Ford F-350 SD · model year

2002 Ford F-350 SD

145 NHTSA complaints, 13 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
145
Recalls
4

The verdict

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

30th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
4
recall campaigns

The 2002FordF-350 SD carries 145 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 8 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 F-350 SD is engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel with 24 filings, followed by tires (13) and electrical system (11). 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 F-350 SD, 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.

145
Complaints
13
Crashes
8
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2002 Ford F-350 SD

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

145 filings

Crashes Reported

13 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 COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL24
TIRES13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
TIRES:TREAD/BELT9
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE7
TIRES:SIDEWALL5
STEERING5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY3
SEAT BELTS3
ENGINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2

Recalls (4)

07E10600017/12/2007

WHEELS:HUB

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO M

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

11V35200013/07/2011

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 TH

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

20181206CrashENGINE

IMPROPER PROTECTION OF THE OIL PAN TO ELEMENTS CAUSES METAL PAN TO ROT PREMATURELY GEAR BOX FOR STEEERING NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY FOR THE WEIGHT CLASS OF TRUCK CONSTANTLY BREAKING CAUSING SLOPPY STEERING AND LOSS OF CONTROL 2 LEAF SPRINGS ON FRONT END ARE ONLY RATED TO A WEIGHT OF 1950LBS FOR A 1 TON TRUCK THAT WEIGHS ALMOST 9,000 POUNDS CAUSING SPRINGS TO BREAK OR WEAR PREMATURELY UNLESS YOU PAY FORD 2,000-5,000 DOLLARS TO OUR GRADE THE SUSPENSION

Mileage: 250,000

20181206CrashSTEERING

IMPROPER PROTECTION OF THE OIL PAN TO ELEMENTS CAUSES METAL PAN TO ROT PREMATURELY GEAR BOX FOR STEEERING NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY FOR THE WEIGHT CLASS OF TRUCK CONSTANTLY BREAKING CAUSING SLOPPY STEERING AND LOSS OF CONTROL 2 LEAF SPRINGS ON FRONT END ARE ONLY RATED TO A WEIGHT OF 1950LBS FOR A 1 TON TRUCK THAT WEIGHS ALMOST 9,000 POUNDS CAUSING SPRINGS TO BREAK OR WEAR PREMATURELY UNLESS YOU PAY FORD 2,000-5,000 DOLLARS TO OUR GRADE THE SUSPENSION

Mileage: 250,000

20181206CrashSUSPENSION

IMPROPER PROTECTION OF THE OIL PAN TO ELEMENTS CAUSES METAL PAN TO ROT PREMATURELY GEAR BOX FOR STEEERING NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY FOR THE WEIGHT CLASS OF TRUCK CONSTANTLY BREAKING CAUSING SLOPPY STEERING AND LOSS OF CONTROL 2 LEAF SPRINGS ON FRONT END ARE ONLY RATED TO A WEIGHT OF 1950LBS FOR A 1 TON TRUCK THAT WEIGHS ALMOST 9,000 POUNDS CAUSING SPRINGS TO BREAK OR WEAR PREMATURELY UNLESS YOU PAY FORD 2,000-5,000 DOLLARS TO OUR GRADE THE SUSPENSION

Mileage: 250,000

20170511ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VSM HAS FAILED THIS CONTROLS THE DOOR AJAR AND POWER LOCKS. POWER LOCKS FAIL TO FUNCTION OR ARE HYPER ACTIVE (LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES). DOOR AJAR LIGHT FLASHING AND EMITTING A SOUND INDICATION A VEHICLE'S DOOR IS NOT SECURE WHILE DRIVING AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP.

Mileage: 142,000

20170329VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PERIODICALLY, WHEN SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, IT WON'T IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE IS A LOSS OF SPEED OF AROUND 5 MPH. THEN IT WILL ENGAGE, KICK DOWN A GEAR, AND ACCELERATE SUPER QUICK. SCARY IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED.

Mileage: 134,000

20160923TIRES

TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 8 JUST WEST OF CA/AZ BORDER AT 3PM PDT. WEATHER IS SUNNY WITH AMB TEMP APPROX 105 DEGREES. WITHOUT WARNING AN EXPLOSION / COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE. 2-3 SECONDS AFTER EXPLOSION TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM TIRE. DAMAGE TO LR BODY PANEL, WHEEL WELL AND ASSOCIATED PARTS. TIRE REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED BODY PARTS DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

Mileage: 119,500

20160923TIRES

AFTER EXPERIENCING TIRE FAILURE / TREAD SEPARATION ON LR TIRE, INSPECTION OF REMAINING TIRES PERFORMED FOR SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. CRACKS NOTED IN TIRE ON RR WHICH WAS PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME AS LR BETWEEN TREAD AND SIDEWALL.

Mileage: 119,500

20150420SEAT BELTS

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BUCKLE RELEASES UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN I BEGAN TO RESEARCH HOW TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL#01V227001, FORD RECALL# 01S21 ISSUED FOR THE SAME HAZARD. MY TRUCK WAS ASSEMBLED IN 2001 AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT BUT WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY EXPLAINED THAT MY TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SINCE THIS IS SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD, I AM REPORTING TO YOU SO THAT YOU MAY CONSIDER EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THIS RECALL. ALSO, WHAT ARE THE IDENTIFYING MARKS TO DETERMINE IF I DO INDEED HAVE THE FAULTY COMPONENTS IN MY VEHICLE? THE BUCKLES ARE TRW 33012760, THE DRIVERS SIDE IS EMBOSSED WITH #343013 AND THE PASSENGER SIDE IS EMBOSSED #321013. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20140627STEERING

