2002 Ford F-150 Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 196about this part
- Share
- 24%of 821 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 82,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 196 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2002 Ford F-150, 24% of the 821 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 82,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2002 Ford F-150 has in the past two months experienced three blown/ejected spark plugs causing the damage and necessary replacement of coils . This posed a possible safety hazard, and I am very unhappy at the time and cost I have incurred since the initial onset of this problem, that apparently Ford has been aware of all of this time.”
NHTSA complaint #10282448, filed 2009-08, 82,000 miles“Twice within one year, on two different occasion, my 2002 f150 Ford truck has ejected a spark plug. There was no indication that there was an issue leading up to the event occurring. Both times I had my truck towed to my local Ford dealership and repaired. The repair both times consisted of the instillation of a heli coil and the bill was around $700.00.”
NHTSA complaint #10245862, filed 2008-10, 79,000 miles“I was returning from work on 1/2/08 when my 2002 Ford F-150 (triton 5.4l) began to pop and run rough, I smelled gasoline in the cab of the truck and pulled right over, upon looking at the engine I noticed the #3 plug lying on top of the engine, it had blown out. This plug was factory installed and had never been removed from the engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10213511, filed 2008-01, 45,900 miles“I am one of the people who have had the original factory spark plug eject from the engine, which indicates there is a defect with the engine & cylinder head design. Where I work, four of us have the same year truck, three of us had the same spark plug eject problem! The fourth guy only has 40,000 miles on his truck, so were all waiting for it to happen to him! Just another of fords better ideas-I don't think so”
NHTSA complaint #10397889, filed 2011-04, 74,000 miles“My 2002 Ford F-150 with a 4.6 liter v8 blew out a spark plug while accelerating on a highway entrance ramp. The sparkplug that blew out was the 3rd from the front on the passenger side. The threads for the spark plug in that cylinder are now ruined as well as the coil for that plug. To repair this problem I will probably end up buying a $250 kit to re-tap the head.”
NHTSA complaint #10247484, filed 2008-11, 77,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10172885Feb 7, 2020This SKU is an Oil Dipstick. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect the dipstick tube. The dipstick tube inner diameter may be small enough…
- 10024865Apr 1, 20081999-2008 7.3l/6.0l/6.4l/4.5l diesel f-super duty - clean the charge air cooler (cac) system after certain turbo or engine failures - service tip.
- 10023943Oct 1, 2007Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6l 2v, 5.4l 2v, or 6.8l 2v engine--spark plug thread repair procedure--not covered under new vehicle limited warranty. *nj this includes…
- 10018745Nov 14, 2005Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running.
- 10018741Nov 14, 2005Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code p1131 and/or p1151 - 4.2l engine.
- 10014685Mar 21, 2005Use of stainless steel exhaust studs in service for 5.4l 2v engine.
- 10014666Mar 7, 2005Intermittent rough idle - non-commanded egr (exhaust gas recirculation valve) flow.
- 10011162Aug 23, 2004Engine misfire or running - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - wds cop kit diagnostic tips. To include various 2005 models. * ar this article 04161 supersedes tsb 03-14-04.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 4 | 2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0% |
| 2022 | 3 | 1% |
| 2021 | 19 | 2% |
| 2020 | 11 | 1% |
| 2019 | 62 | 5% |
| 2018 | 88 | 4% |
| 2017 | 70 | 5% |
| 2016 | 30 | 1% |
| 2015 | 25 | 1% |
| 2014 | 10 | 1% |
| 2013 | 20 | 1% |
| 2012 | 17 | 1% |
| 2011 | 33 | 2% |
| 2010 | 31 | 4% |
| 2009 | 10 | 3% |
| 2008 | 22 | 6% |
| 2007 | 41 | 8% |
| 2006 | 77 | 13% |
| 2005 | 111 | 10% |
| 2004 | 167 | 8% |
| 2003 | 69 | 16% |
| 2002 | 196 | 24% |
| 2001 | 234 | 19% |
| 2000 | 135 | 13% |
| 1999 | 219 | 21% |
| 1998 | 174 | 13% |
| 1997 | 529 | 19% |
| 1996 | 23 | 7% |
| 1995 | 71 | 11% |
| 1994 | 52 | 8% |
| 1993 | 52 | 9% |
| 1992 | 37 | 8% |
| 1991 | 17 | 6% |
| 1990 | 21 | 8% |
| 1989 | 13 | 6% |
| 1988 | 11 | 8% |
| 1987 | 9 | 10% |
| 1986 | 9 | 15% |
| 1985 | 4 | 14% |
| 1984 | 2 | 13% |
| 1983 | 3 | 30% |
Other parts of the 2002 Ford F-150
106 complaintsFuel system
86 complaintsVehicle speed control
86 complaintsEngine
66 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
53 complaintsSeat belts
50 complaintsBody and structure
45 complaintsBrakes
42 complaintsAir bags
35 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
30 complaintsOther or unknown
29 complaintsSteering
25 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology