There are 12 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2002 Ford Expeditionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS ABLE TO BE EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE FRAYING AND COMING APART, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO CORROSION. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPEDITION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,328. UPDATED 9/13/11 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 10/28/11
SPARK PLUG FLEW OUT OF ENGINE...WAS REPLACED BEFORE WITH A HELICOIL KIT BUT SAME ISSUE OCCURRED TODAY. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I HEARD IT SHOOT FROM THE ENGINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A NEIGHBOR NOTIFIED THE CONTACXT THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED. THE HOOD BURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE PAINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELDWAS MISSING, AND THE INTERIOR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE DRIVEWAY WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AND A TREE BURNED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. FORD STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. HOWEVER, HE GAVE THEM HIS VIN AND NEVER RECEIVED A CALL TO CONFIRM IF THIS VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 06E056000). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 75,000. *AK
FUEL DELIVERY FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE HEADING DOWN HILL. FUEL GAUGE REGISTERS CLOSE TO HALF FULL. ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 3 - 5 MINUTES. ABLE TO RESTART ON LEVEL GROUND. THIS IS NOT SAFE. CAR DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. *NM
OVER A COURSE OF ONE YEAR OF PURCHASING VEHICLE, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES FOR AN ENGINE/TRANSMISSION ISSUE, UNSURE AS FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY DENIED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. AS OF TODAY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED ALTHOUGH DRIVABLE, FOR HOW LONG UNTIL IT GIVES OUT?*JB
MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION WILL SHUT OFF AT INCLINES OF MORE THAN 15 DEGREES EVEN WITH MORE THAN 10 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THIS PROBLEM IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH ALL 2001 AND 2002 EXPEDITIONS AS ADMITTED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY REFER TO THIS DEFECT AS A MERE "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT AN INCLINE WHEN THE FRONT IS LOWER THAT THE REAR. THIS MEANS THAT I CAN FEASIBLY RUN OUT OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL OR MOUNTAIN, LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR. THIS IS A VALID SAFTEY CONCERN AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY IN HILLY OR MOUNTAINOUS AREAS. AT THE VERY LEAST I COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL AND BE STRANDED IN AN AREA THAT IS UNSAFE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE VEHICLE AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS AND OFFER SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF WEAK EXCUSES TO WHY THEY FEEL THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS NOT AT RISK HERE. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START - SAFETY PROBLEM. VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT ROD BAKER FORD DEALERSHIP AS HAVING A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $766.00. *AK *TC *JB
GAS GAUGE REGISTERED A HALF OF TANK GAS. SUDDENLY WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HILL VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. *AK THE VEHICLE CONSUMED 1/4 TANK OF GAS TO TRAVEL 8 MILES. WHEN THE CONSUMER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AGAIN, IT READ FULL. AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING DOWN HILL, IT STARTED UP AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. CONSUMER CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT SHE IS UNABLE TO DRIVE OR PARK ON A INCLINE (NOSE-DOWN) WITH LESS THAN A 1/2 TANK OF GAS. *PH *JB
ON THE 2002 FORD EXPEDITION I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PICK UP IN THE GAS TANK IF THE VEHICLE IT IS MOUNTED IN THE CENTER OF THE TANK AND IF THE VEHICLE IS BELOW OR AT A 1/4 OF A TANK AND PARKED ON A GRADE AT ALL THE FUEL WILL NOT PICK UP AND RUN OUT OF FUEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL THIS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF YOU WORK DOWN TOWN AND PARK ON A GRADE THEN YOU HAVE 2 CHOICES COAST TO A LEVEL AREA WITH NO BRAKES OR CALL FOR HELP. LUCKILY MY WIFE'S EXPEDITION HAS ONLY DONE IT HERE AT THE HOUSE WHERE SHE PARKS ON A HILL BUT MOST OF THE TIME I TRY TO KEEP IT ABOVE A 1/2 OF A TANK TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD CHECK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. *NLM
ON EVERY FILLUP OF GASOLINE I HAVE GASOLINE VAPORS INSIDE THE CAR WHICH NECESSITATES MY OPENING WINDOWS TO RID THE INTERIOR OF THE STRONG FUMES. THERE IS NO SPILLED LIQUID AND MY SHOES ARE CLEAN AND ALL WINDOWS ARE CLOSED AND THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING AND THE HAVOC IS OFF. I AM IN FEAR OF FIRE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR MORE THAN 4 YEARS AND HAS BEEN REPORTED OVER 10 TIMES TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.*CN
I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2002 FORD EXPEDITION FROM A LOCAL DEALER AND HAVE JUST RETURNED IT FOR SERVICE. MY PROBLEM IS TWO-FOLD: FIRST, THE GAS GAUGE REGISTERS ON FULL FOR THE FIRST 200 OR SO MILES AND THEN WORKS ITS WAY RELATIVELY QUICKLY TO THE HALF FULL MARK, WHERE IT THERE IS ONLY 3 OR 4 GALLONS OF GAS LEFT IN THE TANK (FORD CLAIMS IT HOLDS 26 GALLONS). SECONDLY, TRYING TO FILL THE TANK WITH GAS, AS YOU WOULD ANY OTHER VEHICLE, IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND TIME CONSUMING. TWO OR MORE VEHICLES WILL FUEL UP AND LEAVE BEFORE I CAN COMPLETE THE TASK. WHEN HAVING AN ESTIMATED 4 GALLONS LEFT IN THE TANK, UPON REFUELING, THE PUMP WILL STOP BETWEEN 11 AND 12 GALLONS, AND ACCEPT ANOTHER 10 TO 12 MORE GALLONS AT 4 TO 6 TENTHS AT A TIME,. BUT GET THIS, THE TANK WILL SHOW FULL WITH ONLY 12 GALLONS IN IT!! THE SELLING/SERVICING DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I SAY THAT'S WRONG, AND IT'S UNSAFE. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO RUN OUT, OR KNOW HOW FAR YOU CAN REALLY GO ON A TANK. (NO IDEA IF THE TANK WAS REALLY FULL) HOW ABOUT THE EXTRA EXPOSURE TO THE GASOLINE FUMES THE EPA IS TRYING TO LIMIT US TO AND KEEP OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENT. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT FUEL GAGES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AS WELL AS FUEL TANKS. NOT KNOWING WHEN OR WHERE A VEHICLE (NEW VEHICLE) IS GOING TO RUN OUT OF FUEL IS DANGEROUS FOR NOT ONLY THE DRIVER BUT ALSO OTHER DRIVERS. THE FUEL TANK FILLING PROBLEM IS INEXCUSABLE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED BY FORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. DT
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026