Total Complaints
43 filings
FORD F-SERIES · model year
2002 FORD F-SERIES
43 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002FORDF-SERIES carries 43 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 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 F-SERIES is engine with 6 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine (4). 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.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2002 F-SERIES. 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.
43
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20220426FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving my truck and it began vibrating; shortly thereafter it was running as if half the engine was working , with a loss of power. I pulled the fuel filter and there was trash all in the filter. I bought another filter and replaced it and ran the truck again and it was working fine. Shortly thereafter the same thing happened again, loss of power, running like half the engine was working and then stalled. After a few minutes it started up but ran terrible. I got it home. I pulled the fuel filter and it was loaded with trash again. I called the Ford dealer and spoke to a mechanic and he advised he has fixed numerous trucks like mine and the gas tank was deteriorating from the inside and clogging my fuel filter. He said there is a recall for the truck and that the fuel tank needs to be replaced. Please help me as this truck only has 75,000 miles and is like brand new, garage kept and well taken care of. Thank you for your time in this matter and I look forward to hearing fr
20150114ENGINE
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY A SPARK PLUG CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND LOOSE POWER. THE DEALER AND A SHOP I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STATED THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. *TR
Mileage: 119,000
20140925STEERING
WHILE BACKING INTO MY TRUCK STARTED MAKING A LOAD NOISE, IT WAS OBVIOUS IT WAS IN THE FRONT END. TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS STUCK. STOPPED THE TRUCK, LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT OF TRUCK AT STEERING, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FRAME, IT WAS THEN THAT I SAW THE STEERING LINK, AGAINST THE RIGHT CV AXLE. THE IDLER ARM HAD SOME HOW RIPPED OFF THE FRAME, LEAVING NA HOLE WHERE THE IDLER ARM WAS, THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK HAD WEAKENED, CAUSING THE METAL TO WEAKEN AND SEPARATE, THANK AGAIN FORD. *TR
Mileage: 134,549
20140925POWER TRAIN
WHILE BACKING INTO MY TRUCK STARTED MAKING A LOAD NOISE, IT WAS OBVIOUS IT WAS IN THE FRONT END. TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS STUCK. STOPPED THE TRUCK, LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT OF TRUCK AT STEERING, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FRAME, IT WAS THEN THAT I SAW THE STEERING LINK, AGAINST THE RIGHT CV AXLE. THE IDLER ARM HAD SOME HOW RIPPED OFF THE FRAME, LEAVING NA HOLE WHERE THE IDLER ARM WAS, THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK HAD WEAKENED, CAUSING THE METAL TO WEAKEN AND SEPARATE, THANK AGAIN FORD. *TR
Mileage: 134,549
20140925STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE BACKING INTO MY TRUCK STARTED MAKING A LOAD NOISE, IT WAS OBVIOUS IT WAS IN THE FRONT END. TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS STUCK. STOPPED THE TRUCK, LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT OF TRUCK AT STEERING, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FRAME, IT WAS THEN THAT I SAW THE STEERING LINK, AGAINST THE RIGHT CV AXLE. THE IDLER ARM HAD SOME HOW RIPPED OFF THE FRAME, LEAVING NA HOLE WHERE THE IDLER ARM WAS, THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK HAD WEAKENED, CAUSING THE METAL TO WEAKEN AND SEPARATE, THANK AGAIN FORD. *TR
Mileage: 134,549
20140824SERVICE BRAKES
FAILURE OF THE ABS MODULE HAS LED TO A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT THAT WAS AVOIDED VIA STEERING AROUND THE OBSTRUCTION INSTEAD OF BRAKING. THE OBDII MODULE IS THROWING CODE C1185 AS A PART OF THE FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROLLER.. *TR
Mileage: 190,000
20140824ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
FAILURE OF THE ABS MODULE HAS LED TO A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT THAT WAS AVOIDED VIA STEERING AROUND THE OBSTRUCTION INSTEAD OF BRAKING. THE OBDII MODULE IS THROWING CODE C1185 AS A PART OF THE FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROLLER.. *TR
Mileage: 190,000
20140428VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PETAL STICKS AND WHEN PUSHED ON TRUCK ACCELERATES RAPIDLY, THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP AND DURING ALL DRIVING. *JS
Mileage: 212,003
20140324ENGINE
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH AND HEARD A POP THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. TOOK TO THE MECHANIC SAID THAT I HAD A BLOWN SPARK PLUG. *TR
Mileage: 206,000
20140227FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE "PLASTIC COVER CLAMSHELL" CRACKED IN HALF AT PLASTIC HINGE (OXIDIZED PLASTIC) . LOOSE PLASTIC COVER WEDGED OPEN THROTTLE FULLY CAUSING "DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING" DRIVING STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. I HAVE THE COVER AND PHOTOS IF YOU WANT ME TO SEND THEM. *TR
Mileage: 154,000
20140227VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE "PLASTIC COVER CLAMSHELL" CRACKED IN HALF AT PLASTIC HINGE (OXIDIZED PLASTIC) . LOOSE PLASTIC COVER WEDGED OPEN THROTTLE FULLY CAUSING "DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING" DRIVING STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. I HAVE THE COVER AND PHOTOS IF YOU WANT ME TO SEND THEM. *TR
Mileage: 154,000
20140129ENGINE
A SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE HEAD OF THE ENGINE HEAD WHILE RUNNING DOWN THE HWY AT 60 MPH. THE HEAD MIGHT BE DAMAGED. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET IT FIXED. BEEN A FORD TRUCK GUY ALL MY LIFE & I CAN'T BELIEVE FORD HASN'T ACCEPTED ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY PORTION OR KIND FOR THIS. MY ESTIMATED EXPENSE TO REPAIR THIS IS $1,000 TO $3,000 DEPENDING ON ANY DAMAGE TO THE HEAD ETC.. I PAID $4200 FOR THE TRUCK IN APRIL OF 2013...IT IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION & TO GOOD TO JUNK IN MY OPINION. BESIDES I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER TRUCK SO I HAVE TO TRY TO FIX IT. THIS IS BEYOND DISAPPOINTING, IT IS A MAJOR BLOW TO THE BUDGET ETC. ETC. ETC...... *TR
Mileage: 180,000
20131012ENGINE
SPARK PLUG EJECTED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGH WAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A PLUG HAS EJECTED. THE FIRST TIME THE TRUCK HAD 39000 MILES, ORIGINAL FACTORY TORQUED SPARK PLUGS. *TR
Mileage: 66,000
20131012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPARK PLUG EJECTED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGH WAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A PLUG HAS EJECTED. THE FIRST TIME THE TRUCK HAD 39000 MILES, ORIGINAL FACTORY TORQUED SPARK PLUGS. *TR
Mileage: 66,000
20131012FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SPARK PLUG EJECTED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGH WAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A PLUG HAS EJECTED. THE FIRST TIME THE TRUCK HAD 39000 MILES, ORIGINAL FACTORY TORQUED SPARK PLUGS. *TR
Mileage: 66,000
20130815ENGINE
SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR ON TWO DIFFERENT PLUGS. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL PLUGS. *TR
Mileage: 192,000
20130815ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR ON TWO DIFFERENT PLUGS. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL PLUGS. *TR
Mileage: 192,000
20120528ENGINE
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 30 MPH AND #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT . *TR
Mileage: 111,943
20120329FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE FUEL TANK STRAPS ON MY 2002 FORD F350 ROTTED OUT TO WERE THE FUEL TANK WAS HANGING ALL MOST HITTING THE GROUND, COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR DIESEL SPILL WITH 38 GALLON OF FUEL. *JS
Mileage: 95,000
20111228ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BLEW SPARK PLUG OUT OF HEAD WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET ON HIGHWAY. HAD GAS SPILL ON MOTOR. IT HAS THE 5.4 TRITON MOTOR. *TR
Mileage: 163,000
Compare 2002FORDF-SERIES to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 FORD F-SERIES have?▼
The 2002 FORD F-SERIES has 43 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 FORD F-SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 FORD F-SERIES is ENGINE with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 2002 FORD F-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.