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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 36
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
104,721 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #65

Oct 192019

F-150

  • 238,500 miles

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

I was driving and the speed would go up to 90 mph, the truck was not going the speed in reality. Then the RPM's would go up really high, I stopped the truck put it in park and back in drive tried to drive off. The truck then would not go over 30 mph and the gas peddle was all the way down trying to go, the engine started smoking and when I pulled over opened the hood it was smoking from the driver side upper corner of the truck. After having a mechanic look at it, he said the break pressure switch needed to be replaced because it's a hot wire and it's leaking. After checking the Ford VIN check it didn't say my truck was apart of the recall but they year and make and model is. I'm confused and at this point don't want to put my children in a fire ball like that if it catches on fire...

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #64

Sep 222019

F-150

  • 139,400 miles
This is follow up assessment to my 9/22/2019 claim [xxx]- where I found myself in a very dangerous vehicle run away situation that resulted in a rear end accident with another vehicle. My mechanic's first observation when turn ignition key, the engine raced at full throttle out of control. After quickly shutting down engine the symptoms lead my mechanic to test the idle air control valve. Having never seen this dangerous symptom from a bad iacv, he continued to do further test on the iacv only to determine the part was indeed defective. After diagnosing the problem, the defective iacv part was quickly replaced. The engine is now running good again. If you need to contact my mechanic: Dugan auto service, narvon pa - doug miller 464-798-8097 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- East Earl, PA, USA

problem #63

Sep 222019

F-150

  • 139,400 miles
Car was on the highway doing 65 mph. When I took my foot off the accelerator, the car continued to accelerate on its own. When I applied the brakes I was able to slow it down and control the car. When I got off the exit ramp and tried to bring the car to a stop, the engine was running at high rpms and I couldn't completely stop car until I rear ended another vehicle. I've tried to start the car after that, but the engine immediately starts racing as if I have my foot pressed on all the way down on the gas.

- East Earl, PA, USA

problem #62

Jul 042019

F-150

  • 222,112 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. While driving 55 mph, the cruise control failed to operate and the cross control went into a locked position. The contact attempted to brake, but the vehicle would not stop. The contact placed the vehicle in neutral and was able to slow down the vehicle. When the vehicle finally stopped, the contact disconnected the cruise control cable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 222,112.

- Foster City, CA, USA

problem #61

Mar 312019

F-150 8-cyl

  • 204,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated that an explosion occurred under the hood and the vehicle caught fire while parked in the driveway. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The vehicle only had liability coverage; therefore, the failure was not covered by the insurance company. The vehicle was taken to metro Ford Inc (2860 S noland rd, independence, mo 64055, (816) 254-9800), but they could not assist. The dealer suggested having an independent mechanic diagnose the vehicle. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V017000 (vehicle speed control), which could have caused the fire. The failure mileage was 204,000.

- Idependence, MO, USA

problem #60

Dec 312018

F-150

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owned a 2002 Ford F-150. While the vehicle was parked in front of the contact's house, it caught fire without warning. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The fire was not heat related. The vehicle was totaled. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V017000 (vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Worrior, AL, USA

problem #59

Sep 192014

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

The contact's father owned a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration without warning. While in a parking lot, the vehicle accelerated and spun out of control. The driver struck a curb to avoid crashing into other vehicles in the parking lot. As a result, the vehicle went airborne and struck a telephone pole, but continued to accelerate at a high rate of speed upon touching the ground. The vehicle then drove over another curb and crashed into some bushes. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The driver sustained injuries that required medical treatment. The vehicle was towed and placed in storage. The contact's father no longer owns the vehicle because he is deceased due to unrelated circumstances. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified later of the crash. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 9/19/18

- Lebanon, VA, USA

problem #58

Feb 282018

F-150

  • 141,000 miles
The recall ie an inline fuse on speed control deactivation switch did not work it just caught on fire and ruined my master cylinder and brake system.it wont hold brake fluid now because the switch melted into it.Ford says oh well recalls been done

- Leesville, LA, USA

problem #57

May 072015

F-150

  • 68,000 miles
Two issues: 1] both rear doors in the extended cab (swing counterclockwise) door latches jammed preventing exiting or entry. If egress was needed quickly, it was not there. The cost to repair each was about $450. (locked up while driving) 2]speed control does not work - Ford says it is a malfunctioning control that cost about $500 to replace. (when vehicle is in operation)

- Wilmington, NC, USA

problem #56

Aug 082017

F-150

  • 190,000 miles
Got home from work parked my vehicle in my carport available space in my apartment. Turn off the truck completely, nothing left on or anything suspicious to cause a incident. When to my apartment unit took a shower and not more than 20-30mins was alarmed that my vehicle was caught on fire. I immediately ran outside to the carport saw the engine on fire, tried to stop it with anything that I could find (water holes) or extinguisher. My neighbors called 911 as I saw the flames getting higher and stronger the fire moved into my daughters vehicle which was parked next to our other carport space and caught on fire as well. Overall, there are two vehicles completely destroyed. There was also two other vehicles involved that have some burning damages. As well as property damages into our available parking spaces. Some windows from the lower apartments were cracked. My vehicle was parked into my parking port, not in motion but turned off completely.

- Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #55

Jun 072016

F-150

  • miles

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

Seed contral.

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #54

Jan 102016

F-150

  • 170,000 miles
In 12-14 and 1-10-2016 the butterfly in the throttle body stuck and vehicle wouldn't slow down. 1st incident -10F, came from warm garage, interstate, cruise control in use, in about 15 minutes of driving eventually speed got to 85mph on its own, cruise shut off and vehicle maintained 85 mph, once stopped throttle and cruise cable were checked and free, butterfly was stuck partially open when manually moved and broke free, problem went away; 2nd date -5F came from warm garage, interstate, cruise on, 20 minutes into trip, similar results, weather clear low humidity, vehicle would not slow down, cruise shut off, no-load engine speed over 5000 RPM, vehicle speed 65mph on level with no throttle input, cables when checked were free, brakes would barely slow vehicle, engine operated normally once butterfly was broke free but problem reoccurred about 30 minutes later. Ford F150 XLT 4.6L automatic supercrew, no problem noted when weather is warmer

- Norwalk, IA, USA

problem #53

Feb 072013

F-150

  • 150,000 miles
There was a recall for the cruse control, it was replaced by Ford, because it could cause a fire, the new one worked for about a year and stop working, never work after that. 2nd item is rear window and drivers passanger window leak rain water inside the cab, leaks everytime it rains in motion or stationary.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #52

May 042015

F-150 6-cyl

  • 702,000 miles
I was driving to the office, and approached a red light so I started slowing down. Once I reached 15 mph my 2002 4.2 L F150 accelerated extremely high. I was applying the brake but the truck was still slowly moving, so with my foot still on the brake I turned into the office parking lot. I tried to put it in park but it was a struggle, I called my daughter outside when I was in the office parking lot, and she told me the rear tires were spinning. When I finally got it in park I turned the truck off. I gave it approximately one minute and turned the truck back on, and it was still accelerating extremely high so I turned the truck back off so it wouldn't damage my engine. After an hour I turned the truck back on, and the truck was back to normal. After doing a bit of research I saw tons of articles with instances similar to mine, so I disconnected the cruise control switch and took it to the nearest shop.

- Ft Worth, TX, USA

problem #51

Sep 232014

F-150

  • miles
I parked the vehicle and 20 minutes later discovered the vehicle on fire. Further investigation revealed that master cylinder was totally engulfed in flame. The fire damaged the wire harness, air filter, fuse box and completely melted the cylinder.

- Christiansted , VI, USA

problem #50

Mar 222014

F-150 8-cyl

  • 204,000 miles
On March 22, 2014, the truck was parked in a local parking lot, the ignition key was removed and the truck was locked. The driver returned to the truck to find that while it was parked, a fire had begun in the engine compartment of the truck, and the fire department and police department were on the scene putting out the fire. Because of the quick actions of an individual parked nearby who used a fire hose to contain the fire until the fire department arrived, the cabin and the body of the truck were spared, and the damage was localized to the engine compartment. The cause of the fire was the speed control deactivation switch.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #49

Aug 162014

F-150 6-cyl

  • miles
While driving on the highway, I pushed the on button for the cruise control and pushed the set/excel button at 70 mph. After a minute or so I looked down and was going 75 and accelerating. I tapped the break which had no effect. I tapped the break several more time but the truck kept accelerating. I pushed the off button several times while continuing to pump the break. The cruise control finally went off. Several miles down the road I tried to use the cruise control again with the same results. My truck is a 4.2L V6 and has had the recall taken care of several years ago. This appears to have happened to several other people and could have had a disastrous outcome.

- Harrisburg, MO, USA

problem #48

Apr 162014

F-150

  • miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle burst into flames after the alarm sounded. The contact personally extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number 05V388000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #47

Nov 082013

F-150

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F150. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and not operating when it caught on fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The contact indicated that the vehicle was destroyed and only the bed of vehicle remained. No additional information was available regarding the incident. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Freeport, TX, USA

problem #46

Feb 262014

F-150 6-cyl

  • 154,000 miles
Throttle body linkage "plastic cover clamshell" cracked in half at plastic hinge (oxidized plastic). Loose plastic cover wedged open throttle fully causing "dangerous life threatening" driving stuck at full throttle. I have the cover and photos if you want me to send them.

- Bowling Green, KY, USA

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