"How reliable is the 2002 Ford E-150?"

"Based on 37 NHTSA complaints, the 2002 Ford E-150 has a median complaint mileage of 81000 miles. The most common issue is STEERING."

"What are common problems with the 2002 Ford E-150?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Ford E-150 is STEERING, accounting for a significant portion of the 37 total complaints filed."

2002 Ford E-150: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 37 complaints

Total Complaints

81,000mi

Median Mileage

STEERING

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

34,000 25th Percentile

81,000 Median Mileage

130,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TIRES

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SERVICE BRAKES

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"AS THE RESULT OF A HEAD-ON COLLISION, THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE COLLISION WAS SLIGHTLY OFF-CENTER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 M.P.H., OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT LEAST THE SAME SPEED IF NOT MORE. SEAT BELT DID LOCK-UP CAUSING A ..."

"2002 FORD ECONOLINE W/5.4 V8. FROM BRAND NEW UNTIL NOW THE ENGINE SURGES OFF IDLE. IN PARKING LOTS THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A PROBLEM AS THE VAN JUMPS 3 TO 4 FEET AS I TRY TO SLOWLY BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. HAVE SCACRED MYSELF AND A FEW PEDESTRIANS. THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN..."

"BRAKES FAILURE,BURNED OUT CAUSED BY LACK OF LUBRICATION AT CRITICAL CONTACT POINTS OF METAL PARTS. WAS NOT LUBED AT FACTORY CAUSED BRAKE PADS TO STICK AGAINST ROTORS AND HIGH TEMPATURES, PREMATURE FAILURE. REQUIRED EXTRA BRAKE PETAL FORCE TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28