Vehicle Data Hub

2002 Ford F-150 fuel system problems

Owners reported fuel system problems in 89 complaints for the 2002 Ford F-150, 9% of the complaints on file. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
89 9% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
128,000 miles 78 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 6
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When fuel system problems show up

Fuel system complaints by mileage, 2002 Ford F-150 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 128,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 1 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 2 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 1 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 6 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 13 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 13 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 16 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 13 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 6 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 2 complaints 200k+ miles: 5 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 128,000 miles
Based on 78 complaints that include mileage. 5% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles1
20k to 40k miles2
40k to 60k miles1
60k to 80k miles6
80k to 100k miles13
100k to 120k miles13
120k to 140k miles16
140k to 160k miles13
160k to 180k miles6
180k to 200k miles2
200k+ miles5

What the data shows

Of the 78 fuel system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 128,000 miles, and 5% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 6 fires, 3 injuries.

What owners wrote

Fuel tank dropped to the road while driving causing the truck to be engulfed in flames. Driver made it out with first and second degree burns. Two dogs in the back seat died in the fire. Initial investigation by the insurance investigator determined that it was the fuel tank straps that failed. There is an investigation (pe10036) by the NHTSA for fuel tank straps on ford f-150s 1999-2001. The 2002 and 2003 f-150 use the same straps. Larry hershman of NHTSA has contacted me about this incident.

Reported at 139,000 miles, May 2011 FireInjury

I had driven 4 to 5 miles at 40 to 45 MPH and was a 1 block from my destination. I had to stop for a stop sign and make a right turn. While making the turn I thought I hit something, but the street was clear? I turned the radio off and opened the window to here something dragging. I stopped at that time maybe 100 yards from where I last stopped. My speed was 20 to 25 MPH.

Reported at 100,893 miles, June 2011

Other problems reported for the 2002 Ford F-150

Fuel system problems in other years

Fuel system problems across all Ford models