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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
115,432 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Ford F-150 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2002 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Sep 022022

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Unknown cause of incident. Vehicle is available for inspection. Vehicle spontaneously burst into flames. No reproduction due to incident happening on 09/02/2022. Vehicle inspected by Fire Department and California Highway Patrol. No warnings or symptoms leading up to incident. On 09/02/2022 I attempted to help my wife that was stranded out State Route Highway 36 in her 2009 BMW 750 LI at the Van Duzen Grange. I had been hooked up to her car for approximately 10 to 15 minutes with my truck idling when she screamed, " Your truck's on FIRE!" I barely got myself out of the cab when a ball of flames shot through the dashboard. 3/4ths of the truck was consumed in fire in less than 5 minutes. Fire Department arrived approximately 10 minutes later and doused the fire. Everything in my truck was destroyed. My wife's BMW suffered severe damage to the front end.

- Bridgeville, CA, USA

problem #21

Apr 112022

F-150 8-cyl Diesel

  • miles
I was driving my truck and it began vibrating; shortly thereafter it was running as if half the engine was working, with a loss of power. I pulled the fuel filter and there was trash all in the filter. I bought another filter and replaced it and ran the truck again and it was working fine. Shortly thereafter the same thing happened again, loss of power, running like half the engine was working and then stalled. After a few minutes it started up but ran terrible. I got it home. I pulled the fuel filter and it was loaded with trash again. I called the Ford dealer and spoke to a mechanic and he advised he has fixed numerous trucks like mine and the gas tank was deteriorating from the inside and clogging my fuel filter. He said there is a recall for the truck and that the fuel tank needs to be replaced. Please help me as this truck only has 75,000 miles and is like brand new, garage kept and well taken care of. Thank you for your time in this matter and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

problem #20

Oct 012017

F-150

  • 141,513 miles
My fiance and I had to place are full size spare on that came with truck it was brand new we had no choice bc this was Friday evening and out local tire shop was closed tell today (Monday) yesterday we drove 7 mile to collinsvile to change brakes after we finish we load our 3 kids and befan to hide home another 3 miles from home we notice the truck shaking then we heard load pop and tail of the truck lost control for about 2 second once we got control back we pulled to safety to only see the driver side of the bed cracked tore and shattered. Even the hose where U fuel U truck up at had been damagetting when we continued to examine the tire it wasn't blown and it's still holding air. But plz explain to me how the entire center section of tread ripped off for no reason and not only put my children in danger but damaged my truck to a severe extent ? it's a full sie hercules terrain trac size 16 had nothing wrong with it tell now.

- Whitesboro, TX, USA

problem #19

May 262017

F-150

  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2002 F150 truck dropped the fuel tank on 5/26/2017. Miraculously, my wife and daughter weren't killed. My wife and daughter were using the truck, helping a friend move. Luckily, they just left mcdonalds restaurant when it broke. They were on a side street and were forced to stay where they were. The eastpoint fire-department were called on scene due to gasoline leaking out of the tank into the street. They stayed with the vehicle until aaa was called. They towed the truck on a flatbed truck and delivered it to my guys auto repair, gratiot, roseville, mi. My truck had a recall on it for safety straps, which were the cause by breaking. I tried to get it fixed at dorian Ford, clinton twp.,mi. 2 years prior, but was given a 'runaround' by dorian Ford, telling me to bring it in for repair in 2 months time. I forgot when the 2 months were up and dorian Ford didn't try to contact me. I am forced now to pay over 1500 dollars to repair my truck, which I am the original owner. I am grateful beyond belief that my family or I weren't killed. Please advise me on what I can do in light of everything ie...compensation for said repair, etc. Thank-you.

- Fraser, MI, USA

problem #18

Mar 042017

F-150

  • 150,000 miles
Fuel tank straps broke while driving straight on city streets putting a hole in the tank and spilling out fuel while driving. Ford had a recall on the same year & model of vehicle, however ours was not recalled.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #17

Dec 102016

F-150

  • miles
In the less than 2 years we have owned this truck, it has blown spark plugs 3 times.

- Fairbank, IA, USA

problem #16

Sep 302016

F-150

  • 207,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My vehicle had its fuel tank straps replaced under a recall. The corrosion from the original straps spread to the fuel tank. Now, the corrosion on the fuel tank has caused the fuel tank to begin leaking under the replaced straps. Perhaps some of the issue is due to the process / procedure used in replacing the original fuel tank straps. Vehicle now has approx 207,000 miles. Fuel leak was noticed while performing other regular maintenance.

