Most common 2002 Ford Expedition problems
Share of the 340 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Expedition complaints by model year
Best Expedition years: 2014, 2013, 2012. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2024, 2017, 2018. Compare all years →
2002 Ford Expedition recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: By letter dated September 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected.
Structure
Certain pickup truck, van, and Mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by American technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began March 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Ford Expedition:
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
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 Expedition owners say
Engine & cooling all 122 →
On the evening of July 7th, 2015 at approximately 10:45 p.m. We heard a commotion outside our apartment complex and discovered my '02 Expedition fully on fire and being doused by the local fire department. It had just come back from repairs that afternoon - to the pigtail switch and re-wiring in the steering column due to loss of turn signals and radio. Not only was my car destroyed, but the cars on either side were damaged, as well as damage to the apartment complex. We retained an attorney and our initial report from the fire department stated the cause as "faulty wiring." the private fire investigator we retained has advised our attorney that the fire is due to the flawed cruise control system that has been the cause of hundreds of other fires in Ford vehicles. We intend to pursue this matter legally and would sincerely appreciate any assistance or advise your office can provide.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Expedition. While the vehicle was parked in a residential driveway, the engine compartment erupted into flames without warning and a loud explosion sound emitted from the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was completely burned and part of the garage was damaged. The police and fire departments filed reports. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 180,000.
Speed control & acceleration all 58 →
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it caught fire. The fire started from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with water. An independent mechanic came to the contact's residence and diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control) however, the contact did not receive notification of the recall. The mechanic informed the contact that the speed control deactivation switch caused the fire that damaged the hydraulic control unit and the pigtail. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer confirmed that the failure was related to the recall. However, the dealer denied the recall repair since the recall was open for many years but was left unrepaired. …
The contact's fianc e owns a 2002 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the driver's side front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that while his fianc e was attempting to drive the vehicle the following day, the brake pedal was depressed but was firm, requiring the contact's fianc e to step on the brake pedal to drive. The brake pedal remained on the floorboard and was inoperable, causing the contact's fianc e to shift to park(P) to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the speed control deactivation switch (SCDS) connectors had burned, and the brake fluid had leaked from the brake fluid reservoir. The dealer replaced the SCDS sensor and harness under NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The dealer declined to perform repairs for collateral damages. …
Electrical system all 46 →
On the evening of July 7th, 2015 at approximately 10:45 p.m. We heard a commotion outside our apartment complex and discovered my '02 Expedition fully on fire and being doused by the local fire department. It had just come back from repairs that afternoon - to the pigtail switch and re-wiring in the steering column due to loss of turn signals and radio. Not only was my car destroyed, but the cars on either side were damaged, as well as damage to the apartment complex. We retained an attorney and our initial report from the fire department stated the cause as "faulty wiring." the private fire investigator we retained has advised our attorney that the fire is due to the flawed cruise control system that has been the cause of hundreds of other fires in Ford vehicles. We intend to pursue this matter legally and would sincerely appreciate any assistance or advise your office can provide.
Car started without any problems in the morning but it did not shift any gear, car was towed to the mechanic and taken to the mechanic. While the mechanic was checking the vehicle the car caught on fire, the engine and the whole front of vehicle caught on fire.
2002 Ford Expedition engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 13 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford Expedition a good car?
Based on 340 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Expedition rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Expedition 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 Expedition?
The engine & cooling — 122 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the speed control & acceleration (58) and electrical system (46).
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Expedition have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 Ford Expedition, the most recent from September 7, 2005 (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 Expedition?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2013 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2024, 2017 and 2018. See the full Ford Expedition years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Expedition problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 84,000 miles; 25% 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.