2002 Ford F-150 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling (85) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (76) · Vehicle Speed Control (64)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-150 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
639 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting 2011-07-29 · campaign 11V385000 · 1,100,000 vehicles
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150, 2004 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150 HERITAGE, 1997 THROUGH 1999 MODEL YEAR F-250 LESS THAN 8,500 LBS. GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR), AND 2002 AND 2003 LINCOLN BLACKWOOD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 20, 1995, THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2004, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK,
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 GROUND. EITHER SCENARIO MAY RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A FORD OR LINCOLN DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK STRAPS REPLACED WITH STRAPS THAT HAVE INCREASED CORROSION PROTECTION. EARLY IN THIS CAMPAIGN, IF REPLACEMENT STRAPS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, DEALERS MAY INSTALL A CABLE SUPPORT UNDER THE STRAP AS AN INTERIM REPAIR OR A STEEL REINFORCEMENT OVER THE EXISTING STRAP AS A PERMANENT REPAIR. ANY REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2011. OWNERS
Service bulletins (134)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-02-07 · DOR-N3Z7B-03 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sku is an oil dipstick. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the dipstick tube. the dipstick tube inner diameter may be small enough that it prevents installation of the oe dipstick.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2016-04-21 · TSB160073 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
safety recall 11s21 - fuel tank strap fracture - requests for recall service action
Fuel System, Gasoline 2016-04-21 · 16-0073 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 1997-2003 f-150, 2004 f-150 heritage, 1997-1999 f-250 light duty, or 2002-2003 blackwood vehicles safety recall 11s21 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where one or both fuel tank straps could potentially fracture. strap fracture may r
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly 2014-09-09 · TSB-14-0164 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/lincoln: safety recall regarding high corrosion areas for operating, for an extended time, vehicles where both or one strap of fuel tank can fracture, after contacting ground. model 1997-99 f250 ld, 1997-03 f150, 2004 f150 heritage, 2002-03 blackwood. *pe
Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:mounting 2014-08-11 · TSB-14-0147 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford/lincoln: safety recall issued due to one or both fuel tank straps fracturing due to being in high corrosion areas for an extended period and dislodging fuel tank. model 1997-99 f250, 1997-03 f150, 2004 f150 heritage, 2002-2003 blackwood. *pe
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:other Fuel Types:turbo/Supercharger 2008-04-01 · 20228 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
1999-2008 7.3l/6.0l/6.4l/4.5l diesel f-super duty - clean the charge air cooler (cac) system after certain turbo or engine failures - service tip. *nj
Showing the 6 most recent of 134 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-17 · Unknown Or Other“i had the recall number 05s28 repaired at high desert ford on july sixth as a part of a california safety inspection to register my vehicle. per ford they are done however they refuse to update the system which holds my vehicle unable to be registered even after the services were rendered and complete. multiple attempts to trendy have failed any re…”
2026-04-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System“cruise control kicked on and won't go off. gas fumes come from the ac unit. when driving the truck started speeding up. now the truck is parked.…”
2025-05-15 · Seat Belts“front seatbelts on 2002 ford f-150 become unlatched unexpectedly while driving. this has been noticed over the last two or three years occasionally, but has been getting worse. seat belt has become unlatched about 5-6 times during a 600 mile road trip. seat belt was confirmed by two passengers that it was indeed latched correctly and nothing pushin…”
2024-07-26 · Unknown Or Other“driving down [xxx] the straps on my gas tank broke because they rusted thru causing gas tank to drop and spill fuel all over [xxx] in iowa causing so much fuel spilled out they had to close one lane of traffic....the fire dept chief of whiting, iowa, steven snyder, can verify what happened....there is a police report but i didn't have it filing out…”
2024-05-29 · Engine · 108,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford f-150. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made a loud sound. no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that cylinder #3 spark plug had blown out, but no repair was recommended at the time. the vehicle was not repair…”
2024-02-02 · Wheels:lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford f-150. the contact stated while at a tire shop to have the tires rotated, the mechanic was unable to remove the tires due to the lug nuts being swollen. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and suggested to the contact to call the nhtsa hotline to report the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000…”
2023-11-27 · Latches/Locks/Linkages · 70,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford f-150. the contact stated that the rear driver's side and rear passenger's side doors failed to open from inside or outside the vehicle. the cause of the failure was not yet determined. the manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. the contact stated that the vehicle was …”
2023-11-22 · Vehicle Speed Control“systems failed. recalls incomplete…”
2023-08-21 · Vehicle Speed Control · 94,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford f-150. the contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph and attempting to pass a slower vehicle, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. the contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the pedal suddenly extended to the floorboard causing the vehicle to immediately accelerate faster th…”
2023-08-21 · Engine · 200,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owns a 2002 ford f-150. the contact stated that she observed smoke emanating from under the vehicle near the engine compartment. the contact stated that she opened the hood and flames erupted from the engine compartment near the battery. the contact threw dirt on the engine to extinguish the fire. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repair…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.