Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 2002 Ford F-450 SD with NHTSA between 2002 and 2018.
The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
Across this model's run it ranks 14 of 14 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 19
Against the median year of the Ford F-450 SD. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 51
30% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2002 Ford F-450 SD
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
746.7%
Median failure at 90,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
213.3%
Median failure at 2,000 miles
Seats
16.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.7%
Median failure at 45,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
16.7%
Median failure at 9,600 miles
Brakes
16.7%
Electrical System
16.7%
Median failure at 45,000 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
Median failure at 29,800 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
220.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
330.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
110.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
220.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
220.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Oct 2002peak 2Jan 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2002 Ford F-450 SD
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA06012Opened 22 Jun 2006Closed 7 Dec 2007ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
ENGINE STALLING
IN A DECEMBER 3, 2007 LETTER, FORD ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (CPS) IN APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLING.A NEW DESIGN CPS WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY WILL BE INSTALLED AS A REMEDY.OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER 2007. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DURABLE, FULL-SIZED, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, RESCUE/EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND COMMERCIAL OR RECREATIONAL TOWING.CPS FAILURE IS COMPARABLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY TURNING THE KEY OFF SINCE THE SIGNAL IT P...
EA05005Opened 22 Mar 2005Closed 2 Aug 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHIC...
EA04006Opened 23 Feb 2004Closed 10 Feb 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR (ETC)
FAILURE COUNTS FROM ODI?S ANALYSIS ARE STATED ABOVE; SEE THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM EXPERIENCE DISCUSSION IN THE SUMMARY REPORT.FORD DATA CONTAINED DUPLICATIVE REPORTS FOR 4 ODI COMPLAINTS AND 1 CRASH.THREE CRASHES WERE ALLEGEDLY DUE TO INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) PEDAL, ONE CRASH OCCURRED WHEN AN ETC DISABLED VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER MOTORIST, ONE REPORT CONTAINED NO DETAIL.THE INJURIES WERE MINOR.AN ISSUE INVOLVING FIXED ETC PEDALS WAS INVESTIGATED ALSO, HOWEVER FAILURE REPORTS AND POPULATIONS ARE NOT SHOWN ABOVE; SEE SUMMARY REPORT FOR DETAIL.ALTHOUGH FO...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 45,000 milesFulks RUN, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-450 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO GO UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHTING FAILED TO TURN ON AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (HARRISONBURG FORD, 3155 S MAIN ST, HARRISONBURG, VA 22801) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #11065259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesFulks RUN, VA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-450 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO GO UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHTING FAILED TO TURN ON AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (HARRISONBURG FORD, 3155 S MAIN ST, HARRISONBURG, VA 22801) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #11065259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesPacifica, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-450 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK LINER ERODED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON FOR THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT STEEL WAS BEING USED TO MANUFACTURER THE FUEL TANK AND WAS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO RUST AND ERODE PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECENTLY REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WS 103,000.
NHTSA complaint #10450604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 111,000 milesPhiladelphia, PA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I'M CURRENTLY IN KENYA VOLUNTEERING AND DON'T HAVE MY OLD BILL OF SALE WITH ME BUT WILL HAPPILY PROVIDE IT UPON MY RETURN TO THE STATES. I COULD GIVE AN OFFICIAL PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT THEY COULD THEN USE TO LOOK UP THE VIN IF THEY WISHED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY TRUCK STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND LOST ALL POWER WHILE TOWING A HEAVY 24' TRAILER. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE HE TOLD ME THAT THE TANK HAD DELAMINATED AND CLOGGED THE FUEL PUMP. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK PULLED OVER AND OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF COUNTLESS OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TANK DELAMINATION PROBLEM AND NEITHER FORD MO. CO. OR NHTSA HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE... IF YOU WERE TO CALL ROB BARBER- HEAD OF PURCHASING FOR THE BRICKMAN GROUP, I WOULD BET THAT HIS COMPANY HAS HAD 100 TRUCKS AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE THAT FORD REFUSES TO MAKE THE RECALL ON AND THUS NOT WARRANT. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DEFECT COULD LEAVE YOU POWERLESS WHEREVER YOU MAY BE (RAILROAD TRACKS OR GOING OVER THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE). I FIGURED SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE AND DIDN'T REPORT IT AT THE TIME BECAUSE I SAW LAWYERS WERE BEGINNING TO GET INVOLVED BUT HERE WE STILL HAVE NO CONCRETE SOLUTION OTHER THAN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO BUY AMERICAN PAYING THOUSANDS TO FIX A COMPANY OF WHOM THEY BAILED OUT LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10383548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lenexa, KS
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK HAS DETACHED FROM THE INNER STRUCTURE OF THE TANK. THE MATERIAL WAS IN THE FUEL INJECTOR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND SHUTS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP, FUEL SENDER, FUEL FILTERS, AND THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH TO OCCUR WHEN IT STALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10314145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 109,666 milesHighland, MD
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I OWN A 2002 FORD F450 THAT I RELY HEAVILY ON IN MY SMALL LAWN MAINTENANCE BUSINESS. WHEN THAT TRUCK DOESN'T RUN, I DON'T EARN ANY MONEY AND IN FACT I AM IN THE RED. I HAVE DISCOVERED THROUGH THE BRIEFEST OF ON-LINE SEARCHES THOUGH THAT I AM ONLY ONE OF THOUSANDS WHO HAVE RUN IN TO THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING NOW. MY TRUCK RECENTLY FAILED DURING THE WORKDAY AND THE CAUSE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A RUSTY (SOME ARE SAYING DELAMINATED) FUEL TANK, WHICH ALONG WITH SEVERAL RELATED PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A TOTAL COST OF OVER $4200. IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION THAT'S GIVING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THE FIGHT OF THEIR LIVES, I HAD TO LOSE 2 DAYS OF WORK ON TOP OF A HUGE CHUNK OF CASH. AND AS IS ALSO TRUE WITH THE STORIES REPORTED BY OTHER FORD OWNERS, I DID NOT USE ANY BIO-DIESEL FUELS IN MY TRUCK. BECAUSE MY LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON IT, I HAVE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP THIS TRUCK IN FIRST RATE WORKING CONDITION. THIS GAS TANK DID NOT FAIL BECAUSE OF ANYTHING I DID OR DIDN'T DO. I WANT FORD TO MAN UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAULTY PART, ISSUE A RECALL, AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE WORK ON MY TRUCK WAS DONE BY APPLE FORD ON STANFORD BLVD IN COLUMBIA MD ON 8/18/09. *TR UPDATED 09/03/09.
