Most common 2002 Ford E-150 problems
Share of the 28 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford E-150 complaints by model year
Best E-150 years: 2009, 2014, 2015. Years to avoid: 2001, 1997, 1999, 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
2002 Ford E-150 recalls (3)
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 instruments speed control…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair…
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on February 18, 2008. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Ford E-150:
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 2002 Ford E-150 owners say
Brakes
The contact owns a 2002 Ford E-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 75 MPH, he smelled a burning odor in the passenger cabin. The contact stated that he turned the A/C on to help clear the cabin. The contact stated that he noticed smoke was being emitted from the driver's side rear tire and wheel well. The contact stated that the tire separated from the rim and the vehicle dropped to the road. The contact stated he had not noticed any warning lights. The contact stated that he managed to pull over and saw smoke emitted from the rotor and brake pads. The contact stated that the rim was almost destroyed. The contact observed that there was fluid leaking from the rotor and brake pads and had started to burst into flames. The contact stated that he was able to smother the flames with a blanket. The contact stated that he had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. …
My power steering and brakes went out as I was driving. I was making a turn in town, and I almost collided with another car at the intersection. I pushed the brakes as hard as I could, but it didn't slow down, the car just eventually rolled to a stop on its own. The exact cause is unknown, but it seems like it was a failure in the power steering pump. After turning off the van and turning it back on again a minute later, it started driving normally again.
Wheels & tires
The contact owns a 2002 Ford E-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 75 MPH, he smelled a burning odor in the passenger cabin. The contact stated that he turned the A/C on to help clear the cabin. The contact stated that he noticed smoke was being emitted from the driver's side rear tire and wheel well. The contact stated that the tire separated from the rim and the vehicle dropped to the road. The contact stated he had not noticed any warning lights. The contact stated that he managed to pull over and saw smoke emitted from the rotor and brake pads. The contact stated that the rim was almost destroyed. The contact observed that there was fluid leaking from the rotor and brake pads and had started to burst into flames. The contact stated that he was able to smother the flames with a blanket. The contact stated that he had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. …
On 11/04/04, recall work for ABS sensor was performed. At the same time, front brake pads were replaced by dealer - their suggestion ("10% left"). On 11/05, at highway speed in heavy traffic, dry-clear day, I needed to stop aggressively due to unknown traffic situation ahead. Spongy brake pedal went to the floor, no ABS activated. Swerved onto grass shoulder to avoid an accident with other vehiclesto complete stop. 11/8-brought vehicle to dealer. Dealer claims the ob computer shows no incident, and could not replicate problem. "larry" dealer service rep claims they do not bleed brakes during replacement. "larry" also indicated that ABS not working is typical in the first 1,500 miles of a brake pad replacement.
Speed control & acceleration
This is the recall on the Ford van cruise control that is not an acceptable answer I plan on going across the country and I want the cruise control fixed before that. Nine months to wait for a part is customer service at its finest. Its very strange that I can get the part through the Ford dealer within two weeks if I order it from the parts department. [email] wrote: > dear rick, > > thank you for contacting the Ford motor company customer relationship center regarding a fused wiring harness needed to complete the 05s28 safety recall on your 2002 Ford e-150. > > parts for the cruise control switch recall will be available in June 2008. Affected customers will receive a postcard from recall headquarters instructing them to make an appointment with their dealer to have the recall completed. …
2002 Ford econoline w/5.4 v8. From brand new until now the engine surges off idle. In parking lots this has been quite a problem as the van jumps 3 to 4 feet as I try to slowly back out of the parking space. Have scacred myself and a few pedestrians. This is not a safe situation and I haven't gotten any answers form Ford.
2002 Ford E-150 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Van.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford E-150 a good car?
Based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 E-150 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the E-150 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Ford E-150?
The brakes — 5 complaints, 18% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › rotor. Next are the wheels & tires (4) and speed control & acceleration (3).
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford E-150 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2002 Ford E-150, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford E-150?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2014 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 1997, 1999, 1995 and 1996. See the full Ford E-150 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford E-150 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 86,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.