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8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$790
Average Mileage:
121,100 miles
Total Complaints:
26 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. spark plug after spark plug, or a new engine or re tap head (11 reports)
  2. replace head or get fulltorque sparkplug insert (6 reports)
  3. repair with insert (5 reports)
  4. not sure (3 reports)
  5. replace head & retap plug (1 reports)
2002 Ford F-250 engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Ford F-250 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #26

Oct 122016

F-250 XLT 6.8L V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 190,000 miles

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

Very frustrating problem that Ford should have addressed years ago. Have to wonder why it hasn't.

- Steve D., Paulden, AZ, US

problem #25

Dec 052017

F-250 XLT 6.8L V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 215,000 miles

Same issue unresolved by Ford. Probably never will be. The consumer loses again!

- Steve D., Paulden, AZ, US

problem #24

Apr 262018

F-250 Lariat 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

We were relocating my son towing our 14 ft box trailer when the plug blew. Had the rig towed to repair facility and then waited for plug to be reinstalled w/ heli coil. Hard for me to believe Ford has such an unreliable alum, head on it's HD trucks! Hope this will help Ford do the right thing and replace the obvious defective heads!!

- Joe D., Brevard, US

problem #23

Feb 182016

F-250 EX CAB V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,204 miles

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

click to see larger images

shot out a spark plug

I just replaced my spark plug and coil pack started my truck spark plug blew and my truck caught on fire! I'm sooooo angry because Ford knows of this problem. Thank God no one was hurt and my house didn't burn down. Thanks to the OFD for saving my house. My truck is a total loss.

- Kerwin M., Buzzards Bay, MA, US

problem #22

Oct 202015

F-250 XLT 5.4L

  • Manual transmission
  • 260,280 miles

The truck blew out a plug several years ago and the dealer who I bought the truck from and who had just a few weeks before changed the plugs installed a helicoil at no cost to me, they have since gone out of business, Courtesy Ford of Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

- Charles F B., Virginia Beach, VA, US

problem #21

Sep 212007

F-250 5.8L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,030 miles

This problem was fixable, but frightening when it occurred. It could completely destroy the engine.

- Maureen K., North East, MD, US

problem #20

Sep 092013

F-250 5.8L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,173 miles

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

This happened previously, at 54,030 miles, Same issue and solution.

- Maureen K., North East, MD, US

problem #19

Nov 022012

F-250 LX 5,4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

This is the 3rd time this has happened to this truck. These plugs were always maintained by the Ford garage before this started happening. My fear is that it will continue to occur and eventually it will ruin my engine. This is definitely a Ford design error. If they were going to use aluminum heads they should have put metal inserts in the plug holes when they were first put together and this would not be happening. It should not be an expense I should be liable for every few months and fearing an accident that will injure someone. Also, this problem really lowers the value of my truck because it's becoming so well known that it would be a difficult to sell it. Love my truck otherwise, but this is really making Dodge look good.

- Bob M., carterville, MO, US

problem #18

Jan 302014

F-250 Super Duty 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

This is the second time I have had a plug blow out in this truck, seems like a common problem but Ford will do nothing to help. Tranny went, also another$ 3000. No more Fords for me

- johnnyp96, Millbury, MA, US

problem #17

Sep 262013

F-250 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

Obviously an on going problem for the Ford Triton v-8 5.4 liter. this happened twice to my truck and I have heard its happened to many other ford owners. Time for a recall Ford.

- mrisacher, North Andover, MA, US

problem #16

Sep 232013

F-250 XLT 6.8L V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 171,460 miles

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

sPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO RUIN THE COIL AND THE PLUG. i HAD TO PURCHASE A PLUG INSERT KIT, RETAP THE HOLE, THREAD IN AN INSERT WITH SLEEVE RETAINER. TRUCK WAS DOWN FOR 3 DAYS DUE TO THE WEATHER AND A TRUCK TOO BIG TO PUT IN THE GARAGE. JUST A SERIOUS PAIN IN THE ASS!

