2002 Ford EXPEDITION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
340 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
83,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 262 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 50 of 340 complaints (14.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 41 | 12.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 2.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 50 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 45 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 37 |
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Seat Belts | 15 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 12 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 50; Vehicle Speed Control: 45; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 37; Electrical System: 33; Engine: 27; Seat Belts: 15; Tires:Tread/Belt: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 45 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 67 |
| 150,000 and above | 39 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 45; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 67; 150,000 and above: 39
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (67). 78 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 36 |
| 2006 | 28 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 29 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2002: 21; 2003: 27; 2004: 21; 2005: 36; 2006: 28; 2007: 28; 2008: 32; 2009: 25; 2010: 29; 2011: 21; 2012: 24; 2013: 6; 2014: 9; 2015: 9; 2016: 9; 2017: 6; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 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 10014321 · 2003-04-13 (April 13, 2003)
ON THE 2002 FORD EXPEDITION I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PICK UP IN THE GAS TANK IF THE VEHICLE IT IS MOUNTED IN THE CENTER OF THE TANK AND IF THE VEHICLE IS BELOW OR AT A 1/4 OF A TANK AND PARKED ON A GRADE AT ALL THE FUEL WILL NOT PICK UP AND RUN OUT OF FUEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL THIS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOU WORK DOWN TOWN AND PARK ON A GRADE THEN YOU HAVE 2 CHOICES COAST TO A LEVEL AREA WITH NO BRAKES OR CALL FOR HELP. LUCKILY MY WIFE'S EXPEDITION HAS ONLY DONE IT HERE AT THE HOUSE WHERE SHE PARKS ON A HILL B…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016811 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE HAS REVVED UPON DEPRESSION OR RELEASE OF THE BRAKES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE RADIO ALSO BECOMES LOUDER AS IF THE SPEED SENSITIVE VOLUME IS AFFECTED AS WELL. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER BUT AS THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. PLEASE HELP AS I FEAR THAT THIS WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098082 · 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
COMPLETE FIRE DISTRUCTIN OF VEH. FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED UNDER DASH IN WIRING HARNESS AND SPREAD TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS WELL AS INTERIOR OF UNIT. FORENSIC ANALYSIS INDICATES ABOVE. FORENSIC REPORT AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. FIRE STARTED WHILE UNIT PARKED IN GARAGE AND DAMAGED DWELLING AS WELL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126060 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
DT: NEIGHBOR WAS LEAVING FOR THE STORE AND SMELLED SMOKE. SAW FIRE AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND TOLD CONSUMERTHAT THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. CALLED 911, AND EMPTIED TWO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED FROM AN ELECTRICAL SOURCE. ALSO, NOTIFIED CONSUMER OF THREE OTHER CASES JUST WITHIN HOUSTON.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070614 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT USED @ 27000 AND BROUGHT BACK THE DAY FOLLOWING PURCHASE WITH THE TRANSMISSION TROUBLES. THIS VEHICLE IS AND WAS UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. FORD SHOULD HAVE SOME LIABILITY REGARDLESS IF THIS WAS PURCHASED USED OR NOT SINCE IT IS SO LOW MILEAGE AND THE YEAR MAKE OF IT AND IT IS UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND NOT STAYING IN GEAR. RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR SAYING THERE WAS 'NO RESPONSE' FROM THE SENSOR AND IT WAS RULED AS 'BAD'. AGAIN IN JULY THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BECAU…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083708 · 2004-07-23 (July 23, 2004)
FORD EXPEDITION FAILED SUSPENSION SYSTEM REPAIR REQUEST UNDER WARRANTY.*MR THE CONSUMER'S BELIEVED THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM THE TRANSMISSION STARTED WITH AN OCCASIONAL CHUNK AND OR RATCHETING SOUND, ROUGH, DID NOT MOVE AND WOULD BANG WHEN MOVED, THE DRIVER WINDOW OCCASIONALLY ROLLED UP OUT OF THE TOP RACK AND THERE WAS AIR LEAKAGE, THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY BOUNCY AND WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE CONSUMERS HEAD WOULD BOUNCE AGAINST THE ROOF TOP OF THE VEHICLE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,614 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098580 · 2004-11-10 (November 10, 2004)
MY 2002 EXPEDITION 4.6 HAS FOR THE PAST YEAR STALLED OUT ON AN INCLINE WITH 1/4 TANK OF GAS. IT WILL ALSO REVVED UP AND LURCH FORWARD WHEN RESTARTED, EVEN WHILE STANDING ON BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED MANY THINGS AND HAS NO REASON WHY IT DOES THIS. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH. THIS IS A 2002 AUTOMOBILE AND THE 21ST CENTURY, THIS SHOUDL NOT BE HAPPENING TO A NEW CAR. A DEALERSHIP SHOULD NOT BE UNABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL, BEFORE A LAWSUIT ENSUES.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087851 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THE BELTS WERE SEPARATING. ALSO, INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WEREN'T COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION RECALL 02T01200 ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE CONSUMER WASN'T NOTIFIED. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 34,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094330 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. GENERAL, CONTINENTAL, P265/7OR17. *AK TWO DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE FOUND. THE TIRE/TREAD. GM STOPPED MAKING THESE TIRES DUE TO PROBLEMS. ANOTHER TIRE MAY BE SEPERATING. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083134 · 2004-08-02 (August 2, 2004)
2002 FORD EXPEDITION PURCHASED FROM CROSSROADS FORD SEPTEMBER 2001. FIRST IN FOR HESITATION WHEN PRESSING GAS AND IDLING IN REVERSE. REPLACE CYLINDER #6 AND TWO SPARK PLUGS. SECOND TIME IN FOR SAME REASON. REPLACED CYLINDER #6 AGAIN. THIRD TIME IN FOR SAME REASON. REPLACED NOTHING--THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. FOURTH TIME IN SAME REASON. KEPT CAR FOR NINE DAYS, DUMBFOUNDED-AS THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG -REPLACED CYLINDER #6 AND THE FUEL INJECTOR AFTER SPEAKING WITH FORD ON A CONFERENCE CALL--- TENTH DAY PICKED UP CAR--- ELEVENTH…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083134 at NHTSA ↗