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Is it worth the price?
We do not price cars.
These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.
Loading costly parts ahead
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
What about the price? Look up the same year, trim and miles on two car listing sites you shop on, and compare. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the dealer offer X ray.
Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.
The full record
Open any section
What owners complain about
Loading owner complaints
When problems show up
Loading mileage at failure
Recalls
Loading recalls
Crash ratings
NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight. The tests changed for 2011 models, so these stars do not line up with newer ones.
Loading crash ratings
Fuel economy
The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in. Figures for 2007 and older use the EPA's 2008 method, so they may be lower than the original sticker.
Loading fuel economy
Every year of the F-250
Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Pick a year to open it. The newest model years are not judged yet. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so we compare every year at the same age, not by these totals.
Loading every year of this model
Before you buy this one
Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.
Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points
Car Hunt Pass or Pro
Walk up to the seller ready
Questions to ask the seller of a 2002 Ford F-250, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.
A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email
Car Hunt Pass or Pro
Send the seller a fair offer
Type the asking price and your own offer for the 2002 Ford F-250, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.
The month of your loan when each part reaches its usual failure miles
Loading the problem parts
True cost to own
The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years
Car Hunt Pass or Pro
What it really costs to own
What the 2002 Ford F-250 costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.
Whether the title is branded in that state and, where the state offers it, whether a lender still has a claim on the car (a lien), so it cannot be sold free and clear.
It will not name the owner. Each state asks its own way, and some only by mail. Ask to see the seller’s title too.
A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:
Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.
It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.
Red flags in a history
Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.
Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.
Before you pay
Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.
Odometer check
No one part has enough complaints that give a mileage to show where it usually fails, so there is nothing yet to hold a car's miles against.
No costly part has enough owner reported mileages to show where it most often fails on this year.
156 complaints; the part named most is the engine
Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Nov 8, 2001 to Jun 2, 2025. 30% name a part that is usually costly to fix.
Owners reported 12 crashes, 9 fires, 12 injuries and 1 death in these complaints.
Engine34 · 22%Usually costly to fix
Wheels and tires24 · 15%
Brakes19 · 12%
What one owner wrote about the engine
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle started after several attempts. The contact stated the vehicle sat for a while before starting…
Filed Jun 2, 2025NHTSA complaint 116642761 of 18 owner quotes
Car Hunt Pass or Pro
14 more parts, and 17 more owner quotes
Every part owners name for the 2002 Ford F-250, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Transmission and drivetrain, Body and frame.
Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.
Lights
Jul 13, 2011 · Recall 11V352000
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 ranger trucks built from january 25, 2011, through april 25, 2011 at the twin cities assembly plant, and service parts distributed to dealers for certain 2004 through 2011 model year ranger trucks, 2002 through 2005 model year excursion vehicles, and 2002 through 2007 model year f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (slider) that may experience deformation. A multi-function switch with a deformed slider may malfunction causing the turn signal, tail lights, hazard warning signal flashers and/or brake lights not to activate.
What can happen
Non-functioning lights could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will replace the switches free of charge. The safety recall began on august 15, 2011. Owners may contact Ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Lights
May 11, 2009 · Recall 09E025000
Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 7 recalls on file. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the engine. It is the part owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look hard at the engine. It is usually costly to fix.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the engine.
Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on july 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
Lights
Apr 7, 2009 · Recall 09E012000
Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Equipment and accessories
Aug 28, 2007 · Recall 07E066000
Certain cequent 90 degree 7-way right angle adaptors sold by distributors in tow packages for aftermarket sales to tow 5th wheel rv travel trailers. Due to incorrect wiring of the harness, the trailer lights may not operate properly.
What can happen
If the trailer lights are not working properly, a vehicle crash can occur.
The fix
All of the defective tow packages are still at the distributor level and have not been sold to any consumers.
Cruise and speed control
Aug 1, 2006 · Recall 06V286000
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
What can happen
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)
Lights
Jun 12, 2006 · Recall 06E052000
Certain eagle eyes headlamps, p/nos. Fr208-b101r, fr208-b101l, fr208-b001r, and fr208-b001l, sold for use as replacement equipment for the passenger vehicles listed above. These headlamps fail to conform to the photometric requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Sabry lee will notify owners and offer full credit for any noncompliant headlamp. The recall is expected to begin on june 14, 2006. Owners may contact sabry lee account executive at 1-866-467-2279.
Show 1 more recallShow fewer recalls
Lights
May 24, 2006 · Recall 06E049000
Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
What can happen
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix
Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.
Owner complaints per model year for the Ford F-250, with 2002 highlighted
Model year
Owner complaints
Verdict
1995
204
Worthy
1996
191
Worthy
1997
311
Worthy
1998
58
Worthy
1999
594
Skip
2000
360
Skip
2001
231
Maybe
2002
156
Worthy
2003
116
Worthy
2004
154
Maybe
2005
144
Maybe
2006
221
Maybe
2007
60
Maybe
2008
339
Skip
2009
77
Worthy
2010
113
Worthy
2011
370
Skip
2012
323
Maybe
2013
116
Worthy
2014
169
Worthy
2015
296
Worthy
2016
287
Worthy
2017
1155
Skip
2018
397
Maybe
2019
1150
Skip
2020
255
Maybe
2021
159
Worthy
2022
3
Not judged
2023
44
Worthy
2024
41
Worthy
2025
17
Worthy
2026
9
Too new
Year verdict
Worthy
1.5× a typical F-250 year
92 complaints in its first 8 years, the span every year is compared over (156 in all so far). A typical F-250 year had 60 by then.
More owner complaints than a typical year, not enough to mark it down. Still get it inspected.
Confidence:Medium
The typical year comes from only 5 years.
How this verdict was counted
Year verdict: Typical year: 60 complaints, the middle count of 5 nearby years, leaving out 1999, 2000 and 2001, which were high themselves. Each counted over its first 8 years from January 2001; this one had 92.
