Most common 2002 Ford F Series (light) problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F Series (light) complaints by model year
Best F Series (light) years: 1999, 2002. Compare all years →
What 2002 Ford F Series (light) owners say
Engine & cooling
We purchased a car from nab autos in fredericksburg, va. After the 7th day of driving it, the motor blew up. Wrong spark plugs were installed by dealer. Also the truck had been raced with nitrous which we were unaware of until we tried to find out what happened to motor. I have documentation from the repair shop. My 18 year old son drives this vehicle which began losing power and shaking before he was able to pull off to the side of the highway.
Spark plug failure as accelerating from a stop light, and engine problem resulting from 7 cylinder operation. Got it to a mechanic and he was able to sleeve the spark plug thread and install a new plug. Now the same is starting again. I am taking the vehicle to the mechanic to make permanent repairs for all the spark plug. This May end up with the engine heads being removed in order to make complete repairs, and the cost for that will be thousands of dollars. This is a Ford engine design problem that Ford has been aware of, yet they continue to deny any responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford F Series (light) a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 F Series (light) rates average: 38% fewer complaints than a typical year of the F Series (light) at the same age. It is one of the best F Series (light) years by this measure. 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 Series (light)?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 77% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system › radiator assembly. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (2) and suspension (1).
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford F Series (light) have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Ford F Series (light). You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford F Series (light)?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999 and 2002. See the full Ford F Series (light) years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford F Series (light) problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 120,000 miles; 15% 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.