2002 Ford F-250 SD: complaints, problems and recalls

ON DECEMBER 13, 2002, AT 5:00 PM, IN A SNOWSTORM IN RENO, NEVADA, FORD F-250 DIESEL CREW CAB WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT; TEMPERATURE WAS 35 DEGREES, TRUCK WAS IDLING NORMALLY; THE ENGINE WAS WARMED UP AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATED NORMAL TEMPERATURE. UPON RECEIVING A GREEN LIGHT, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE DIESEL ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO COMMANDS FROM THE ACCELERATOR-PEDAL. AFTER REPEATED, PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME ACCELERATION FROM THE ENGINE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION; 20 SECONDS LATER, THE ACCELERATOR RESPONDED…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000386 at NHTSA ↗

ON DECEMBER 19, 2002 AT 3:30 PM, WITH THE ENGINE WARMED UP AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATING NORMAL TEMPERATURE, AFTER HAVING DRIVEN FOR 1 HOUR-PROBLEM FREE, I WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN IN MY FORD F-250 DIESEL CREW CAB TRUCK AT THE INTERSECTION OF PLUMAS AND MOANA LANE, IN RENO, NEVADA. AS I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, IT BECAME VERY CLEAR THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL ENGAGED TO THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE AS I SLOWED, THE DIESEL ENGINE BEGAN TO LUG DOWN AND JOLT THE TRUCK VIOLENTLY. THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING, BUT MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND ON THE B…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000388 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER HAVING SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OF MY 2002 FORD F250 CREW CAB DIESEL PICKUP TRUCK, I ASKED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (JONES-WEST FORD OF RENO, NEVADA) TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMS. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT ON THE DIESEL F250, THERE IS AN ELECTRIC GAS-PEDAL VS. ONE THAT IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED VIA CONTROL LINKAGE; ON MY FORD F250 THE ELECTRIC GAS-PEDAL WAS EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE DEALER??S SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM (OR ADMIT THAT HE DID), THE DEALER REFUSED TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,754 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000389 at NHTSA ↗

2002 FORD F-250 CREW CAB - TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALWAYS REGISTERS HOT, EVEN IF THE TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING OVER NIGHT. FORD SERVICE BULLETINS SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. IF THIS IS NORMAL, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE GAUGE ON THE DASH? HOW CAN I TELL IF MY TRANSMISSION IS OVER HEATING WHEN HAULING A HEAVY LOAD? THE GAUGE IS NOT RELIABLE. FORD TELLS ME THE GAUGE WILL REGISTER IF THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO OVER HEAT. WELL IT'S REGISTERING EVEN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD FROM SITTING OVER NIGHT! HOW CAN I RELY ON THIS??? FORD TELLS ME THEY WILL…

Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010315 at NHTSA ↗

EVER SINCE NEW, TRUCK HAS MADE STRANGE SOUNDS WHEN LOADED AT 68 TO 72 MPH. DEALERS MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND SOUND WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I HAVE DISCOVERED SOUND IS U-JOINT BINDING. HAD TO REPLACE. FAILURE ON ROAD COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013986 at NHTSA ↗

THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FAILED, WHICH MADE THE GEARS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FAILED, AND TRANSMISSION ENGAGED WHEN CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014620 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2002 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY,4X4,EXTENDED CAB. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 12000 MILES AND WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALER AS IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO "MOTHER NATURE" EXCESSIVE CORROSION WAS THE CAUSE OF STARTER GOING BAD AND CABLES ALSO,I HAD TO PAY OVER $600.00 REPAIRS,NOT WARRANTED BY FORD. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016538 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2002 F250 SUPER DUTY. WHEN I COME TO A FULL STOP, AND THEN TAKE OFF THERE IS A FEELING THAT SOMETHING IS SLACK IN THE DRIVE TRAIN SOMEWHERE. YOU CAN FEEL A DOUBLE BUMP KINDA OF FEELING. WHEN TOWING A TRAILER IT IS WORSE. THE FORD DEALER SAID SOME TRUCKS DO THIS AND SOME DO NOT, BUT THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, WHICH I BELIEVE THEY THINK IT IS A NORMAL FUNCTION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016672 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-12-05 (December 5, 2007)

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

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.

Reported: 2011-07-13 (July 13, 2011)

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.