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2002 Ford F-150Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 821 owner complaints about the 2002 Ford F-150, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

2002 Ford F-150
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the F-150 median · #20 of 42 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints821187 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage82kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 17, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2002 Ford F-150 has problems

821 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling1969
Electrical system10631
Vehicle speed control8649
Engine6611
Fuel system, gasoline625
Power train534
Seat belts502
Structure456
Air bags3529
21 other systems22229

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2002 Ford F-150 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Tank assembly: mounting

Recall 11V-385 · Jul 29, 2011 · 1,100,000 vehicles

Risk. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY FAIL ALLOWING THE FUEL LINES TO SEPARATE FROM THE TANK, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSING THE TANK TO CONTACT THE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

82kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 176 engine and engine cooling complaints. 65% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
11under 30k miles114under 100k miles62100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

40 owners mentioned a cost

$2,441median

Middle half: $800 – $3,500

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2002 vs. every other F-150 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-150 median. How we score

'73'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2002 Ford F-150 safety ratings

2002 Ford F-150 Extended Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2002 Ford F-150 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2002 Ford F-150 side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2002 Ford F-150, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    Led to recall 05V-388
  3. Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to CorrosionEA11006 · closed Aug 19, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-385
In owners' words

What F-150 owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR…
Complaint 10614561 · Jul 18, 2014 · 73,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD ON TOP OF THE MOTOR. THIS VEHICLE MALFUNCTION DESTROYED A COIL PACK, SPARK PLUG AND WIRING.
Complaint 10463701 · Jun 26, 2012 · 135,000 miles
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY TRUCK HAS BLOWN 3 SEPARATE SPARK PLUGS FROM 3 DIFFERENT PORTS IN THE HEAD. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE MOTORS DOING THIS, AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR
Complaint 10453824 · Apr 2, 2012 · 180,000 miles

Own a 2002 F-150?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.