Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Ford F-350
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Ford F-350 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 116 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 #07E066000 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS/TOW ASSEMBLIE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V286000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/SUPPLEMENT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Tires 20 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 19 complaints
- Steering 16 complaints
- Electrical System 14 complaints
- Power Train 10 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 9 complaints
Of the 116 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 116 complaints, owners report 9 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $9,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Ford F-350 has reliable performance, yet it suffers from issues in engine cooling and electrical systems. These areas accumulate most complaints and may require attention over time.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine cooling | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,000–$2,000 | common |
| electrical system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| tires | 30,000–50,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
| speed control switch | 40,000–70,000 miles | $150–$300 | occasional |
| service brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$600 | occasional |
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 change every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection annually
- Cooling system flush every 30,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 5,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Overheating engine
- Electrical malfunctions
- Unresponsive speed control
- Brake performance issues
- Uneven tire wear
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Ford F-350 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.