vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Ford F SERIES problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

34 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

98,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 34 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Fuel system concerns514.7%
Braking behavior38.8%
Transmission and shifting25.9%
Steering behavior25.9%
Engine operation12.9%

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.

Engine
6
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
Fuel System, Gasoline
4
Electrical System
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Power Train
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine6
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine4
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Electrical System2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Power Train2
Unknown Or Other2

Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
8
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above8

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 8

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 3 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
5
2004
4
2005
3
2007
4
2011
6
2012
2
2013
2
2014
6
2015
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20035
20044
20053
20074
20116
20122
20132
20146
20151
20221

2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2007: 4; 2011: 6; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10380816 · 2011-02-05 (February 5, 2011)

FUEL TANK STRAPS RUSTED AND BROKEN CAUSING TANK TO ALMOST FALL OUT

Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380816 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10416307 · 2011-07-29 (July 29, 2011)

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 ? D…

Owner-reported narrative. 124,592 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416307 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018996 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)

CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AS WE PROCEEDED UP A HILL. WHEN DRIVER TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. ENGINE CONTINUED TO EXCEL, GOING FASTER. IT REACHED SPEEDS OF ALMOST 80 MPH. HITTING BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP CRUISE CONTROL, NOR SLOW THE VEHICLE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 19,889 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018996 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10045372 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)

I HAVE A 2002, FORD F150, V-6, SUPER CAB,XLT, WITH 47000 MILES. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. A FORD SPECIALIST HAS IT DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED ABS COMPUTER MODULE (WHICH CURRENTLY IS A ONE PIECE MODULE). IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW REDESIGNED - MODULE CONSISTING OF 3 PARTS - . THIS REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY IN PARTS - OVER $ 900.00. IT DOES NOT AFFECT REGULAR BRAKING AND I ASSUME THAT ABS - BRAKING IS DISABLED AT THIS TIME (DID NOT HAVE TO USE IT SO FAR). IT SEEMS TO ME, THAT THE ABS MODULE IS A BAD DESIGN BY FORD AND THEREFORE IS NOT USED AGAIN I…

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045372 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10118327 · 2005-04-24 (April 24, 2005)

NO WARNING-UPON ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE SHIFT SELECTOR INTO "R", THE ENTIRE SHIFT SELECTOR BROKE IN HALF AT THE SHAFT CONNECTION INSIDE THE COLUMN . THE STRUCTURE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED FROM A MATERIAL OFTEN REFERRED TO AS "POT-LEAD". HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AT MY PERSONAL EXPENSE. COULD NOT DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION FROM THE "PARK" POSITION AND COULD NOT REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 45,586 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118327 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10118376 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)

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 TOWE…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118376 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10627892 · 2014-08-24 (August 24, 2014)

FAILURE OF THE ABS MODULE HAS LED TO A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT THAT WAS AVOIDED VIA STEERING AROUND THE OBSTRUCTION INSTEAD OF BRAKING. THE OBDII MODULE IS THROWING CODE C1185 AS A PART OF THE FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROLLER.. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 190,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627892 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10639169 · 2014-09-25 (September 25, 2014)

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. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 134,549 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639169 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11462328 · 2022-04-26 (April 26, 2022)

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. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11462328 at NHTSA ↗