Total Complaints
6 filings
FORD E-SERIES · model year
2002 FORD E-SERIES
6 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002FORDE-SERIES carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 E-SERIES is suspension with 1 filings, followed by visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:windshield:electrical heating element (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2002 E-SERIES, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
Recalls (1)
07V55300005/12/2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.
Recent Complaints
20081108VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
2002 FORD TAURUS HEATER BLOWER. DID NOT WORK TRIED TO FIX WITH DIFFERENT PARTS STILL DIDNT WORK. I CAN'T SEE WHERE I AM GOING WITH THE WINDOWS ALL STEAMED UP. *TR
20070522ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS ON THE FUSE BOX FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S WIRES TO BECOME EXPOSED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE SIZE AND CORRECT VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,793.
Mileage: 9,793
20060210POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WHILE I DOUBT THIS WILL ATTRACT ENOUGH ATTENTION FOR FORD TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, I TOO, MADE THE MISTAKE OF PURCHASING A 2002 EXPLORER XLT. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKES A HORRID WHINING NOISE BETWEEN 50-65 MPH. FROM WHAT LITTLE RESEARCH I'VE DONE SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED I'M FINDING THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY UNFORTUNATE FORD OWNER WITH THE SAME DEFECT. MOST OF WHAT I'M FINDING STATES THAT EVEN WHEN THE PROBLEM IS "FIXED" THAT IT RE-OCCURS. WHY IS FORD NOT ISSUING A RECALL? *NM
20050328ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DRIVING ON PRIMARY ROAD WAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK. PULL OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURN OFF ENGINE TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.CHECKED EXHAUST OK. REMOVED ENGINE COWLING, FOUND SPARK PLUG EJECTED ITSELF. SPARK PLUG WAS MISSING," COP" COIL MOUNTING BROKE, BOOT BURNT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALER AFTER BEING TOLD IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. TALK TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP,AN WAS TOLD THIS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE TRITON ENGINES. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE. I STILL HAVE THE "COP" COIL. *JB
Mileage: 70,150
20030226VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
DEFROSTER AND CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED REPEATEDLY. NO DEFROSTER, HEAT, OR AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE BLOWER FAILED TO OPERATE. DEALER ROUTE 23 AUTOMALL WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT FIX.*JB
Mileage: 300
20030110SUSPENSION
CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STEER TO THE LEFT.*JB
Compare 2002FORDE-SERIES to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 FORD E-SERIES have?▼
The 2002 FORD E-SERIES has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 FORD E-SERIES?▼
Yes, the 2002 FORD E-SERIES has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 FORD E-SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 FORD E-SERIES is SUSPENSION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 2002 FORD E-SERIES 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.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.