2002 Ford F-150 Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  16
• Driveline › Differential unit
  7
• Clutch assembly
  6
• Axle assembly › Axle shaft
  2
• Axle assembly
  1
• Automatic transmission › Torque converter
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  513%
• 25k–50k
  1436%
• 50k–75k
  718%
• 75k–100k
  615%
• 100k–150k
  410%
• 150k+
  38%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I have a 2002 Ford F-150 and The problem is with the transmission my vechile acts like it's going in reverse and when it goes to backup it seems as something is locked I been over the brakes and rear end and yet nothing has came up I even replaced the transmission filter to see if that would help but nothing so I been having to drive my truck with no reverse and today the overdrive light on the shifter started blinking what is the problem with these transmission please Ford do a recall to fix the transmission

This is follow up assessment to my 9/22/2019 claim [redacted]- where I found myself in a very dangerous vehicle run away situation that resulted in a rear end accident with another vehicle. My mechanic's first observation when turn ignition key, the engine raced at full throttle out of control. After quickly shutting down engine the symptoms lead my mechanic to test the idle air control valve. Having never seen this dangerous symptom from a bad iacv, he continued to do further test on the iacv only to determine the part was indeed defective. After diagnosing the problem, the defective iacv part was quickly replaced. The engine is now running good again. If you need to contact my mechanic: dugan auto service, narvon pa - doug miller [phone]

I backed out of my driveway with no issues. I got to work and parked my truck. Later that night I went to move my truck to the front of the warehouse and my truck would not go into reverse. When it is in neutral and I press the gas the truck will move forward. In the past week I have replaced the battery, starter relay solenoid which sits on the firewall, and the neutral safety switch or transmission gear control solenoid as I have heard it called. None of this has fixed my truck and I do not think it should be going out at 109,[redacted] miles. Low income and rely heavily on my truck to get around.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford f-150. The contact stated that while stopped, the contact was unable to shift the vehicle out of park. The contact stated that the vehicle was diagnosed by his step-son. The contact was informed that the cylinder valve needed to be replaced. The contact called skyline Ford located at 2510 commercial st se, salem, or 97302, [phone], and the dealer was informed of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

I was driving on the highway home. All of a sudden a loud bang happened under the hood that was followed by a constant puffing sound. The truck lost power and started missing. All I could smell was gasoline. I pulled over to find a coil on plug sitting on top of engine, also had a spark plug sitting 7 inches away from cop. I was visited the Ford dealership and was told that plugs are known to have come out of the engine and was not a new problem. They told me that Ford was not fixing this problem, but had a Ford approved way to fix the problem. The cost would be around 500 dollars for insert and around 3500 dollars for new heads witch is the only guarantee that this would prevent this from happening again. …

In my case there were three separate occurrences where my spark plugs shot out of my engine. The first time it happened on the highway cruising along about 70 MPH. I actually thought I blew a tire.this was at night so in the morning I checked it out with a friend's help and saw the plug sitting right where it wasn't supposed to be. So we went and bought a new plug and coil pack and threaded it back in and believe it or not it stayed there and still is there today. This first time was roughly 3 1/2 yrs ago. The next time it happened while my same friend was driving my truck to his house but this time it was a different plug and we weren't so lucky threading it back in. The threads were stripped out so we helicoiled it back in ourselves and it is still there today. This second time was roughly 2 yrs ago. …

I was driving down sr 33 in polk city when it seemed as if my car was slowing down. I had the pedal depressed but the truck continued to slow down. I had to pull off to the side of the road. When the speedometer fell back down to zero I attempted to take off again. Once again, the truck would get to 50 and then not shift to the next gear. This was the first and only signs something was wrong. I assumed it was a problem with the transmission. I drove to work (15 miles) in second gear, called a tow truck and had it towed to lakeland Ford. I was told the overdrive clutch burned up and the direct drive pak burned up. The Ford dealership wanted $2,326.09 to fix a 2002 vehicle that is not even two years old and has 44,176 miles on it. Most of the miles on this vehicle were highway miles always driven with overdrive on and only was something towed. …

At about 75K miles, a very faint whine was coming from the back end of the vehicle, mainly audible with acceleration and at speeds of about 35 MPH. It slowly progressed, we took it to a local Ford dealership and was told that this is happening with many Ford 150's with this year, it was a defect in the parts (the material it was made with). We were told to continue to drive it until noise was too loud. At 92K miles, it was a pretty loud whine at all speeds except about 70 MPH, and then progressed to a grinding noise. I just took it into the dealership, they said the rear differential, pinion and carriage gears were "torn up". They found a replacement and total cost is $1800. …

2002 Ford f-150 traveling west on highway 40 in arizona. Recall notice received on the cruise control initial failure cruise control on. Engaged maintain speed button vehicle started accelerating. Punched all of the cruise control buttons and tapped the brakes cruise control turned off. Confirmation turned cruise control on and hit maintain speed button. Vehicle started accelerating as before. Hit all of the cruise control buttons and tapped the brake. At 85 MPH, I turned off the ignition. Immediately turned ignition on. Cruise control was active, motor raced, but transmission was in neutral. Shifter was in drive. Turned off ignition again and cruised to the left side of the road. Started vehicle and proceeded without using cruise control recommendation transmissions should not shift into neutral unless the operator places the shift lever in neutral. …

In November 2002, I purchased a 2002 Ford f-150 extended cab, which was made in Canada 09/01. After the break-in period I noticed that at speeds of 80-85 MPH the vehicle would whine , but I assumed that was normal because after 85 MPH the whine went away. At about 89,000 miles and the end of the warranty, at 35-50 MPH the vehicle would have loud roaring/whining noise from the rear end. Took vehicle to dealer for repairs on 10 January 2007,. The dealer replaced the pinion gear and assembly at a cost of 1501.00 , and the dealer said it was fixed. I drove the vehicle less than 1,500 miles after the repair was made, the vehicle started doing the same thing again at speeds 40-50 MPH, but with an added twist this time, the truck would whine even when I accelerate. I put the truck back in the shop for the same problem again on 01/23/2007. The truck has a 3.55 rear end.

Transmission complaints in other F-150 years