RoadVitals

2002 Ford Ford Truck

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
37
Latest Feb 1, 2022
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 37 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Ford Ford Truck, most frequently naming the transmission, body & structure and suspension categories.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Transmission816.3%
  • Body & structure714.3%
  • Suspension612.2%
  • Powertrain (other)510.2%
  • Tires & wheels48.2%
  • Airbags36.1%
  • Driver assistance36.1%
  • Engine36.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 37
Seat belts
Filed Feb 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Think Neighbor. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle and attempting to secure the front driver’s seat belt latch into the buckle, the seat belt latch failed to lock into place. The seat belt loosened and unlatched from the buckle while the contact was driving. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ID
11449800
Incident
Jul 1, 2021
Mileage
20,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 22, 2014

FORD F 250 TRITON V10 NO. 2 SPARK PLUG AND COIL BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHERS. FORD WILL CHARGE 650.00 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660238
Incident
Nov 22, 2014
Mileage
207,653 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 22, 2014

FORD F 250 TRITON V10 NO. 2 SPARK PLUG AND COIL BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHERS. FORD WILL CHARGE 650.00 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660236
Incident
Nov 22, 2014
Mileage
207,653 mi
Suspension
Filed May 2, 2009
Crash reported

WHILE GOING AROUND A HAIRPIN TURN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE FELL OFF ROTOR AND ALL, THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE 2002 FORD LIGHTNING TRUCK TO SLIDE INTO THE CURB CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ROLL COMPLETELY OVER LANDING BACK ON IT'S 3 TIRES THAT WERE LEFT. FROM THE LOOK OF IT THE AXLE BOLT FELL OFF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. DRIVER WAS GOING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT & NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. ACCORDING TO A FRIEND THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO HIS LIGHTNING TRUCK. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT ON FORDS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10267527
Incident
Mar 12, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Interior & seatsTransmission
Filed Jan 24, 2008

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND HARD BANG WHEN IT GO INTO GEAR. FORD SERVICE DEPT.DIAOGNOSE TRANS OP, NO CODES,LINE PRESSURE TEST.R110-N-75 OD95 L-95. R&R TRANSMISSION PAN FOR INSPECTION, PIECES OF BRASS BUSHINGS IN PAN. R&R TRANS TO OVERHAUL. REPLACED OD PLANETARY ASSY .BUSHINGS BETWEEN GEARS COME APART) FLUSHED COLLING LINES,REPLACED CONVERTER(METAL CONTAMINATION.) REPLACED VALVE BODY(VALVES STICKING). CLEARED PCM MEMORY & REFLASHED PCM. ROAD TEST. ALL THE ABOVE WORK WAS DONE ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE. WHEN I DROVE THE TRUCK I COULD HEAR A NOISE THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE, I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER AND CHECKED THINGS OUT AND TOLD ME EVERY THING WAS FINE, BUT IT WASN'T. *TR

NHTSA ID
10215891
Incident
May 22, 2004
Mileage
27,708 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 3, 2008

2002 FORD EXPLORER VERY COLD NIGHT NOTICED A HUGE CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW RIGHT OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR WAS FINE HOURS BEFORE AND AS I WALKED PAST IT AGAIN SAW A HUGE CRACK BY THE EMBLEM AND UNDER.*CN

NHTSA ID
10213545
Incident
Jan 3, 2008
Transmission
Filed Dec 20, 2007

DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH MY 2 CHILDREN 2 AND 10 YEAR. DROPPING THE 2 YEAR OLD OFF TO SCHOOL. STOP THE VEHICLE GO TO PUT THE SHIFT GEAR INTO PARK, BREAKS RIGHT OFF IN HAND, IF THE RUBBER WASN'T AROUND IT, I COULD HAVE WALKED OUT OF THE CAR WITH IT. I WAS STUCK THERE KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE GEAR WAS ALSO STUCK BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10212470
Incident
Dec 18, 2007
Mileage
27,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 28, 2007

TRANSMISSION TAKES 3-5 SECONDS TO GO INTO REVERSE THIS IN ITS SELF DANGEROUS WHEN NEEDING A QUICK REVERSE. THE MAIN REASON FOR A COMPLAINT IN TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REBUILT AFTER ONLY 45,000 I DON'T TOW ANYTHING AND AM A GOOD DRIVER I KNOW OTHERS WITH SAME VEHICLE SAME PROBLEM TAKE NOTE UHAUL WILL NOT RENT TO EXPLORER OWNERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION (CALL UHAUL AND FIND THIS OUT). *TR

NHTSA ID
10207245
Incident
Nov 23, 2005
Mileage
45,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Ford Truck by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003120040.4
2002Viewing370036.7
2001200136.0
2000250040.6
1999330041.0
1998250038.8
1997340041.2
1996180036.3
1995210034.7
1994150041.5
1993700—
1992100042.1
1991900—
1990801—
1989601—
1988702—
1987203—
1986203—
1985202—
1984101—
1983101—
1982001—
1981001—
1980010—
1979010—
1978010—
1977110—
1976010—
1975010—
1974210—
1973010—
1972040—
1971020—
1970020—
1969030—
1968120—
1967010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.