NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Ford F-250 SD Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Ford F-250 SD has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 245 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

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

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

2002 Ford F-250 SD owner complaints

Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford F-250 SD, describing incidents dated April 18, 2001 to March 30, 2017.

Most-cited components

Engine 105 complaints
Service Brakes 30 complaints
Electrical System 29 complaints
Tires 25 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 14 complaints
Power Train 12 complaints

Of the 245 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 18 a fire; across all 245 complaints, owners report 11 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10981538 · Filed May 1, 2017
MY SPEED CONTROL STOPPED WORKING IN 2012. IT IS A FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. VIN [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ODI #10969530 · Filed March 30, 2017
THE SEAT BELTS COME UNBUCKLED WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS TO THE DRIVE'S SIDE MORE OFTEN THAN PASSENGER SIDE. THE BELT COME UNDONE ON HIGHWAY, IN TOWN, JUST STARTING OUT OR AFTER AN HOUR THERE ISN'T A WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS.THE SPEED OF THE TRUCK ALSO DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT IT IS HAPPENING…
ODI #10945677 · Filed January 17, 2017
TRUCK DIES WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAN-NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR

Read all 245 complaints

Owner-reported

2002 Ford F-250 SD mileage at failure

204 of the 245 complaints on file for the 2002 Ford F-250 SD give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Engine	Median 85,000 miles	Middle half 65,000–110,000 miles	Based on 95 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Ford F-250 SD in 4 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.

Engineering Analysis EA06-012: ENGINE STALLING
Closed December 7, 2007
- Recall 07V-553
Engineering Analysis EA05-005: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
Closed August 2, 2006
- Recall 05V-388
- Recall 06V-286
- Recall 07V-078
- Recall 07V-336
- Recall 07V-347
- Recall 07V-488
- and 1 more on the investigation page
Defect Petition DP05-005: SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
Closed January 4, 2006
Engineering Analysis EA04-006: ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR (ETC)
Closed February 10, 2005

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

STEERING COLUMN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #11V352000 · Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported July 13, 2011 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 26,715 vehicles

Ford campaign 11C18 · Owners notified August 15, 2011

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Safety consequence

NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes

FORD'S SAFETY RECALL NO. 11C18.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/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> .

REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES

NHTSA #07E106000 · Wheels — Hub · NHTSA notice

Reported December 17, 2007 · FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 130,000 vehicles

Owners notified February 7, 2008

Defect description

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

Safety consequence

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO REPLACEMENT NATIONAL, CARQUEST WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS OR FORD.CUSTOMERS MAY 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.

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR

NHTSA #07V553000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Diesel · NHTSA notice

Reported December 5, 2007 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 1,176,000 vehicles

Ford campaign 07S57 · Owners notified December 29, 2007 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 07S57.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.

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E026000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2006 · PRO-A MOTORS, INC.

Potentially affected: 61,944 vehicles

Owners notified April 3, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO PRO-A MOTORS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY 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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2002 Ford F-250 SD. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

245 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Ford F-250 SD.

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10981538

Incident: June 15, 2012 · Filed: May 1, 2017

MY SPEED CONTROL STOPPED WORKING IN 2012. IT IS A FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. VIN [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Seat Belts

ODI #10969530

Incident: March 30, 2017 · Filed: March 30, 2017

THE SEAT BELTS COME UNBUCKLED WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS TO THE DRIVE'S SIDE MORE OFTEN THAN PASSENGER SIDE. THE BELT COME UNDONE ON HIGHWAY, IN TOWN, JUST STARTING OUT OR AFTER AN HOUR THERE ISN'T A WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS.THE SPEED OF THE TRUCK ALSO DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT NOW. IT STARTED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO BUT IT IS GETTING WORST.

