RoadVitals

2002 Ford F-150 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jan 31, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 821 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 31, 2017

TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AS USED IN OCT, 2016, SO WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF PREVIOUS DRIVER'S HABITS OR PROBLEMS. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE. PRIMARY DRIVER IS 5 FEET TALL AND MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN TO MAKE A MORE COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION. LATE DEC, 2016, EARLY JAN, 2017 WHILE PARKED, WE DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND ONE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT NO LONGER WORKED..THE HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT WAS A BAD BULB, BUT WHEN A CHECK OF FUSES AND BULBS FOR THE OTHER LIGHTS WERE FOUND TO BE OK, WE DECIDED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS BAD. WRONG ! MORE RESEARCH POINTED THE PROBLEM TO THE MULTI FUNCTION/COMBINATION SWITCH OR ITS CONNECTIONS, ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS THE CONNECTIONS ON THE MFS. NUMEROUS REFERRALS TO THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY FORD YEAR MODELS ARE POSTED ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS SEVERAL VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.COM. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT SEVERAL WIRES GOING TO THE MFS HAD PULLED OUT OF THE CONNECTOR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOWERED. CONNECTOR WAS DAMAGED BY THIS ACTION. WIRE CABLE GOING TO THE MFS IS FIXED SOLID TO THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SLACK IN THE WIRES TO ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE LOWERED ALL THE WAY WITHOUT CAUSING THE PULLED WIRES AND DAMAGED CONNECTOR. PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT OWNERS EXPENSE SINCE THE TRUCK WAS HAZARDOUS, UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND PARTIAL TURN SIGNALS. DRIVING WITHOUT THESE LIGHTS, ESPECIALLY IN NE OHIO IN THE WINTER SNOW STORMS - I DON'T THINK SO !! COST OF REPAIRS:SEE FORWARDED INVOICE. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM WAS BUILT INTO THE TRUCK FROM THE BEGINNING AND FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AS WELL AS RECALLING ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE REPLACEMENT FORD CABLE PART XL1Z-14A320-AA COMES WITH LONGER LEADS TO AVOID THE PROBLEM, SO FORD IS CERTAINLY AWARE OF THIS FAILURE BUT HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT !!

NHTSA ID
10948698
Incident
Jan 10, 2017
Mileage
163,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V352000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,505.

NHTSA ID
10654330
Incident
Nov 1, 2014
Mileage
71,505 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 12, 2014

HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND TAILBED BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK WHEN MOVING THE TILT WHEEL. WILL WORK WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS PLACED IN HIGHEST POSITION. HAVE SEEN RECALL ON RANGER TRUCKS FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10644146
Incident
Oct 10, 2014
Mileage
118,870 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 27, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS FAILED. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID
10456709
Incident
Apr 21, 2012
Mileage
115,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Apr 12, 2005
Fire reported

I PURCHASED MY 2002 FORD F150 SUPER CREW IN AUGUST OF 2002. I HAVE HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE HAD NO RESPONSES OR ASSISTANCE FROM ANY FORD DEALERSHIPS. THE PROBLEMS STARTED OUT WITH MY RADIO GOING ON AND OFF ALL ON ITS OWN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 10 TIMES ALONE FOR THIS PROBLEM. NEVER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE PROBLEMS ESCALATED AROUND 40,000 MILES AND MY WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED TO BE SHORTING OUT. I HAVE HAD FIRE UNDER THE DASH, THE HEADLIGHTS NOT WORK, THE WIPERS WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, SAME THING WITH THE HEATER, IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER YOU SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. NOW THIS WEEK I HAD ANOTHER FIRE WHICH I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT ON MY OWN. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM WITH THE GEM MODULE AND CENTRAL JUNCTION BOX. APPARENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PUT TOGETHER CORRECTLY AND THESE MODULES KEEP SHORTING OUT CAUSING MY VEHICLES PROBLEMS. I HAVE TO WONDER EVERYDAY WHETHER OR NOT MY VEHICLE IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE AND BURN UP. ON A DAILY BASIS I CAN SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH ALMOST LIKE BURNING PLASTIC OR WIRING. NONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND SEEM TO BE ESCALATING. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT I WOULD BE TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY AND THE CAR CATCH FIRE WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND REPAIRED. NONE OF WHICH HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. I EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND RECEIVED NO REAL CONCERN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10116836
Incident
Apr 12, 2005
Mileage
40,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 24, 2004

THE 2002 FORD F-150 HEADLIGHT SWITCH BREAKS UPON TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS. IT HAS NOT CAUSED ME TO WRECK, HOWEVER IT IS A PROBLEM WITH TURNING LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT, FOG, OR RAIN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I ORDERED IT FROM PERRY FORD OF POWAY CALIFORNIA, BUT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS ON BACK ORDER. THAT IS TELLING ME THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE NOT JUST MY SELF, ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10082579
Incident
Jul 21, 2004
Mileage
38,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 30, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED HEADLIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT ANOTHER MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS NEEDED. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND SWITCH TO BE INSTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10057220
Incident
Sep 17, 2003
Mileage
20,000 mi
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Sep 30, 2003

I HAVE A 2002 FORD F150 THAT HAS HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED ONLY FOR IT TO REOCCUR. THIS IS NOT A MINOR PROBLEM TO ME AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM IS UNABLE TO MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR A WEEK. I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT PRIVELEGE AND I HAVE DECIDED TO SERVICE IT AT ANOTHER LOCATION. MAYBE MY VEHICLE IS THE ONLY ONE AND IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED. BUT I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO VOICE MY CONCERN. LLC

NHTSA ID
10040969
Incident
Sep 29, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 5, 2003
Crash reported

I OWN A 2002 FORD F-150, XLT, PURCHASED ON MAY 2002.RETURNING FROM A TRIP TO ORLANDO FLORIDA, I WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON I-10, 45 MILES EAST OF TALLAHASSEE WHEN I LOST HEADLIGHTS ILUMINATION. LOSS HEADLIGHTS CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD, THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND MINIMIZE MATERIAL DAMAGES. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHT CONTROL KNOB IN DASHBOARD HAD BECAME LOOSE AND HAD CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
10030805
Incident
Aug 2, 2003
Mileage
37,204 mi
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Feb 14, 2002

WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK, DARSHBOARD LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AT THE SAME TIME WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING FOR ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID
8004087
Incident
Feb 14, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .