Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
NHTSA campaign 11V352000 · 2011 · reported 07/13/2011
NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2002 Ford F-250 SD Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling — runs 3.0× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
245Complaints
5Recalls
12Crashes
18Fires
11Injured
2Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling (15.9% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints here are 3.0× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 39 · 15.9% | Recalled | Recall 07V553000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 23 · 9.4% | Recalled | Recall 07V553000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel | 22 · 9% | Recalled | Recall 07V553000 |
| Electrical System | 21 · 8.6% | not available | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 · 4.9% | not available | — |
| Tires | 12 · 4.9% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 245 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 5 campaigns
Wheels:hub
NHTSA campaign 07E106000 · 2007 · reported 12/17/2007
WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 09V399000 · 2009 · reported 10/13/2009
A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel
NHTSA campaign 07V553000 · 2007 · reported 12/05/2007
IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“I JUST BOUGHT A FORD F250 IT HAS A 5.4L. AND THE SPARK PLUGS EJECT FROM THE ENGINE WHY I WAS DRIVING. NO WARNING WHAT…”NHTSA complaint 10219628 — filed 02/28/2008 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
“FORD F250 V10 BLOWN SPARK PLUGS. 3 IN UNDER TWO MONTHS.”NHTSA complaint 10218536 — filed 02/19/2008 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
“I AM ON MY FIFTH SPARKPLUG BLOWOUT,THE FIRST ONE BLEW OUT WITH 42000 MILES AND FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT, IT COST ME $482.00, &…”NHTSA complaint 10214448 — filed 01/10/2008 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford F-250 SD?
Engine and engine cooling issues are the most-reported category, cited in 39 of 245 NHTSA complaints (15.9%), followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (23), engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel (22), electrical system (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2002 Ford F-250 SD have?
245 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 12 involved a crash, 18 involved a fire, and 11 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.
Does the 2002 Ford F-250 SD have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 11V352000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2002 Ford F-250 SD's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