- snojockey, Billings, MT, US

problem #15

Jun 052009

F-250 Super Duty 5.4L Triton V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

i bought used 2002 f250 v-8 with all options in 2008. truck was extremely well taken care of with all receipts from estate of original owner who babied this truck only drove it to work less then ten miles from his home never plowed with it or loaded it. since i have owned it i have blown 6 sparkplugs @ a cost of avg. 350.00 apiece to fix plus coil packs which always got destroyed. also cracked fuel rail when plug shot out and got bounced around. im starting class action suit against ford for their negligence and not recalling these faulty dangerous engines. ill post info if anyone wants to join suit to make ford responsible for this known design flaw. I was a loyal ford guy.

- jkight69, Middleboro, MA, US

problem #14

Apr 022013

F-250

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

Third spark plug to blow in less than three years!!!

- snickers0715, Maugansville, MD, US

problem #13

Mar 142012

F-250 XLS 6.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 137,000 miles

Same problem as all the rest of the Ford truck failures. Too bad the consumer has to pay for the mistakes of a large company that does not care at all about the consumer. This is the last Ford I will ever buy.

- Donald C., Oxford, MI, US

problem #12

Oct 022012

F-250 XLS 6.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

This is not the first plug to blow on this truck. I think Ford should be doing something about this because I have read hundreds of the same complaint. This will be the last Ford truck I will ever buy. Chevy and Dodge looking better every day.

- Donald C., Oxford, MI, US

problem #11

May 282012

F-250 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

driving down the road #3 plug blew out. now i hear its a common problem.Ford should let the public know about this problem.I have been driving Ford products all my life BUT this may be coming to an end after this crap.cost me $100 to get it hauled home don't what the repair cost will be.this is bulls**t.

- Marvin A., Mineral Wells, TX, US

problem #10

Aug 102010

F-250 Super Duty V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,000 miles

This was the first time it "spit" out a plug. We of course were miles from home. My complaint seemed to fall on deaf ears and it seemed like I waas the very first to have this problem. After checking further it seems like a common problem that will cost a bundle to "Maybe" fix.

- Michael E., Elk, WA, US

problem #9

Oct 122010

F-250 Super Duty V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 116,999 miles

Second time it "spit" out a plug. Of course we were on vacation and had to have it towed to a Ford dealer. I have AAA so no cost there. Was early afternoon on a Friday but Ford got it done by 5 and we were on our way. Asked what I should do about this and was told I should check the tourque on my spark plugs every so often. RIGHT--I am sure that the big bosses ot Ford have that done for them on a regular basis.

- Michael E., Elk, WA, US

problem #8

Jul 112011

F-250 Super Duty V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,000 miles

Since I only drive this on trips and have only put 16,000 miles on it in 16 months since I bought it I would not expect that this would be the 3rd plug spit out in that time. I was so upset I removed what was left of the coil and drove it 50 miles on 9 cylinders. My friend is a service manager at a Ford dealer and took pity on me and fixed it for about 1/2. Of course I has purchased a coil and plug myself so the only cost was the new sleeve and of course labor.

When do I get rid of this truck? Should I try to have the remaining 7 cyclinders sleeved? Would this solve the problem? Would the dealers give me a deal on the remainding cyclinders? I am about ready to tear my hair out. It seems to me that Ford either refuses to acknowledge this problem or just doesn't care. I am looking to replace my car soon and I don't think that Ford is in the running.

- Michael E., Elk, WA, US

problem #7

Mar 272011

F-250 Super Duty V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

Seems to be a known defect on the Triton Engines (V10 in this case) that the Ford dealer refuses to admit might be a defective head ...

The dealer blamed this on the unknown mechanic who replaced the plugs at 60K (4-5 years ago before I got the truck). I had to replace head, retap plug, $700 non-ford fix for plug.

- askingnv, Reno, NV, US

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