Most common 2002 Ford F-250 problems
Share of the 156 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-250 complaints by model year
Best F-250 years: 2010, 2009, 2007. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 2012, 2011, 2006. Compare all years →
2002 Ford F-250 recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Brake 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 through 2007 model year f-250,…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the switches free of charge. The safety recall began on August 15, 2011. Owners May contact Ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Vehicle speed control
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on August 7, 2006. Owners May contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. (note: also see recalls 05V017 and 05V388)
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Ford F-250:
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 F-250 owners say
Engine & cooling all 34 →
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle started after several attempts. The contact stated the vehicle sat for a while before starting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not officially diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was possibly caused by an unknown sensor. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. …
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-250. The contact initially discovered patches of fluid on the garage floor. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The dealer discovered a leak in the engine oil pan due to a faulty silicone gasket. The contact stated that the oil pan was replaced by the same dealer a year prior to the recent failure. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall on the VIN related to the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 138,683.
Wheels & tires all 24 →
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 60 MPH on a downhill curve, the driver side front tire blew out and the vehicle hit a guard rail on the driver side. Then, while trying to get the vehicle off of the road, the tread separated and the tread hit the side mirror and fender. A spare tire was put on. Then, 175 miles later there was a noise, the vehicle was running rough and was pulled over. The passenger side front tire had separated and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The tires were taken to the dealership. No injuries were sustained.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford f-250 equipped with nitto dura grappler highway terrain tires, size: lt265/75/r16 (na). While driving 60 MPH, the rear driver side tire blew out. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing where it was confirmed that the tire needed to be replaced. The tire was not replaced. The tire was a replacement tire. The manufacturer was not notified of failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate vehicle failure mileage was 89,000 and the tire failure mileage was 22,000.
Brakes
The vehicle is equipped with adjustable brake and accelerator. The pedals should move up and down together. But the brake pedal is several inches higher causing a safety issue.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford f250. While driving 65 MPH, the contact felt a vibration from underneath the vehicle. The steering wheel shook and the front driver side tire detached. The vehicle drove off the road, crashed into some trees, and caught fire. Both the driver and passenger were injured. A police report was filed. The contact stated that there was no blow out or loose treads that May have caused the failure. The insurance investigation concluded that the tire self-detached from the vehicle because the hub and caliper were defected. The failure May have also been due to heat fracture that caused the caliper to fail. After inspecting the vehicle, a mechanic suggested that the failure May have been caused by bad metal. The manufactured distributed a questionnaire, but the contact has not received a response from Ford. The vehicle and tire are in storage. …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford F-250 a good car?
Based on 156 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 F-250 rates average: 15% fewer complaints than a typical year of the F-250 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 F-250?
The engine & cooling — 34 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the wheels & tires (24) and brakes (19).
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford F-250 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 Ford F-250, the most recent from July 13, 2011 (brake lights). 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 F-250?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 2012, 2011 and 2006. See the full Ford F-250 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford F-250 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 89,000 miles; 21% 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.