Ford F-150 Complaints (2002)

821 consumer complaints on file.

#10243530September 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE ANTI THEFT UNIT IN THAT IT WON'T ALLOW THE TRUCK TO START. IF ALLOWED TO SIT FOR AN HOUR OR SO IT USUALLY STARTS. FORD DEALERSHIPS SAY THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT WHEN THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. WELL, NOW THE PROBLEM SEEMS PERMANENT, AS IT WON'T START AT ALL. WHEN ASKED IF SYSTEM CAN BE TURNED OFF THEY SAY "NO, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE" THEIR SAFETY ISSUE HAS PUT ME IN PERIL ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. ONE BEING ON A BOAT RAMP WITH RISING WATER AND A VEHICLE THAT WON'T START. HOW SAFE IS THAT? THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER NOW, AND THEY TELL ME THEY MUST DUPLICATE THE NOT STARTING SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S WRONG, IN FACT IT IS NOT STARTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243464September 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 5.4L ENGINE IN MY FORD TRUCK AND IT KEEPS STRIPPING OUT SPARK PLUGS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE POSTED THE SAME PROBLEM ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS REPORT .COM. ONE GUYS TRUCK BURNT TO THE GROUND IN 12 MINUTES AND COULDN'T EVEN GET HIS NAVIGATION SYSTEM OUT OF HIS VEHICLE. FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE DASH TOWARDS HIM. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD WITH THE MATTER AND THEY STATE THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND YOU ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO RECALL IT. I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOUR VEHICLE CAN BURN TO THE GROUND IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT KEEPS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE ALL OVER AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE CALLED ON THESE ENGINES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, NOT AFTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242706September 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STARTED OFF FROM STOP SIGN AND AROUND 30-35 MPH, HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND PULLED OVER TO FIND #3 CYLINDER HAD BLOWN SPARK PLUG OUT. COIL WAS DAMAGED ALSO. HAD TRUCK TOWED TO NEAREST SHOP 40 MILES AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240492August 31, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD. THE EXPLOSION HAD DENTED THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD. I FOUND A BROKEN COIL LAYING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, AND THE CORRESPONDING SPARK PLUG LAYING BENEATH THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO RE-THREADED THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND INSTALLED A NEW SPARK PLUG. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS USUAL FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND THEN THE SAME EXACT SITUATION OCCURRED, INVOLVING THE SAME EXACT SPARK PLUG. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE PLUG AND COIL WERE SO DAMAGED THAT THE HEAD COULD NOT BE RE-THREADED AND REPAIRED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND THAT DOZENS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS DUE TO AN ENGINE AND/OR PISTON DEFECT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE REQUIRED DRILLING OUT THE AFFECTED HEAD, TAPPING IT, AND INSTALLING A HELICOIL BEFORE THE SPARK PLUG COULD BE REPLACED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, SINCE IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT HAS CAUSED ME, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS WELL. WHILE I HAVE NOT HAD AN ENGINE FIRE, OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE REPORTED ENGINE FIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239978August 27, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY FORD F-150 GOT ON FIRE BECAUSE FORD FAILED TO SEND ME A RECALL LETTER. I ONLY RECEIVED A LETTER IN MARCH/08 TELLING ME THAT THE PARTS TO BE REPLACED WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON MAY/08. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239833August 26, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
070508 DISCOVERED FLAT TIRE ON TRUCK PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OF HOME. DETERMINED FLAT WAS CAUSED BY VALVE STEM CRACK. HAD VALVE STEM REPLACED AT TIRE SHOP. DIFFERENT TIRE, SAME BRAND, WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, 082608. HAD ROAD SERVICE REPLACE WITH SPARE TIRE TO DRIVE HOME. INSPECTED TIRE AT HOME AND DETERMINED ANOTHER VALVE STEM CRACK/DEFECT. NO ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE DAMAGE OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH THE INTERSTATE FLAT MAY HAVE BEEN BUT I WAS NOTIFIED BY PASSING MOTORISTS THAT TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. WILL TAKE LATEST FLAT TIRE TO TIRE SHOP THIS WEEKEND TO HAVE ANOTHER VALVE STEM REPLACEMENT. CONCERNED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES ARE SAME MAKE AND BRAND, BOUGHT AT SAME TIME, AND I HAVE HAD TWO VALVE STEM FAILURES IN TWO MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238741August 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A '02 FORD F150 WITH 51,581 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY, CYLINDER #3 DECIDED TO BLOW THE SPARK PLUG RIGHT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER READING MANY OTHER FRUSTRATED CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I FOUND OUT THAT I WAS QUITE LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY ERUPT IN FLAMES. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS ANY ISSUE WITH THIS DESIGN EVEN THOUGH IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED. FORD EXPECTS IT'S CUSTOMER TO REPLACE THE HEAD TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AT THE CUSTOMER'S EXPENSE. MINE $3,322.96. NOW THE BETTER PART. BECAUSE IT APPEARS THE DESIGN HAS NOT CHANGED, EVEN BY REPLACING THE HEAD THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238119August 14, 2008
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 36 MPH ON A PAVED STREET THE LEFT OTTER TIE ROD END BROKE . CAR WAS CLOSE TO BEING OUT OF CONTROL BUT WAS SAFELY BROUGHT TO A STOP. REPLACED ALL TIE ROD ENDS, PITMAN ARM AND CENTER LINK. (SHOP THAT DID THE ALIGNMENT SAID I WAS THE SECOND CAR THAT HAD BROKEN A TIE ROD. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A 2001 F150). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237908August 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2002 FORD F150 5.4 SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE MOTOR WITH ONLY 42000. MILES ON IT. $ 890.00 TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237478August 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE SPARK PLUGS STRIPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. INSTEAD, HE SIMPLY NOTICED THE SPARK PLUG STICKING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT IT RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237321August 7, 2008
VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD THE 02' F150 SINCE DECEMBER 07' AND HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD LEAKING. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH IN THE 97' TO 03' F150 MODELS VIA FORD FORUMS AND OTHER INTERNET SITES AS WELL AS THE LOCAL FORD DEALER REPAIR SHOP WHO WORKED ON MY TRUCK. THIS LEAK SHORTS OUT THE FUSE PANEL IN THE CAB THAT CAUSES THE LOSS OF POWER TO EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE LEAK ALSO TENDS TO SHORT OUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO BE UNABLE TO READ WHAT GEAR THE TRUCK IS IN. THIS CAUSES THE TRUCK TO NOT START AND EVEN SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING WHICH AGAIN IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING IN ANY CONDITION. THIS LEAK COST ME $1500 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE STARTER, RELAY, ALTERNATOR, COMPUTER, FUSE PANEL, AND HAVING TO REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THIS LEAK WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVE ONLY ISSUED A SPECIAL SERVICE BULLETIN! I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE WINDSHIELD LEAK IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE YET A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED FOR FADING PAINT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235150July 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ALONG MN7 ON MY WAY HOME. I STOPPED AT A 4 WAY STOP. WHEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GO, I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN MY #5 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. ONE MAY 4TH 2008, #3 AND #4 BLEW OUT AND IT COST ME $2,000 TO FIX THIS. AFTER DOING SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT A LOTS OF FORD F150 OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234892July 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN
ON MY WAY TO A WEDDING I NOTICED THE RPMS KICK UP. I PUSHED BUTTON ON TRANS SELECTOR AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY (FOR NOW).WAS PARKING TRUCK AND FOUND I HAD NO REVERSE. MONDAY TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER , MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG TILL HE OPENED CUP TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC FOUND WELD ON SUN SHELL BROKEN. CALLED FORD NO HELP. SPRING HILL FORD PUT A REBUILT TRANS IN TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234333July 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS DRIVING AND FELT AND HEARD A POP IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THINKING IT WAS A TIRE BLOW OUT. ONCE I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE TIRES I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS NO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT IT BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD AND SPLIT THE COIL AND POSSIBLY DAMAGED ANOTHER COIL. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE SITUATION. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A FORD DESIGN ERROR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231993June 23, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT HOURS, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231644June 19, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 16TH 2008 JUST BEFORE MIDNITE, I HEARD AN EXPLOSION THEN CAR HORN BLARING. I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND SAW MY 2002 FORD F-150 ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT FROM THE ENGINE THROUGH THE HOLE FROM THE EXPLOSION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I YELLED TO MY WIFE, CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MY TRUCK IS ON FIRE. MY TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR OVER 7 HOURS. I GOT HOME FROM WORK AT 4:30 PARKED MY TRUCK AND WAS DOZING OFF JUST BEFORE MIDNITE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD SO WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL I GOOGLED FORD 2002 F-150 FIRES. THEN I KEPT READING STORY AFTER STORY ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE. AMAZING I NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229804June 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION HE NOTICED THE SPARK PLUGS WERE LOOSE AND THE COIL HAD BLOWN OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITHIN THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE COILS AND THE SPARK PLUGS. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT A DEFECT WITHIN THE ENGINE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229615June 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150 HARLEY DAVIDSON. ON JANUARY 3, 2008, A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. ON MAY 31, 2008, WHILE AT A CAR WASH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SAME SPARK PLUG FROM THE SOLENOID HAD BLOWN AGAIN, WHICH ALSO BLEW THE ENGINE HEAD. THE REPAIR IS EXPECTED TO COST BETWEEN $2,200, AND $5,000. ALSO, IN DECEMBER OF 2007, THE SUNROOF MOTOR SHORTED AND NO LONGER WORKS. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,000, AND HAS NOT USED THE SUNROOF SINCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229673June 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARKS PLUGS WERE LOOSENING AND STRIPPING OFF THE TREADS. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE ALSO DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE NOTIFIED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS FLYING OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE SPARK PLUGS DETACH, SPARKS FLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND BEFORE MOVING. THE FAILURE ALWAYS OCCURS WITH THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 07/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/05/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229429June 1, 2008
STEERING
TOTAL FAILURE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINT ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUDDENLY CAME APART WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOST OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO "DIRECT" TRUCK OFF THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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