Recall Register

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2002 Ford F Series

NHTSA register · 1 recall campaign · 33 complaints · 1 investigation · filed by SOUTHERN COMFORT CONVERSIONS

3,674 units across its campaigns1 complaint reported a crash1 reported a fire

The 2002 Ford F Series appears in 1 NHTSA recall campaign (structure) and in 33 consumer complaints filed with the agency.

The component named most often is engine and engine cooling: 261.9 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 103.2 per 1,000 across all 2002 model-year vehicles and against 227 per 1,000 for the Ford F Series line as a whole.

That is more than the average of 9.5 complaints per model year across the 33 Ford F Series model years on this register; 1 complaint reported a crash and 1 a fire.

Complaints were received in the largest number in 2011 (6); the most recent in the file is dated 14 Jan 2015.

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 1 investigation naming this model year.

Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Recalls by model year:

197111972119731197421975319762197721978319791198411985119870198811989219902199101992019930199401995019960199701998019990200012001120021200312004020050200602007020080

Recall campaigns

  1. 03V094000STRUCTUREReported 7 Mar 2003 · 3,674 units

    Defect, as filed: Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, INC. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.

    Consequence: This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began march 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.

    Filed by SOUTHERN COMFORT CONVERSIONS.

Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2002 Ford F Series (black) against all 2002 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.

Engine142.9
Per 1,000 component mentions2002F Series lineAll 2002 vehicles
Engine and Engine Cooling261.9227103.2
Engine142.943.421.5
Power Train95.230.6121
Fuel System, Gasoline95.294.433.1
Vehicle Speed Control71.484.239.4
Electrical System71.4119.994.1
ComponentMentionsPer 1,000LineAll 2002
Engine and Engine Cooling11261.9227103.2
Engine6142.943.421.5
Power Train495.230.6121
Fuel System, Gasoline495.294.433.1
Vehicle Speed Control371.484.239.4
Electrical System371.4119.994.1
Unknown or Other247.635.718.9
Steering247.635.739.2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic123.848.578.7
Fuel System, Other123.87.74.6
Fuel System, Diesel123.85.11.1
Fuel/Propulsion System123.820.410.2
Service Brakes123.85.124.3
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)123.82.66.1
Structure123.858.761.3

33 unique complaints, 42 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.

Complaints by year received

03
05
07
09
11
13
15
17
19
21
23
25
Complaints about the 2002 Ford F Series by the year NHTSA received them. Reporting rises after recalls and press coverage; a model year keeps drawing complaints for a decade or more.

Investigations

ActionTypeSubjectComponentOpenedClosedRecall
DP05005Defect petitionSPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADengine and engine cooling:engine22 Sep 20054 Jan 2006—

Other Ford F Series model years

Model yearRecallsComplaintsUnits in campaigns
1971 NHTSA11125,000
1972 NHTSA10125,000
1973 NHTSA10125,000
197420136,911
197530201,911
197620190,000
197720190,000
19783070,016
1979 NHTSA1065,000
1984 NHTSA1151,500
1985 NHTSA1051,500
1987 NHTSA03—
1988 NHTSA1624,454
19892227,654
1990223,565
1991 NHTSA06—
1992 NHTSA02—
1993 NHTSA05—
1994 NHTSA07—
1995 NHTSA016—
1996 NHTSA016—
1997047—
1998 NHTSA020—
1999036—
20001403,674
20011443,674
20021333,674
2003 NHTSA113,674
2004 NHTSA07—
2005 NHTSA09—
2006 NHTSA04—
2007 NHTSA04—
2008 NHTSA01—

Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.

All Ford F Series model years · Ford: 201 model lines

Questions and answers

How many recalls does the 2002 Ford F Series have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign name this model year; the most recent, 03V094000, was reported to NHTSA on 7 Mar 2003 and concerns structure. Across all model years the Ford F Series line has 10 campaigns.

Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2002 Ford F Series?

NHTSA's investigation file lists 1 action naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.

What component do owners of the 2002 Ford F Series complain about most?

Engine and Engine Cooling: 11 of 42 component mentions (261.9 per 1,000). Next is engine with 6. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

How do I get a recall repaired?

NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.