Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Ford F-250 SD
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Ford F-250 SD has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 245 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V352000 STEERING COLUMN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V399000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/OVERHEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E106000 REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V553000 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 101 complaints
- Electrical System 29 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 25 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Ford F-250 SD has a below-average reliability rating due to high complaint counts and significant recall activity. Engine and cooling issues are prevalent, along with electrical and brake system complaints. Recall data also indicate issues with speed control and diesel engines. While not catastrophic, problems appear in several areas, suggesting potential reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine cooling | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | common |
| Brake system | 65,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections
- Tire rotations
- Cooling system service
- Transmission fluid change
- Suspension checks
- Battery replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine overheating
- Electrical short circuits
- Brake pedal softness
- Sudden engine stalls
- Speed control malfunction
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Ford F-250 SD at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.