2002 Ford F-250

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 156 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 7 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
89,000 milesMedian miles at failure

97 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 150,000200,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine12
020
Tires › Tread/Belt9
100
Tires9
000
Engine and Engine Cooling8
100
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine7
000
Vehicle Speed Control6
100
Seat Belts6
000
Electrical System6
010
Air Bags › Frontal6
506
Unknown or Other5
010

7 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights11V352000
Filed Jul 13, 201126,715 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Equipment › Electrical07E066000
Filed Aug 28, 2007175 vehiclesCequent Electrical Products

Defect. CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

Risk. IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.

Vehicle Speed Control06V286000
Filed Aug 1, 20061,200,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Risk. OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)

Exterior Lighting › Headlights06E052000
Filed Jun 12, 200614,616 vehiclesSabry Lee, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMPS, P/NOS. FR208-B101R, FR208-B101L, FR208-B001R, AND FR208-B001L, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABRY LEE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER FULL CREDIT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLAMP. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JUNE 14, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABRY LEE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT 1-866-467-2279.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2025109,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle started after several attempts. The contact stated the vehicle sat for a while before starting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not officially diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was possibly caused by an unknown sensor. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that the failure started in 2013; however, the vehicle had been parked and undriveable since 2017. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.

Engine
Filed Apr 22, 2025138,683 milesKS

The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-250. The contact initially discovered patches of fluid on the garage floor. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The dealer discovered a leak in the engine oil pan due to a faulty silicone gasket. The contact stated that the oil pan was replaced by the same dealer a year prior to the recent failure. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall on the VIN related to the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 138,683.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 26, 2024108,000 milesFL

The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being lifted onto a tow truck, fuel began to leak from the middle plastic made fuel tank. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank hoses were faulty. The mechanic determined that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 2023319,536 milesLA

The vehicle is equipped with adjustable brake and accelerator. The pedals should move up and down together. But the brake pedal is several inches higher causing a safety issue.

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 27, 2023NC

Both front driver and passenger seat belts will pop out of buckle while driving. This happens at any speed.

SteeringCrash2 injured
Filed Jun 20, 2023AZ

While driving on a fairly rough highway I'm AZ, 180A, traveling about 50 mph over bumps and repaired cracks in the pavement, the steering wobbled and shook which did not seem far out of the ordinary on this particular stretch of highway. Suddenly, without warning, the steering failed causing loss of control of the vehicle, the driver was unable to steer the truck which veered off the road and sent us directly into the embankment of a dry wash. The truck hit the embankment head on 50-55 mph. I was riding as passenger of my vehicle since I was 8 months pregnant and experiencing severe heartburn all morning. My fiance drive and 3 of my children were in the back seat. After crashing head on into the dirt wall I was pinned in between the dashboard and seat. I suffered serious life changing injuries as a result. One of the firefighters who arrived in the scene inspected and confirmed the steering was broken. I was sent by helicopter to Flagstaff regional medical center where I spent 10 days. The truck was towed to an impound yard in St John's, az. I was able to retrieve my personal belongings but was not able to afford the tow truck drivers verbal quote of the charges due nor the cost to tow the totaled truck back home to snowflake. The truck had a lien and I assumed the lienholder would be notified to collect the vehicle. They were not notified and t ownership was transferred leaving me an abandoned vehicle fee and hold on my registration privileges in AZ. The truck is likely stil

EngineFire
Filed Mar 28, 2022MD

As soon as the truck started, it popped out one of its spark plug. The truck started shaking and made a hollow noise and began to smoke and quickly caught on fire. The fire burned the entire truck.

Suspension
Filed Sep 8, 2021175,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and continued driving to his residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

Engine
Filed Jan 29, 2021300,000 milesIA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 10, 2020302,000 milesWA

THE EMERGENCY PARKING BREAK DOES NOT WORK, I DON'T THINK IT EVER HAS. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE OVER THE YEARS AND IT QUICKLY QUIT BOTH TIMES. IT FEELS LIKE NORMAL RESISTANCE WHEN YOU PUSH IT IN WITH YOUR FOOT, AND DOES A NORMAL CLUNK AND RELEASE WHEN YOU RELEASE IT, BUT IT DOES NOT AT ALL HOLD THE TRUCK IN PLACE. IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO IT IS VERY INCONVENIENT FOR THIS TO NOT WORK. AN EXAMPLE, THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH REGULARLY IS HOOKING UP TO A TRAILER. I NEED TO GET OUT TO SEE HOW CLOSE I AM AND I HAVE TO PUT IT IN GEAR (ONLY REVERSE WILL HOLD IT, THE OTHER GEARS WILL SLIP AND THE TRUCK WILL ROLL) AND TURN IT OFF TO GO LOOK.

