Most common 2002 Ford F Series problems
Share of the 34 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F Series complaints by model year
Best F Series years: 1995, 1996, 2004. Years to avoid: 2000, 1997, 2001, 1999, 2002. Compare all years →
2002 Ford F Series recalls (1)
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 a possible defect involving the 2002 Ford F Series:
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 Series owners say
Engine & cooling
I woke up last week to the sound of a car alarm. I looked outside and the front of my Ford f 150 was engulfed in flames. It was so hot the tires melted into the driveway. We had not driven the truck in several days. It appears the fire started in the engine as the entire front of the vehicle is incinerated.
Driving on the freeway a spark plug came out of the engine causing the vehicle to shake and loose power. The dealer and a shop I took the vehicle to stated that this is a frequent problem with this engine.
Fuel & propulsion system
I was driving my truck and it began vibrating; shortly thereafter it was running as if half the engine was working , with a loss of power. I pulled the fuel filter and there was trash all in the filter. I bought another filter and replaced it and ran the truck again and it was working fine. Shortly thereafter the same thing happened again, loss of power, running like half the engine was working and then stalled. After a few minutes it started up but ran terrible. I got it home. I pulled the fuel filter and it was loaded with trash again. I called the Ford dealer and spoke to a mechanic and he advised he has fixed numerous trucks like mine and the gas tank was deteriorating from the inside and clogging my fuel filter. He said there is a recall for the truck and that the fuel tank needs to be replaced. …
I have a 2002 Ford f 150 xlt supercrew with the 139 inch wheelbase. Upon arriving home my wife said she noticed something hanging below the truck.. I went out to inspect. The front fuel tank retaining strap was hanging there. The bolt side had rotted away approximately 6 inches down from top. Rear strap was inspected and showed signs of rust but still in place and functioning as intended..I have moved the vehicle inside to avoid using it and will order new strap in morning. I had heard Ford was looking into this problem has it been resolved ? Do I have recourse ? Thanks.
Transmission & drivetrain
We have owned our 2002 f150 4 door truck for 5 months now purchased in dec 04', we have 34,000 miles on this truck which was purchased used. On Saturday 4/23/05 our transmission completely slipped out leaving us no power on a busy, hilly, country road. The truck's rmp's would go up however, the truck was not gaining speed only losing speed, we are very lucky that no one came over the hill, or this would have caused a major wreck. Once we got us and vehicle to safety we called our Ford dealership chuck anderson Ford, who told us to have it towed in. However, they would not cover the tow since it was out of warranty. The vehicle evidently went out of warranty on feb. 14th of this year 2005. I don't believe a truck with only 34,000 miles on it should have a transmission blown in it. We then had the truck taken to the dealership. …
While backing into my truck started making a load noise, it was obvious it was in the front end. Trying to turn the steering wheel, it was stuck. Stopped the truck, looked under the front of truck at steering, I noticed that there was a hole in the frame, it was then that I saw the steering link, against the right cv axle. The idler arm had some how ripped off the frame, leaving na hole where the idler arm was, the frame of the truck had weakened, causing the metal to weaken and separate, thank again Ford.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Ford F Series a good car?
Based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 F Series rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the F Series at the same age. It is one of the F Series years we suggest avoiding. 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?
The engine & cooling — 16 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (8) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford F Series have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Ford F Series, the most recent from March 7, 2003 (structure). 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 Series?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995, 1996 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 1997, 2001, 1999 and 2002. See the full Ford F Series years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford F Series problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 29% 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.