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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Ford E-150 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

28 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

86,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 28 complaints (10.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior621.4%
Steering behavior310.7%
Transmission and shifting27.1%
Fuel system concerns27.1%
Electrical and battery issues13.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Fuel System, Gasoline
3
Steering
3
Electrical System:Horn
2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
2
Service Brakes
2
Tires
2
Air Bags
1
Electrical System
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Steering3
Electrical System:Horn2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission2
Service Brakes2
Tires2
Air Bags1
Electrical System1

Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Steering: 3; Electrical System:Horn: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Tires: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 4

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003
4
2004
4
2005
2
2007
1
2008
2
2009
1
2010
5
2011
2
2012
2
2016
1
2018
1
2020
1
2024
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20034
20044
20052
20071
20082
20091
20105
20112
20122
20161
20181
20201
20242

2003: 4; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2024: 2

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10025769 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)

BRAKES FAILURE,BURNED OUT CAUSED BY LACK OF LUBRICATION AT CRITICAL CONTACT POINTS OF METAL PARTS. WAS NOT LUBED AT FACTORY CAUSED BRAKE PADS TO STICK AGAINST ROTORS AND HIGH TEMPATURES, PREMATURE FAILURE. REQUIRED EXTRA BRAKE PETAL FORCE TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 16,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043349 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)

WHEN ON A SMALL HILL AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE (WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN) IT ROLLS BACKWARDS. ENG 4.6L-V8. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION. THIS IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION AS SOME EXPEDITIONS AND THEY WILL DO THE SAME THING. IT ALMOST ROLLED BACK AND HIT A CAR. CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP AT DEARBORN WANTS ME TO TEST DRIVE ANOTHER E-150 TO SEE IF IT DOES THE SAME THING FROM THE DEALER. CURRENTLY, I'M WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO GET BACK TO ME ON THIS…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043349 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11115083 · 2018-08-01 (August 1, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY BECAUSE THE BOLTS CONNECTED TO THE GEAR BOX, WHICH WERE ALL CONNECTED TO THE FRAME, DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LES STUMPF FORD (3030 W COLLEGE AVE, APPLETON, WI) WHERE THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115083 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11385180 · 2020-12-28 (December 28, 2020)

IN A PARKING LOT, I WENT TO TURN LEFT, HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND THE VAN JUST WENT STRAIGHT. LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT ON THE ROAD AT HIGHER SPEED. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT SPEED, I WOULD HAVE HIT ONCOMING TRAFFIC , OR GONE OFF THE ROAD INTO WHO KNOWS WHAT. TWO SEPARATE MECHANICS HAVE DIAGNOSED A COMPLETE FRAME FAILURE WIHICH ALLOWED THE STEERING BOX TO DETACH FROM THE FRAME. THE FRAME IS NOT REPAIRABLE. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD E150 FRAME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT OR KI…

Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11385180 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10125242 · 2005-06-14 (June 14, 2005)

DT: TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. VEHICLE HAS 16,000 MILES. I HAD TO GET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ,AND THEY HAD TO REPAIR IT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125242 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10357486 · 2010-09-25 (September 25, 2010)

FUEL TANK FILLER NECK RUST AND LEAK SPILLS GASOLINE ON EVERY FUEL FILLUP--EXTREME DANGER OF FIRE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 205,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357486 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10417976 · 2011-08-08 (August 8, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TWO STRAPS WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10417976 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10223095 · 2008-04-01 (April 1, 2008)

THIS IS THE RECALL ON THE FORD VAN CRUISE CONTROL THAT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER I PLAN ON GOING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I WANT THE CRUISE CONTROL FIXED BEFORE THAT. NINE MONTHS TO WAIT FOR A PART IS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT ITS FINEST. ITS VERY STRANGE THAT I CAN GET THE PART THROUGH THE FORD DEALER WITHIN TWO WEEKS IF I ORDER IT FROM THE PARTS DEPARTMENT. [email removed] WROTE: > DEAR RICK, > > THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER REGARDING A FUSED WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE 05S28 SAFETY…

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223095 at NHTSA ↗