2002 Ford E-250: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE HAS A 29 GALLON FUEL TANK. WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY AND I FUEL UP THE VEHICLE IT WILL ONLY TAKE 22 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A RESERVE, BUT A 7 GALLON RESERVE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1999 F-250 WITH THE SAME SPECS AND WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 29 GALLONS, I HAD THE 2002 VEHICLE AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, THEY ALSO TELL ME THE GAUGE IS WORKING PROPERLY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013996 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CONSUMER ALSO PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR BY ACCIDENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015435 at NHTSA ↗

VIBRATIONS FLOOR,STEERING WHEEL NEW PROBLEM BRAKES REAR INNER PADS AND ROTORS GONE 22K MILES. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 373 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023546 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES AND THEN RAN INTO A TAXI CAB HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH NO PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE AND FRONT END DAMAGE. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 36,414 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033756 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED FOR OVER 24 HOURS. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING. *JB IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE B POST WHERE THE WIRING RUNS THROUGH THE POST TO THE RIGHT SIDE REAR POWER DOOR LOCKS. *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038597 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN BRAKING AT 25 MPH THE BRAKES HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT ELECTRONIC HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ABS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 39,631 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046400 at NHTSA ↗

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE BACK WHEELS LOCKED-UP AND STARTED TO SKID. HE CALLED THE POLICE AND THE OFFICER SAID HE COULD SEE WHERE IT LOOK LIKE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED AND THERE WERE THREE OTHER WITNESSES TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND FEELS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. I AM WAITING TO SEE IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR ME TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED OUT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111831 at NHTSA ↗

TIRE SEPARATION, GOODYEAR LT245/75R16E TIRES. AT APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES, THE TIRE BEGAN TO BOUNCE DUE TO A TREAD SEPARATION, CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114525 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-05-13 (May 13, 2004)

CERTAIN VANS AND WAGONS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." FOR CERTAIN 2003 E250 VANS BUILT WITH LT225/75R16E TIRES, THE REAR AXLE RATING IS INCORRECTLY LISTED ON THE LABEL. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE PRESSURE IS INCORRECTLY LISTED ON THE LABEL FOR THE REAR TIRES ON CERTAIN 2002 E350 WAGONS AND FOR THE FRONT TIRES ON CERTAIN 2002 E250 VANS BUILT WITH THESE TIRES.

Consequence: FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION RECOMMENDATION CAN RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH SUPPLEMENTARY TIRE LABELS CONTAINING CORRECT INFORMATION AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.