003 AND 2004 HAD TO SELL THEM BECAUSE THE TURBO KEPT BLOWING OFF AND FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLOGGED. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I HOPE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20111229CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME FRACTURED INTO TWO PIECES, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A BARRIER ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE A FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

20110913FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

2002 FORD E-350. S10 DIRECT REPLY-REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO THE REPAIRS OF HIS TRUCK DUE TO THE FEDERAL GRANT MANDATED CHEMICAL ADDITIVES TO DIESEL FUEL, CHEMICAL ADDITIVES HAVE CAUSED THE DE-LAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANK *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOOSE LAMINATE MATERIAL DAMAGED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER AND FUEL LINES AND PREVENTED THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPLACEMENT OF HIS FUEL TANK, PUMP, FILTER AND LINES WOULD COST $4,000.00 . THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE SITUATION STEMMED FROM A GOVERNMENT MANDATE. *JB UPDATED 10/18/11. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STOPPED, WITH NO WARNING, ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. UPDATED 11/10/11. *JB

20110607ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

STARTED MY 2001 FORD E-350. AFTER 10-15 SECONDS, LARGE POP AND ENGINE DIED. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND RIGHT REAR SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE. I'M AN ENGINEER AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON ENGINES OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS FOR 35 YEARS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS ENGINEERING DEFECT. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE PARTS. WE HAVE A FLEET OF FORDS. I NOW WISH IT WAS A FLEET OF CHEVY'S. *TR

Mileage: 137,152

20101125ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2002 FORD ECONOLINE 350 EQUIPPED WITH V8 TRITAN ENGINE. SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. HAVE TAPPED WITH HELI-COIL REPAIR KIT, BUT HIS REPAIR HAS FAILED. NOW FACED WITH CYLINDER HAD BEEN REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

20101110ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SPARK PLUG EJECTED 2002 FORD VAN. *TR

20101110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPARK PLUG EJECTED 2002 FORD VAN. *TR

Compare 2002FordE-350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 Ford E-350 have?
The 2002 Ford E-350 has 61 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 Ford E-350?
Yes, the 2002 Ford E-350 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-350?
The most-complained component for the 2002 Ford E-350 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 2002 Ford E-350 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-350; 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.