The 2002 Ford F Series has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 3,674 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STRUCTURE03V0940002003-03-073,674 affected
Defect
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…
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
POWER TRAIN
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1
Total complaints43
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I was driving my truck and it began vibrating; shortly thereafter it was running as if half the engine was working , with a loss of power. I pulled the fuel filter and there was trash all in the filter. I bought another filter and replaced it and ran the truck again and it was working fine.…”
“Driving on the freeway a spark plug came out of the engine causing the vehicle to shake and loose power. The dealer and a shop I took the vehicle to stated that this is a frequent problem with this engine. *tr”
“While backing into my truck started making a load noise, it was obvious it was in the front end. Trying to turn the steering wheel, it was stuck. Stopped the truck, looked under the front of truck at steering, I noticed that there was a hole in the frame, it was then that I saw the steering link,…”
“While backing into my truck started making a load noise, it was obvious it was in the front end. Trying to turn the steering wheel, it was stuck. Stopped the truck, looked under the front of truck at steering, I noticed that there was a hole in the frame, it was then that I saw the steering link,…”
“While backing into my truck started making a load noise, it was obvious it was in the front end. Trying to turn the steering wheel, it was stuck. Stopped the truck, looked under the front of truck at steering, I noticed that there was a hole in the frame, it was then that I saw the steering link,…”
“Failure of the abs module has led to a near miss accident that was avoided via steering around the obstruction instead of braking. The obdii module is throwing code c1185 as a part of the failure of the abs controller.. *tr”
“Failure of the abs module has led to a near miss accident that was avoided via steering around the obstruction instead of braking. The obdii module is throwing code c1185 as a part of the failure of the abs controller.. *tr”
“Gas petal sticks and when pushed on truck accelerates rapidly, this happens when starting out from a stop and during all driving. *js”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Ford F Series as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.