Total Complaints
6 filings
FORD E-SERIES · model year
2002 FORD E-SERIES
6 NHTSA complaints, and 1 recall campaign 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
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.
The most frequently selected component label in reports 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). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 1 NHTSA recall campaign 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-SERIES, 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.
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 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
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 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-SERIES; 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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.