no report yet
Exterior lighting: brake lights
Risk. NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
2002 Ford F-350Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 116 owner complaints about the 2002 Ford F-350, most often about the tires. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 8, 2025. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Ford F-350 has problems
116 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
20Tires1 crash/fire/injury
19Engine and engine cooling3 crash/fire/injury
16Steering3 crash/fire/injury
14Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
10Power train4 crash/fire/injury
9Service brakes, hydraulic
7Vehicle speed control
6Structure
6Suspension
3014 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 20 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 19 | 3 |
| Steering | 16 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 4 |
| Power train | 10 | 4 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 9 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 2 |
| Structure | 6 | 1 |
| Suspension | 6 | 1 |
| 14 other systems | 30 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2002 Ford F-350 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
Vehicle speed control
Risk. OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
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.
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other F-350 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-350 median. How we score
'67'68'69'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2002 Ford F-350, and the recalls they led to.
- SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADNo recall
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESLed to recall 05V-388
In owners' words
What F-350 owners report
Recent tires complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
[XXX] tire on passenger’s rear began to have significant vibration while towing 16,000 lb. fifth-wheel RV. Stopped and visually/tactilely determined unusual wear pattern so went to commercial tire shop in Pahrump, NV. Their inspection determined tread separation rendering the tire unusable so we…
[XXX] tire on driver's rear began to have significant vibration while towing 16,000 lb. fifth-wheel RV. Stopped and visually/tactilely determined unusual wear pattern so went to commercial tire shop in Pahrump, NV. Their inspection determined tread separation rendering the tire unusable so we…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DEAN MUD TERRAIN RADIAL SXT TIRES, SIZE: LT285/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AS IT SLOWED DOWN AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE…
Own a 2002 F-350?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.