Engine
Filed Oct 27, 2019162,000 milesTN

2002 F-250 7.3L DIESEL. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY PULLING A HORSE TRAILER ENGINE JUST COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. I LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKES. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED WHILE COASTING. DROVE ANOTHER FEW MILES AND IT STALLED AGAIN. WOULD NOT START AGAIN AFTER THAT. THIS HAPPENED ON A REMOTE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. HAD A WRECKER TOW US TO A DIESEL SHOP WHO REPORTED TRUCK STARTED FINE NEXT DAY. WENT AND PICKED IT UP AND IT STUTTERED A FEW TIMES ON THE WAY HOME BUT DID NOT STALL. A FEW MONTHS LATER, ENGINE STALLED AT A RED LIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BUT STARTED BACK UP. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO READ A CAM POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT FAULT ON THE COMPUTER. REPLACED CAM POSITION SENSOR. A FEW MONTHS LATER, STALLED AGAIN AT AN INTERSECTION. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. UPON ARRIVING AND UNLOADING FROM WRECKER. TRUCK STARTED UP. STARTED TO DRIVE IT HOME AND STALLED AGAIN HALFWAY THERE ON A BUSY RURAL ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER. CALLED WRECKER AGAIN AND TOWED TO DIFFERENT DIESEL SHOP. REPLACED CPS AGAIN AND TRUCK STARTED FINE. TOOK IT HOME AND RAN IT AT IDLE UNTIL ENGINE TEMP WAS NORMAL. ENGINE STALLED AGAIN AND WOULD NOT START. WAITED ABOUT 2 HOURS AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE AND RAN AT IDLE FOR ONE HOUR WITHOUT STALLING. CURRENT CPS WAS FROM FORD DEALER (THE GREY ONE) BUT APPARENTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ONE INVOLVED IN NHTSA ID: EA06012 RECALL FROM 2006 IS STILL A PROBLEM. IT COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND C

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 28, 2019174,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM TANK STRAPS WERE LOSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (APPLE FORD LINCOLN OF YORK, 1801 WHITEFORD RD, YORK, PA 17402, (717) 755-2911) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 174,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 4, 2019TX

NO WRECK THAT I WAS TOLD ABOUT WHEN BOUGHT

EngineFire
Filed Jan 25, 2019177,700 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS IN COLD TEMPERATURES AND CONNECTED TO THE BLOCK HEATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,700.

Engine
Filed Nov 30, 201798,000 milesWA

ON NOVEMBER 26TH 2017, MY TRUCK STARTED HAVING A SIGNIFICANT MIS-FIRE IN CYLINDER #4. TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 30 MPH ON CITY STREETS; THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE ALTHOUGH DIFFICULT TO LIMP THE VEHICLE HOME AS IT DID NOT ACCELERATE WELL. UPON REMOVING THE SPARK PLUG; IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD THREADS IN THE SPARK PLUG PORT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN EJECTED SPARK PLUG HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED. SINCE THIS IS THE 3RD DIFFERENT CYLINDER THIS HAS OCCURRED ON WITH NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM MULTIPLE OWNERS OF THE SAME ENGINE DESIGN BY FORD; I HAVE DECIDED TO FILE THIS REPORT. THIS IS THE 2ND REPORT I HAVE FILED WITH THE NHTSA. THE FIRST REPORT I FILED WAS BECAUSE THE 2ND TIME THIS OCCURRED; A SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE #3 CYLINDER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN SPEED IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. THAT OCCURRENCE ALSO CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION AND HAD TO BE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT REPORTS TO FORD AND DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCES DATING BACK TO 1997; FORD CONTINUES TO SAY THAT BECAUSE NO "SAFETY ISSUES" HAVE RISEN OR BEEN PROVEN TO BE CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE THAT IT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM. I WILL ALSO BE FILING REPORTS WITH BBB, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER REPORTS.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 25, 2017152,000 milesCA

ONE OF THE VAPOR VALVES BREAKS ON THE GASOLINE TANK, IT IS NOT REPLACEABLE SO YOU HAVE TO BUY A NEW TANK. FORD HAS OBSOLETED THE TANK AND IT IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM ANY PLACE. YOU CAN SMELL THE GAS VAPORS WHEN THE TRUCK IS AT REST. I AM WAITING FOR IT TO BLOW UP.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 17, 201783,468 milesNM

CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 15, 2017116,000 milesCA

THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WILL UNLATCHED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEED. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON ALL PAVED STREETS AND HIGHWAYS

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 15, 2017MS

PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF HOOD OF MY FORD F 250 HEAVY DUTY TRUCK.

Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2017117,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V553000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

20 of 156 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2014142010Routine
201395010Routine
2012266150Above average
2011248230Above average
201073020Routine
200954110Routine
2008195841Fatalities reported
200760700Routine
2006221750Above average
2005144530Routine
2004154740Routine
2003116781Fatalities reported
2002 — this page156791Fatalities reported
20012209244Fatalities reported
200032610147Fatalities reported
199958119132Fatalities reported
199856910Routine
199730414190Above average
19961765250High concern
19951844170Routine
199412310230High concern
1993130940Routine
1992119761Fatalities reported
1991107790Routine
19901117140Routine

Compare every F-250 year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 13, 2011. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.