Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford F-150, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling196
- Electrical system106
- Vehicle speed control86
- Engine66
- Fuel system, gasoline62
- Power train53
- Seat belts50
- Structure45
- Air bags35
- Visibility28
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 60 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 237 2002 F-150 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 154 people died inside them, and 74 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Ford F-150 failed the safety check 2.31% of the time — 15% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 159,744 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 12 variants: combined 14.2–19.1 L/100 km (about 12–17 mpg US), CO₂ 327–435 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.9 | 12.2 | 14.2 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.5 | 12.6 | 14.7 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.8 | 12.6 | 14.9 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.0 | 13.3 | 15.3 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.9 | 13.4 | 15.3 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.4 | 13.3 | 15.6 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.8 | 13.3 | 15.7 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.9 | 13.8 | 16.1 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.9 | 13.9 | 16.7 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.3 | 14.5 | 17.1 |
| F-150 # · Pickup truck: Standard · Premium gasoline | 21.2 | 16.1 | 18.9 |
| F-150 NGV · Pickup truck: Standard · Natural gas | 21.6 | 16.1 | 19.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Ford F-150.
| 2019420 21 Aug 2019 | Other Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempere… |
| 2011281 1 Aug 2011 | Fuel System On certain 1997-2003 F-150, 2004 F-150 Heritage, 1997-1999 F-250, and 2002-2003 Lincoln Blackwood vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently operate… |
| 2005028 14 Feb 2005 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
| 2004164 18 May 2004 | Steering On certain vehicles, Ford has issued a scheduled maintenance guide update which specifies that every 20 000 kms, the steering linkage, which includes tie-rod en… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEICING CHEMICALS MAY CAUSE SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH SECURE THE TANK TO THE VEHICLE.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2002 Ford F-150: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637882 | WHITE FLAKES COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS ENGAGED. *TT |
| 637864 | SOME BI-FUEL CNG VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CRANK NO START CONDITION WHILE OPERATING IN ALTERNATE FUEL MODE WITH THE ALT FUEL LIGHT ON. *TT |
| 637836 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L, 4.6L AND 5.4L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A LACK OF POWER CONDITION. *TT |
| 637809 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L V8 ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM CONDITIONS AS WELL AS ENGINE HESITATION / SURGE AND / OR A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED. *TT |
| 637726 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT SOFT CLUTCH PEDAL WHICH MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING GEARS (A NOTCHY FEEL). *TT |
| 637550 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BI-FUEL (CNG/LPG) ALTERNATE FUEL ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT HARD / NO START, RUNS ROUGH OR MISSES AFTER STARTING, AND OR HESITATION ON ACCELERATION WHEN OPERATED IN THE BI-FUEL MODE. *TT |
| 637530 | SOME SUPER CREW VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT LOOSE, POOR FITTING, OR WRINKLED SEAT COVER UPHOLSTERY. *TT |
| 636417 | GUIDANCE FOR CNG TANK INSPECTION FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2, 1996. *TT UPDATE. *TT |
| 636406 | SNOW PACKING OF THE AIR FILTER WHEN DRIVING IN SEVERE SNOW CONDITIONS MAY EXHIBIT LOSS OF POWER AND / OR THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATING. *TT |
| 636380 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING A PERCEIVED POOR FUEL RANGE / ECONOMY, AND OR A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. *TT |
| 636350 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED MAZDA R2 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A HIGH EFFORT CONDITION WHEN SHIFTING ANY GEAR. *TT |
| 636342 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLE EXHIBITING EVIDENCE OF OIL IN THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM. *TT |
| 636326 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SQUEAK, SNAP, RATTLE, OR CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. *TT |
| 636289 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FLASHING TRANSMISSION CONTROL INDICATOR LAMP (TCIL) AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0740, P0741, P0743, AND P1744 (TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH). *TT |
| 636226 | SOME VEHICLES WITH ELECTRONIC SHIFT-ON-THE FLY MAY EXHIBIT AN INADVERTENT 4X4 LOW ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 636223 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ALONG WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0316 (MISFIRE OCCURED IN THE FIRST 1000 ENGINE REVOLUTIONS). *TT |
| 636218 | INFORMATION ON REMOVING STICKER FROM SEAT BELT. *TT |
| 636208 | SOME LIGHTNING AND HARLEY DAVIDSON SUPERCREWS MAY EXHIBIT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 OR P0174. *TT |
| 636180 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES MAY EXHIBIT A MOAN FROM THE REAR BRAKES ON LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATIONS. *TT |
| 636178 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4R100 TRANSMISSION AND BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2001 AND MAY 1, 2002 MAY EXHIBIT FLASHING TRANSMISSION CONTROL INDICATOR LAMP AND ANY OR ALL TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0740, P0741, P0743, P1744. *TT |
| 636125 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6/5.4L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ALONG WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0316 STORED. *TT |
| 636083 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 5.4L 2V ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A WHISTLING NOISE FROMTHE FORMED NYLON TUBE INTHE IDLE-AIR BYPASS FLOW CIRCUIT. *TT |
| 636076 | SOME BI-FUEL CANG AND LPG VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 636074 | SOME BI-FUEL LPG VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO START, ROLLING IDLE, SURGING IDLE AND / OR SURGE AT CRUISE CONDITION IN LPG MODE WITH ALT FUEL GREEN LIGHT ON. *TT |
| 636072 | SOME BI-FUEL CNG VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CRANK NO START CONDITION WHILE OPERATING IN ALTERNATE FUEL MODE, WITH THE ALT FUEL LIGHT ON. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation