Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford F-350 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
[redacted] tire on passenger's rear began to have significant vibration while towing 16,000 lb. fifth-wheel RV. Stopped and visually/tactilely determined unusual wear pattern so went to commercial tire shop in Pahrump, NV. Their inspection determined tread separation rendering the tire unusable so we replaced it with a different brand. This is the third of three tires installed at the same time that have suffered tread separation failure. The first was in July 2023 and was not reported to NHTSA, but when two more tires failed at the same time, I decided to report. Because this type of failure does not produce TPMS warnings, it could have been a catastrophic failure that might have resulted in damage to our vehicles and/or a crash with significant injury to us or other motorists. …
[redacted] tire on driver's rear began to have significant vibration while towing 16,000 lb. fifth-wheel RV. Stopped and visually/tactilely determined unusual wear pattern so went to commercial tire shop in Pahrump, NV. Their inspection determined tread separation rendering the tire unusable so we replaced it with a different brand. This is the second of three tires installed at the same time that have suffered tread separation failure. The first was in July 2023 and was not reported to NHTSA, but when two more tires failed at the same time, I decided to report. Because this type of failure does not produce TPMS warnings, it could have been a catastrophic failure that might have resulted in damage to our vehicles and/or a crash with significant injury to us or other motorists. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford f-350 equipped with nitro tires, tire line: terra grapple, and tire size: lt285/75/r16. The dot number was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the contact felt the vehicle vibrated as the rear passenger's side tire blew out. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the thread on the tire had separated. The contact replaced the tire with a spare. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the tire needed to be replaced. The tire was replaced. The failure recurred on numerous occasions with a total of five tires mounted in various locations. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The tire failure mileage was 20,000. The vehicle failure mileage was 105,000. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford f350 tread ways el dorado ztr sport lt. The contact was driving approximately 40 MPH when the vehicle began to vibrate excessively. The contact was unable to control the vehicle and crashed into a ditch. The contact was uninjured. A police report was available. The contact stated that after the crash, he noticed that the rear passenger side tire tread was torn from the tire. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop where the tire was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the tires were not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 06t008000 (tires: tread/belt). The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 66,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford f-350 equipped with bf goodrich rugged terrain t/a tires, size: lt285/75r16 (na). While the contact's son was driving 60 MPH, the contact felt a shudder in the rear of the vehicle. The contact felt a bump, heard an exploding noise, and almost lost control of the vehicle. The contact stopped the vehicle and determined that the rear passenger tire experienced tread separation. The contact planned on giving the tire to the manufacturer to have it diagnosed. The tires were replacement tires. The tire manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The tire was not replaced. The approximate vehicle failure mileage was 132,500 and the tire failure mileage was 6,500.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford f-350 equipped with cooper dean mud terrain radial sxt tires, size: lt285/75r16. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle shook as it slowed down and the rear driver's side tire blew out. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the tire did not fall within the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that there was no warranty on the tire. The dot number was unknown. The vehicle and tire failure mileage was 62,086.
My husband and I have 2 Ford f350s that came with general tires of the 12 tires we have had 5 blow outs, the most recent was 4/23/2015 on I-80, in which my truck sustained over 2500.00 dollars in damage. Just wondering if we are lucky or if general tire company is just trying to kill people. The tires are 235x85x16 load range e and all had substantial tread when they blew. Thank you for looking into this.
The spare tire carrier cable failed and dropped the spare on the ground which bounced and caught the rear bumper. No damage due to the slow speed I was traveling at the time, but this part has since been redesigned and should be recalled before someone gets hurt. New p/n is 6c3z-1a131-aa.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford f350 superduty truck with lt265/75r16 Firestone steel radial a/t/ tires. The left rear original tire was flat after the vehicle was parked for a couple of days. He attempted to add air to the tire; however, he was unsuccessful. He also made attempts to find the leak and could not find one. The remaining tread depth has extended to the web safety bars. He did not impact any potholes or road hazards before the incident. A couple of dealers stated that they were unable to offer him any assistance. There was a voluntary recall; however, he was advised that it only applied to the Ford excursion. The VIN and dot numbers were not available. The current and failure mileages were 43000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford f-350, equipped with the goodride radar lt9 (n/a) tires, tire size lt235/85/r16. The tires are a yks/foreign tire brand. The contact stated that there was a crack in the front driver's side tire located near the tire rim. The tire was taken back to the dealer who stated that the crack was caused by misuse of the tire. The tires were for nighttime use and had been subjected to sun exposure. The tire was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN and dot number were unavailable. The failure mileage of the vehicle was 195,200. The tire failure mileage was 20,000.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other F-350 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2002 Ford F-350?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2002 Ford F-350, 19% of the model year's 116 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford F-350 wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2002 Ford F-350, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford F-350 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.