THE TIE ROD END AT THE PITMAN ARM SHEARED OFF SUDDENLY AT THE POINT WHERE THE BALL MEETS THE SHAFT OF THE TIE ROD CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS IS NOT A WEAR POINT AND IS NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN INSPECTED SINCE IT IS COVERED WITH A RUBBER BOOT, THE STEEL LOOKS AS IF IT FATIGUED OVER TIME LEADING TO THE SUDDEN FAILURE. LUCKILY THIS OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT, HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN WRITING THIS. *TR

Mileage: 198,000

20140512CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

LEFT FRONT TIRE THREAD SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I75 AT MILE MARKER 311. SEPARATION CAUSED TRUCK TO VEER LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN GUARD RAIL AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CONTINUE ALONG GUARD RAIL UNTIL STOPPED. 911 CALLED WHICH BROUGHT EMS AND FHP. AAA CALLED WHICH BROUGHT WRECKER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SHAKEN UP WITH PASSENGER BEING TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY EMS FOR HYPERTENSION/HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. FHP FILED REPORT, CASE #FHPC140FF039496. WRECKER REMOVED TRUCK FRONT LEFT WHEEL/TIRE FROM UNDER GUARD RAIL AND TRANSPORTED TO IMPOUND LOT. DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT OF TRUCK AND ALONG LEFT SIDE TO REAR DUAL WHEELS; FRONT BUMPER, FRONT GRILL, BROKEN STEERING ROD, LEFT FENDER, LEFT WHEEL, LEFT SIDE OF HOOD, DRIVER'S DOOR, AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR. UNKNOWN CONDITION OF FRONT 4WD AXLE OR FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 114,254

20140512CrashSTEERING

LEFT FRONT TIRE THREAD SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I75 AT MILE MARKER 311. SEPARATION CAUSED TRUCK TO VEER LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN GUARD RAIL AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CONTINUE ALONG GUARD RAIL UNTIL STOPPED. 911 CALLED WHICH BROUGHT EMS AND FHP. AAA CALLED WHICH BROUGHT WRECKER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SHAKEN UP WITH PASSENGER BEING TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY EMS FOR HYPERTENSION/HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. FHP FILED REPORT, CASE #FHPC140FF039496. WRECKER REMOVED TRUCK FRONT LEFT WHEEL/TIRE FROM UNDER GUARD RAIL AND TRANSPORTED TO IMPOUND LOT. DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT OF TRUCK AND ALONG LEFT SIDE TO REAR DUAL WHEELS; FRONT BUMPER, FRONT GRILL, BROKEN STEERING ROD, LEFT FENDER, LEFT WHEEL, LEFT SIDE OF HOOD, DRIVER'S DOOR, AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR. UNKNOWN CONDITION OF FRONT 4WD AXLE OR FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 114,254

20140512CrashWHEELS

LEFT FRONT TIRE THREAD SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I75 AT MILE MARKER 311. SEPARATION CAUSED TRUCK TO VEER LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN GUARD RAIL AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CONTINUE ALONG GUARD RAIL UNTIL STOPPED. 911 CALLED WHICH BROUGHT EMS AND FHP. AAA CALLED WHICH BROUGHT WRECKER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SHAKEN UP WITH PASSENGER BEING TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY EMS FOR HYPERTENSION/HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. FHP FILED REPORT, CASE #FHPC140FF039496. WRECKER REMOVED TRUCK FRONT LEFT WHEEL/TIRE FROM UNDER GUARD RAIL AND TRANSPORTED TO IMPOUND LOT. DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT OF TRUCK AND ALONG LEFT SIDE TO REAR DUAL WHEELS; FRONT BUMPER, FRONT GRILL, BROKEN STEERING ROD, LEFT FENDER, LEFT WHEEL, LEFT SIDE OF HOOD, DRIVER'S DOOR, AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR. UNKNOWN CONDITION OF FRONT 4WD AXLE OR FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 114,254

20130904TIRES

THIS SPECTOR TIRE JUST BLEW UP. THE TIRE SEPARATED AT THE TREAD AND SPLIT OPEN 6-8 INCHES. *JB

20130904SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE LEAF SPRING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC BUT WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 256,000.

Mileage: 256,000

20130603TIRES

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE A CONTINUOUS CUT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SIDEWALL. BF GOODRICH LT285/75R16. *TR

Mileage: 105,500

20130325FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PLUGGED AN ENGINE BLOCK WARMER UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS. THE CONTACT LATER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

20121215ENGINE

I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND HAVE BLOWN FOUR SPARK PLUGS SO FAR. *TR

Mileage: 69,000

20120717FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

2002 FORD F-350, 7.3 LTR DIESEL DISPLAYED LOSS OF POWER AND SEVERE SHAKING AT LOWER RPM'S WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A DELAMINATE PROBLEM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $2800 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM ON THE HIGHWAY AS I COULD ONLY MAINTAIN 25 MPH ( HIGHWAY MINIMUM IS 45 MPH) IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT DOWN FOR A SHORT TIME THE PROBLEM RESOLVED ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REOCCUR SEVERAL MILES LATER. I NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM BASICALLY OCCURS WHEN UNDER LOAD AND WHEN EXTRA THROTTLE IS NEEDED. *TR

Mileage: 417,247

20111021EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT IDENTIFIED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V352000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V352000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS) RECALLS; HOWEVER, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 189,000

20110802EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS, BLINKERS OR BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,818 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

Mileage: 151,818

Compare 2002FordF-350 SD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 6 Open

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 Ford F-350 SD have?
The 2002 Ford F-350 SD has 145 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 8 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 Ford F-350 SD?
Yes, the 2002 Ford F-350 SD has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is WHEELS:HUB. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford F-350 SD?
The most-complained component for the 2002 Ford F-350 SD is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL with 24 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2002 Ford F-350 SD 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 F-350 SD; 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.