NHTSA complaint #10281890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,035 milesYorktown, VA
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
IN AUGUST OF 2007 5 OF THE 8 AMBULANCES IN OUR MUNICIPAL FLEET BEGAN TO STALL AND LOOSE POWER AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET OVER 35-40 MPH. WE FOUND THE FUEL FILTERS FULL OF SILVER FLAKES. AFTER REMOVING THE FUEL TANK WE FOUND THE LINING OF THE FUEL TANK FLAKING OFF. EVEN THOUGH THESE UNITS WERE OUT OF WARRANTY FORD PAID 50% TO REPLACE THE TANKS, FUEL PUMPS AND SENDING UNITS. TODAY 2 OF THE SAME UNITS BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME DRIVABLE PROBLEM. THIS TIME WE FOUND RUST PARTICLES IN THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING AND THE FILTER PLUGGED WITH THESE RUST PARTICLES. AFTER REMOVING THE FUEL TANK WE FOUND THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE FUEL TANK COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST. THESE UNITS NEVER GET BELOW A HALF TANK OF FUEL. WE HAVE TESTED OUR DIESEL FUEL AND THE SAMPLES HAVE COME BACK FROM THE LAB NORMAL. WE ALSO REPLACED THE FILTERS ON THE OTHER 3 UNITS THAT HAD TANKS REPLACED LAST AUGUST AND FOUND THE FILTERS PLUGGED WITH RUST ALSO. WE HAVE A TOTAL ABOUT 40 DIESEL VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET AND THESE 5 VEHICLES ARE THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM. WE CUT OPEN FILTERS IN OTHER DIESEL VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH VEHICLES THAT POTENTIALLY COULD FAIL WHILE TRANSPORTING PATIENTS. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE 2002-2003 FORD F40 WITH 7.3 DIESEL ENGINES.
NHTSA complaint #10232376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesWebtzville, MO
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
7.3 DIESEL FUEL LINE, BETWEEN HOSE NEED STEERING BOX AND FUEL FILTER AT TOP FRONT OF ENGINE, RUSTED CAUSING A FUEL LEAK, MAY BE FUEL RETURN LINE
NHTSA complaint #10195318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,600 milesKernersville, NC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS.
NHTSA complaint #10101271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,000 milesPayson, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
FRONT PASENGER COMPARTMENT FLOORBOARD HEATS UP TO 160+ DEGREES WHEN IN HILLY OR MOUNTANIOUS AREA OF DRIVING. PASENGER UNABLE TO KEEP FEET ON FLOOR BOARD DUE TO HEAT. F450 10 CYL GASOLINE ENGINE MOTORHOME. FORD DEALER STATES "COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THIS ENGINE & VEHICHLE" NO REMEDY OFFERED.
NHTSA complaint #10089072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gloversville, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED, BUT NOTHING CHANGED. THE CONSUMER TRIED OTHER VEHICLES AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE SAME PROBLEM. AS SOON AS ONE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY WOULD LOCK UP AND THERE WOULD BE NO FRICTION TO TURN THE WHEELS ON AND THE COMPUTER WOULD THINK THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10080012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lupton, MI
SEATS
HAVING BEEN A DRIVER OF LIMOUSINE COACHES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, I QUESTION THE SAFETY OF THE PERIMITER SEATING ARRANGEMENT IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY STOP OR A CRASH, NUMEROUS INJURIES COULD RESULT. THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS USED EXTENSIVLY WHERE ALCOHOL IS A FACTOR AND PEOPLE ARE RELAXED AN NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY. IF FEEL THAT A FORWARD SEATING ARRANGEMENT IS MUCH SAFER AND THIS TYPE OF SEATING SHOULD BE MADE MANDATORY ON ALL LIMO COACHES.
NHTSA complaint #10059030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Granite Falls, NC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10057577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,800 milesChatsworth, CA
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
FAILURE OF CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AND SLAVE CYLINDER. REPEATED PROBLEM. VEHICLE LOOSES ALL CLUTCH CONTROL, CAUSING UNCONTROLLED MOVEMENT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE ENGINE TO STALL. ALMOST CRASHED INTO INNOCENT VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10030791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gillette, WY
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES THAT GAS TANK IS FRACTURED CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK LARGE AMOUNTS ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE SHOWS NO WARNING. DEALER IS AWARE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA complaint #8020573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.