- The problem
- Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
- The risk
- A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the abs control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Vehicle safety record
2002 Ford E-450 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2002 Ford E-450 with NHTSA, most often about the wheels & tires (5) and the electrical system (3). Those complaints describe 1 fire. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in October 2009 for the vehicle speed control. For comparison, the 2001 has 16 and the 2003 has 18.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical E-450 year, for its age
#215 most complained-about 2002 vehicle
- Complaints
- 13
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2002 Ford E-450 problems
Share of all 13 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2002 Ford E-450 recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
- The risk
- Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on august 7, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. (Note: also see recalls 05v017 and 05v388)
- The problem
- Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n f65277, shipped from january 16 through june 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect design, the quick connectors may not fully seat with the tube interface, even though the person making the connection may believe that the quick connector is fully attached.
- The risk
- Failure of this connection could lead to fuel spillage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
- The fix
- Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters usa at 800-230-5876.
What owners say
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13 complaints about the 2002 Ford E-450
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford E-450. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, a loud bang came from the vehicle and the vehicle was steered over to the side of the road. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
I was driving down interstate 90 in south dakota at approx 70mph when a vehicle behind me flashed his lights. I pulled over and dragging behind me by only one hydraulic line was the rear leveling system. This assembly is about 5 feet long and has two hydraulic jacks one on each end. My guess is this weighs over 70lbs. Had this broken loose in the interstate at that speed god only knows what damage that could have caused..The undamaged bolts were still in the frame..(See photo 1) it appears to have just come loose...
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over time.. With any kind of lock washer under the nuts or locking system this should never have happened. I disconnected the remaining hydraulic line and put the unit in the storage compartment in the camper(see photo 2)
I recently purchased a motorhome with the ford e-450, while driving out of my park I lost my turn signals and brake lights. *Tr
We were traveling north to south just outside of lasvegas when a spark plug blew out of the cylinder, with the injector still pumping fuel. In our 31' motorhome with a e450 engine. Did we not realize the seriousness of the situation the engine could have caught fire and caused extensive damage and possible injury. As a result this cost us $7200.00 And the loss of use of our vehicle and home for 10 days. We have asked ford motor company for some renumeration towards the cost of repairs because as we soon found...
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out there have been thousands of these vehicles with the same problem. But because the vehicle was over 6 years old they would not provide assistance. We feel that even if we were compensated for the parts would be a fair response, because this situation could have resulted in a liability lawsuit. We would appreciate any assistance you can provide us with our request to ford. Thank you, *tr
Spark plug ejected while driving on interstate causing emergency breakdown resulting in 550.00 Bill for spark plug sleeve repair then 50 miles from this incident the fan belt shredded resulting in engine overheating and another emergency repair of 520.00 For new belt and alternator. *Tr
Cooper srm ii lt 225/75/r 16 tread separation of rear tire on rv approximately 20 miles of home while driving on interstate. Two months earlier had similar experience with another rear tire. Tires were purchased as a set of six on 04/08 with less than 10,000 miles when failures occurred. Tires are being replaced with a complete set from a different manufacturer. *Tr
While driving the ambulance the engine shuts off. The most recent incident happened while taking it to the shop. When the ambulance is at idle it just shuts off, while driving down the road and the rpm's are at idle the engine will just shut off. No crash or injuries however it was very close as the engine shut off it was going around a curve and lost power steering and brakes. *Tr
In early july my vehicle suffered an electrical fire in the engine compartment. This is a vehicle covered under the existing ford recall for the speed control wiring. The dealer , who had repaired the vehicle just 45 days earlier, stated that this fire was not associated with the recall. The dealer stated that this was a different type of wiring fire. I am concerned that the recall in place may not fully address the risk of fire, and that there may be more of a safety issue regarding the wiring harness than has been disclosed. *Tr
TIRE TREAD FAILED ON CONSUMER'S 2002 FORD E450 . *TS *NM
While driving the inside right rear tire exploded. The dealer could not determine the cause of the failure. *Nlm the tire was replaced by the dealer at no cost. *Nm
The inner right rear tire experienced a sidewall blow out. *Nlm the consumer observed the right inside dual tire split near the tread line on the sidewall. (Tire model-r4 sii) *scc *jb
Tire tread separation from sidewall on firestone steeltex r4s ii. *Nlm
Rear brake caliper piston boots hard, brittle, split. Constructed of material that does not seem to have adequate heat resistant properties. Both rear caliper assemblies were replaced by dealer warranty. Dt
Ford E-450: every year compared
All E-450 years2002 Ford E-450 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Ford E-450 | 13 | 3 | C | |
| 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac | 3,613 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2002 Ford Explorer Sport | 3,613 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2002 Ford Explorer | 3,613 | 10 | F | Compare |
| 2002 Ford Escape | 1,070 | 10 | D | Compare |
| 2002 Ford F-150 | 955 | 10 | F | Compare |
| 2002 Ford EV Ranger | 389 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2002 Ford Expedition | 383 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2002 Ford Excursion | 172 | 5 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2002 Ford E-450
Does the 2002 Ford E-450 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2002 Ford E-450: vehicle speed control (October 2009); vehicle speed control (August 2006); fuel system, gasoline (June 2006). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford E-450?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the wheels & tires (5), electrical system (3), engine & cooling (3).
How many complaints has the 2002 Ford E-450 had?
13 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 17, 2002 and the latest on August 18, 2023. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2002 Ford E-450 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 47 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Ford E-450 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford E-450 years have the most complaints?
1999 (73), 2000 (42), 2005 (33). See every Ford E-450 year compared.
What should I do if my 2002 Ford E-450 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data