2002 Ford EXPEDITION: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002367 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD SPLIT OPEN IN THE SIDEWALL CAUSING THE TIRE TO FLATTEN. TS SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 10,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003854 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
FAULTY TIRE COMPLAINT. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE AFFECTED. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003924 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
CONTINENTAL TIRES SENT THE CONSUMER A RECALL/REIBURSEMENT FORM IN REFERENCE TO GRABBER TIRE(S), WHICH WERE BOUGHT BETWEEN AUG 19, 2001-OCT 10,2002/ AW P275/80R17/P275/60R17. THE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003994 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE. *JB PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007566 · 2003-02-15 (February 15, 2003)
THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LIGHTS AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON SUV'S ARE VERY UNSAFE. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007566 at NHTSA ↗
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 10016116 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
THE VEHICLES ENGINE MISSED, LOST POWER AND MADE A BANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. ABOUT 100 MILES LATER THE BANGING RETURNED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016116 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V094000 · Structure
Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)
NHTSA campaign record ↗