- Milford, MI, USA

problem #15

Jan 012011

F-150

  • 85,000 miles
Vehicle cab rocker panels rusting off rear window leaking cruise control not working vehicle rusting and been in area with no salt on roads

- Westville, IN, USA

problem #14

Aug 172015

F-150

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor coming from the fuel tank. The contact noticed a strap hanging under the fuel tank and that fuel leaked onto the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that there was rust and holes underneath the tank that came from corrosion and that the straps on the tank needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Parksburg, PA, USA

problem #13

Apr 022015

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • 138,000 miles
While driving at 15 mph cylinder #5 spark plug liberated it self from the engine.

- Harwinton, CT, USA

problem #12

Jan 222015

F-150 4WD 6-cyl

  • 156,371 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There's a recall already for the fuel tank straps in the salt belt states.I live about 20 mile from tenn.im seating at my job and looked out the window and my fuel tank strap broke.the tank was about 2 inch above the road.call Ford and they said its not covered.im in the mountains and we use road salt every year.what makes ten any different.this could have been bad it started dragging on the road while I was driving.wher the strap rust.it caused the fuel tank to rust.now the tank is leaking same place the strap rusted.help.

- Bryson City, NC, USA

problem #11

Nov 162014

F-150 8-cyl

  • 134,600 miles
Spark plug blew out of head.

- Garfield, NJ, USA

problem #10

Sep 222014

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
While driving my vehicle under very normal circumstances, traveling approximately 30mph, my truck began to run very rough and there were loud popping noises coming from the top of the passenger side valve cover. It turned out to be a blown-out spark plug and coil pack.

- Sandy, UT, USA

problem #9

Jun 252014

F-150

  • 92,000 miles
On 06/25/2014 I was driving my 2002 Ford F-250 Super Duty 7.3 litre diesel South on rt. 81 in syracuse NY. At exit 81 and in congested traffic when I lost all engine power. The transmission light came on but when I pressed the accelerator nothing happened. The engine was still running but the truck would not go. I was in the left lane intending to go South on 81 with a barrier on my left and no shoulder to escape traffic. I signaled and drifted over to the right and ended up stopping in an area between the rt 81 lane and an exit ramp. While doing this I had slowed considerably as the truck had no power and cars and trucks behind me had to swerve and brake abruptly to avoid striking me. The area where I finally came to rest was directly between the two lanes without room on either side. I attempted to exit the truck to try to evaluate the situation but traffic was traveling within a foot or two of the truck. I contacted aaa and had to wait in this very hazardous position for about 45 minutes for a tow truck to arrive. I had to be towed almost 200 miles to my home after my mechanic diagnosed the problem he stated that it was one of or possibly two sensors that had failed. These sensors controlled the fuel and air flow to the engine and when they failed it refused to allow the engine to accelerate not allowing me to move the truck. I feel that Ford should be made to design a sensor that provides a warning or a means to override the system in order for a driver to make it to a point of safety. This situation mimicked the same situation caused by GM cars having their ignition shut off causing death and serious injuries. I just happened to be very luck as I narrowly missed be struck by fast moving tractor trailers and cars. Hopefully something can be done by Ford to correct this dangerous situation. My wife and I feel very lucky to be home safe today.

- Pottsville, PA, USA

problem #8

Nov 292013

F-150 8-cyl

  • 71,525 miles
The spark plug blew out of the engine and caused the engine to become damaged.

- Henrico, VA, USA

problem #7

Nov 062013

F-150

  • 66,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while traveling 15 mph, the fuel tank support straps failed and the fuel tank became detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who stated that the straps had failed due to rust. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 11V385000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 66,000.

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #6

Sep 262013

F-150 8-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
Spark plug ejected while driving on high way. This is the second time a plug has ejected. The first time the truck had 39000 miles, original factory torqued spark plugs.

- North Andover , MA, USA

problem #5

Aug 012013

F-150

  • 156,000 miles
Fuel tank straps rusted thru the gas tank, Ford replaced the straps, but would not cover the gas tank. The frame, rocker panels, cab & bed are rusted thru, will not pass inspection again.

- Hillsboro, NH, USA

problem #4

Apr 042013

F-150 8-cyl

  • 220,000 miles
The vehicle was traveling at highway speeds when the gas tank fell out. The tank straps had rusted through dropping the tank. The tank cut open from skidding on an interstate expressway releasing 23 gallons of fuel. Ford dealership inspected and said the straps are under recall and will replace, but will not replace the tank. The tank is only damaged due to faulty straps which Ford has identified as problematic. The faulty straps by Ford have resulted in a large financial loss due to tow, cleanup, gas loss, time.... and Ford estimates $800 for a new gas tank. This is a severe hazard and thankful nobody was injured. I believe the next person may not be so fortunate.

- Peotone, IL, USA

problem #3

Mar 052013

F-150

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Ford F150. The contact stated that there was an overpowering odor of gasoline fuel inside the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and was advised that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recall campaigns. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Heislerville, NJ, USA

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