Engine

ODI #10945677

Incident: September 1, 2016 · Filed: January 17, 2017

TRUCK DIES WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING, CAN-NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR

Unknown or Other

ODI #10861904

Fire

Incident: April 27, 2016 · Filed: April 27, 2016

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES AND RETURNING HOME, THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY - ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. BY THE TIME SMOKE WAS SEEN, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS BURNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FLAMES SPREAD TO AN ADJACENT VEHICLE AND IT TOO WAS DESTROYED.

Engine

ODI #10859967

Incident: April 8, 2016 · Filed: April 17, 2016

AT 102000 MILES ENGINE EJECTED #8 SPARK PLUG WHILE DRIVING, TAKING THREADS WITH IT. LOCAL MECHANIC REPAIRED USING INSERT. AT 125000 MILES ENGINE EJECTED #3 SPARK PLUG IN SAME MANNER. SAME MECHANIC INSPECTED #8 WHILE REPAIRING #3 AND FOUND INSERT NOT HOLDING, PLUS TWO OTHER PLUGS BACKING OUT.

Engine

ODI #10810751

Fire

Incident: December 2, 2011 · Filed: December 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD EXPLODED OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

Tires

ODI #10759010

Incident: May 29, 2015 · Filed: August 24, 2015

ALL INCIDENTS INVOLVING BIG O AT TRUCK TIRES: 6/11/12 TREAD SEPARATION. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR CRASH. 12/31/12 TREAD SEPARATION. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR CRASH. 3/12/14 TREAD SEPARATION. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR CRASH. 4/11/14 TREAD SEPARATION. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR CRASH. 7/29/14 TREAD SEPARATION. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR CRASH. 3/26/15 TREAD SEPARATION. NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR CRASH. 5/29/15 TREAD SEPARATION. HEAVY DAMAGE TO QUARTER PANEL OF VEHICLE.

Tires

ODI #10749333

Incident: August 17, 2015 · Filed: August 18, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250 SD EQUIPPED WITH GOODRICH LONG TRAIL T/A TIRES, SIZE: P265/75/R15 (NA). WHILE TOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION POPPING NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR TIRE POPPED AND NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION ON THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,900 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.

Seat Belts

ODI #10744571

Incident: July 20, 2015 · Filed: July 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,243. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Tires

ODI #10694497

Incident: March 13, 2015 · Filed: March 16, 2015

HAVE HAD 2 SETS OF BFGOODRICH 285/75/16 122R D TIRES THAT HAVE FAILED WITH SEPARATION PROBLEMS. THE FIRST SET THAT FAILED 05/11, WE HAD BLOWOUT ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE CAUSING OVER $3000 DAMAGE TO DRIVER FRONT. LUCKILY NO PERSONAL INJURIES BF GOODRICH REPLACED THE TIRES AT 100%, SAME TIRES. THE SECOND SET HAVE SAME SEPARATION PROBLEMS AS OF 03/15, AT APPROX. 30000 MILES ON 60000 MILE TIRES. THE TIRE KINGDOM STORE ADVISED UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SAID THESE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED AT SAME TIME THE RECALLS WERE. HE CALLED THE RECALL# AND WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE AT 100% SO WE REPLACED THEM WITH THE MICHELIN 285'S. NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD THE BF GOODRICH RECALL OFFICE WILL ONLY PAY 70% ON THE NEW TIRES. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS SERIOUS DEFECT IN THESE TIRES. IT DOES APPEAR THE WARRANTY DOESN'T REALLY ADDRESS MANUFACTURER DEFECTS.THIS DEFECT IS NOT DUE TO WEAR, TEAR OR CONSUMER FAULT. HAD THE DEFECT NOT BEEN IN THE TIRE, THE TIRES WOULD STILL BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER WITHOUT DANGER OF FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. WE FEEL THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND WE HAVE ASKED BFGOODRICH TO REPLACE WITH DIFFERENT TIRE AT 100% SINCE WE DO NOT FEEL WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

Other Ford F-250 SD model years

Check your 2002 Ford F-250 SD VIN

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

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