2002 Ford F-150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
821 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
91,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 641 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 94 of 821 complaints (11.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 78 | 9.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 67 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 37 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 32 | 3.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 3.3% |
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 | 94 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 78 |
| Electrical System | 71 |
| Engine | 66 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 66 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 51 |
| Seat Belts | 37 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 94; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 78; Electrical System: 71; Engine: 66; Vehicle Speed Control: 66; Fuel System, Gasoline: 51; Seat Belts: 37; Unknown Or Other: 25
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 47 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 86 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 101 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 123 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 172 |
| 150,000 and above | 112 |
Under 25,000: 47; 25,000 to 49,999: 86; 50,000 to 74,999: 101; 75,000 to 99,999: 123; 100,000 to 149,999: 172; 150,000 and above: 112
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (172). 180 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 | 38 |
| 2003 | 40 |
| 2004 | 54 |
| 2005 | 85 |
| 2006 | 56 |
| 2007 | 45 |
| 2008 | 59 |
| 2009 | 65 |
| 2010 | 65 |
| 2011 | 89 |
| 2012 | 36 |
| 2013 | 32 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 29 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2002: 38; 2003: 40; 2004: 54; 2005: 85; 2006: 56; 2007: 45; 2008: 59; 2009: 65; 2010: 65; 2011: 89; 2012: 36; 2013: 32; 2014: 31; 2015: 29; 2016: 24; 2017: 19; 2018: 15; 2019: 12; 2020: 5; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 7; 2024: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 78 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 67 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 37 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 10034469 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING GOING OUT.*MR STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BRAKE FAST, AS A RESULT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. *PH ALSO THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED 2 FLAT TIRES TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065327 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
PASSENGER DOOR WOULD OPEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. *PH THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER MOTHER-IN-LAW FELL WHILE TRYING TO GET INTO THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR OF THE TRUCK. THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039749 · 2003-09-11 (September 11, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING A NATURAL GAS SMELL COMING THROUGH AIR VENTS, MAKING CONSUMER SICK. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054904 · 2004-01-26 (January 26, 2004)
AFTER ONLY 17000 MILES MY 2002 F-150 TRUCK DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE THAT GOES FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE. BELOW THE LEAK IS PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE TRUCK INFORMATION IS AS FOLLOWS: 2002 F-150 HARLEY DAVIDSON SUPERCREW, VIN#: [XXX] *LA UPDATED 07/27/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039939 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS TO BLINK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072530 · 2004-05-13 (May 13, 2004)
WINDSHIELD SEAL LEAKED (RAIN) ALONG ROOFLINE CAUSING MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS VISIBLE ON DASH. SHORT CIRCUIT SOUNDS COMING FROM BEHIND DASHBOARD. WARNING LIGHTS, BLOWER MOTOR AND HEAD LIGHTS OPERATE WITHOUT KEY IN THE IGNITION CAUSING BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. WIPERS CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DOOR WINDOWS STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE RACES WHILE PARKED (REVS TO 4000 RPM AND RETURNS TO NORMAL). SALES MAN INFORMED THAT FORD WILL NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,379 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001731 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PITMAN ARM ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE PITMAN ARM FELL OFF WHICH IT CAUSED COMPLETELY LOST OF STEERING AND THE CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WAS CONTACTED AND HAS AGREED THAT THERE WAS NO BOLT PUT INTO THE PART THAT FELL OFF BUT THERE STILL NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. TS PHOTOS ATTACHED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011509 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, AND THE FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE DASH. AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007694 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
BOTH LOCKING PAWLS ON MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE WHEN SEAT ADJUSTMENT LEVER IS RELEASED. ONE OR THE OTHER PAWL LOCKS INTO PLACE AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF SHIFTING FORCE IS THEN REQUIRED TO MOVE THE SECOND PAWL INTO A POSITION WHERE IT WILL ENGAGE. THIS WOULD ONLY BE A MINOR INCONVENIENCE IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SEAT BELT CONFIGURATION OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS SEAT BELT ATTACHES NOT TO THE SUB FLOOR OR PILLAR BUT TO THE SEAT ITSELF. IF (AS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES TO ME) YOU ARE UNDER WAY AND REPOSITION THE SEAT, YOU MAY NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034016 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE PASSENGER DOOR, AND PAINT DEFECT ON DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY PROBLEMS WERE WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH WAS REPLACED AND THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AS THERE WAS A PAINT DEFECT ON THE DOOR HANDLE WHICH DIDN'T FULLY SHUT AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS WILLING TO GIVE BACK THE VEHICLE IN RETURN OF ALL THE MONIES (PAYMENT(S)/DOWN PAYMENT). *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008248 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
ENGINE MISFIRES IN COLD WEATHER WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SERIOUS LOSS OF POWER FIRST STARTED AT 341 MILES AND CONTINUES TO DATE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 341 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050342 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050342 at NHTSA ↗