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#BS-2002-FORF25-5427

2002 Ford F-250Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 471 owners and 11 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
471
Crashes
28
Fires
34
Recalls
11
TSBs
69
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 471 complaints, 28 crashes, 34 fires, and 11 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

shot out a spark plug

26 complaints • Severity 8.8/10

$X,XXX
2

rusting

4 complaints • Severity 8.5/10

$X,XXX
3

blown engine

3 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
4

seat belt unbuckles

2 complaints • Severity 7/10

$X,XXX
5

battery dies

1 complaints • Severity 4/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

63 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 80K miles.

!Inspect the Engine And Engine Cooling:engineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

47
0–30K
69
30–60K
93
60–90K
53
90–120K
36
120–150K
51
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (93 reports) • Median: 80K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (63 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine63 (13%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine30 (6%)
Electrical28 (6%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel24 (5%)
Brakes24 (5%)
Wheels & Tires23 (5%)
Tires:tread/belt17 (4%)
Speed Control15 (3%)

2002 Ford F-250: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford F-250, with 63 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 80,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 80K-mile mark.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford F-250, with 30 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford F-250, with 28 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford F-250, with 24 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

4
01
47
02
27
03
59
04
33
05
39
06
51
07
41
08
22
09
44
10
17
11
8
12
12
13
13
14
12
15
13
16
12
17
4
19
2
20
2
21
3
22
3
23
1
24
2
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Ford F-250. Recent trend: increasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (11 recalls)

06E026000Apr 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

06E049000Jul 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE 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.

06E052000Jun 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CERTAIN EAGLE EYES HEADLAMPS, P/NOS. FR208-B101R, FR208-B101L, FR208-B001R, AND FR208-B001L, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

06V286000Aug 2006

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

07E066000Sep 2007

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

+ 6 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

NHTSA Defect Investigations (4)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP05005ClosedOpened Sep 2005 · closed Jan 2006

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

EA04006ClosedOpened Feb 2004 · closed Feb 2005

ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR (ETC)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

EA05005ClosedOpened Mar 2005 · closed Aug 2006

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

EA06012ClosedOpened Jun 2006 · closed Dec 2007

ENGINE STALLING

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

The worst model year for the Ford F-250 is the 2006 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 471 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 11 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Ford F-250 Model Years

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972196919681967
View all Ford F-250 years →

2002 Ford F-250: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Ford F-250?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2002 Ford F-250 is related to the engine, with 63 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2002 Ford F-250 reliable?
The 2002 Ford F-250 has 471 complaints, 28 crash reports, and 34 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Ford F-250 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2002 Ford F-250 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2002 Ford F-250 has 11 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford F-250 problems start?
Based on 349 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 80,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2002 Ford F-250 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 471 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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