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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Ford E-250 Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Ford E-250 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 17 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

Includes campaigns NHTSA files under the spelling "E250".

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Ford E-250. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2002 Ford E-250 owner complaints

Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford E-250, describing incidents dated April 28, 2002 to June 24, 2020.

Most-cited components

  • Service Brakes 4 complaints
  • Tires 4 complaints
  • Electrical System 2 complaints
  • Engine 2 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
  • Air Bags 1 complaint

Of the 17 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 17 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11331209 · Filed

    BOTH FRONT TIRES MERELY DEVELOPED TREAD BULGES , LESS THAN 15K MILES, NEVER HAD A FLAT, BEEN OVERLOADED ,OVERINFLATED , ECT.. THEY JUST BECAME VERY POOR DRIVING AND VIBRATED BADLY TO FIND THEY BOTH HAVE BULGES IN THE TREAD. THEY SEEMED FINE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE…

  • ODI #10763125 · Filed

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE FUEL TANK STRAP DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO NEARLY TOUCH THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

  • ODI #10268892 · Filed

    I OWN A FORD F-250 WITH A 5.4 MOTOR. THIS TRUCK BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE MOTOR ON 4-15 -2008 AND IT BLEW A DIFFERENT SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE MOTOR ON 5-13-2009. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS TRUCK AND OTHER VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS DEFECT. I WILL BE TALKING WITH A LAWYER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN HOPES…

Read all 17 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Ford E-250 in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/OVERHEATS

NHTSA #09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA notice

Reported October 13, 2009 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 4,500,000 vehicles

Ford campaign 09S09 · Owners notified October 27, 2009 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Safety consequence

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Manufacturer remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Notes

FORD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 09S09.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH

NHTSA #08V051000 · Vehicle Speed Control — Cruise Control · NHTSA notice

Reported February 4, 2008 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 225,000 vehicles

Ford campaign 08S01 · Owners notified February 18, 2008 · Vehicles built September 3, 1991 – September 15, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Safety consequence

AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 08S01.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH

NHTSA #07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA notice

Reported August 3, 2007 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 3,600,000 vehicles

Ford campaign 05S28 · Owners notified August 13, 2007 · Vehicles built April 9, 1996 – August 2, 2002 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 05S28.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION;S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

ACCUBUILT/SURE-LOK/WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT

NHTSA #04V589000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported December 15, 2004 · ACCUBUILT, INC.

Potentially affected: 501 vehicles

Owners notified August 23, 2004 · Vehicles built September 26, 2002 – May 23, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN VANS BUILT ON FORD E250/E350 CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR ACCUBUILT AT 419-222-1501.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

FORD/CERTIFICATION LABEL

NHTSA #04V232000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported May 13, 2004 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 28,456 vehicles

Ford campaign 04L20 · Owners notified July 8, 2004 · Vehicles built May 30, 2001 – July 26, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN VANS AND WAGONS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." FOR CERTAIN 2003 E250 VANS BUILT WITH LT225/75R16E TIRES, THE REAR AXLE RATING IS INCORRECTLY LISTED ON THE LABEL. IN ADDITION, THE TIRE PRESSURE IS INCORRECTLY LISTED ON THE LABEL FOR THE REAR TIRES ON CERTAIN 2002 E350 WAGONS AND FOR THE FRONT TIRES ON CERTAIN 2002 E250 VANS BUILT WITH THESE TIRES.

Safety consequence

FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION RECOMMENDATION CAN RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH SUPPLEMENTARY TIRE LABELS CONTAINING CORRECT INFORMATION AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 04L20.THE 2003 E250 VAN IS NOT PART OF THE INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE PORTION OF THIS RECALL.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S AUTO SAFETY OUTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Ford E-250 model years

Check your 2002 Ford E-250 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford E-250 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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