2002 Ford F-250 Electrical System Problems

ISSUE WITH DOME LIGHT, DOOR JAMB LIGHT ON, AUTO HEADLIGHTS - ALL NOT WORKING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE SWITCH FOR THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR SWITCH FAILED TO DEACTIVATE AND CAUSED A FUSE TO BLOW. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

THE VSM (VEHICLE SECURITY MODULE) FAILED. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK, KEY FOB DOES NOT WORK, AUTO HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK, RADIO DOESN'T TURN OFF WHEN KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND DOOR OPENS, NO AUDIBLE INDICATOR FOR KEY IN THE IGNITION, NO AUDIBLE INDICATOR FOR HEADLIGHTS ON WITH DOOR OPEN, DOME LIGHTS STAY ON. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD WITH THIS MODEL YEAR AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON FORUMS AROUND THE INTERNET. FORD HAS ALSO STOPPED MAKING THE ORIGINAL PART AND REPLACED ITS MANUFACTURE WITH A NEW PART WHICH SUPPOSEDLY DOES NOT EXHIBIT THE SAME RANDOM FAILURE RATE. HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING IS A MAJOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. I DROVE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS ON FOR SOME TIME (AS THE AUTO HEADLIGHTS DID NOT COME ON) AND DID NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL I WAS ON AN UNLIT STREET. ALL OF THE OLD VSMS SHOULD BE CHANGED TO THE NEW MODEL FREE OF CHARGE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AND FRONT TURNING SIGNALS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY AND WHEN BRAKING, ALL OF THE LIGHTS WOULD FAIL. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN APPLIED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WOULD FAIL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V352000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E025000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BU T WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN DRIVING OVER A POT HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED ALL OF THE FUSES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RESOLVED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151000.

WHILE DRIVING I BEGAN TO HEAR A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER STOPPING AND CHECKING THE ENGINE I NOTICE I HAD A BLOWN OUT SPARK PLUG AND BUSTED IGNITION COIL. I HAVE A 2002 FORD F 250 SD. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PUT IN A NEW PLUG BUT IT WILL NOT SCREW INTO THE HOLE. DAMAGE ESTIMATES ARE FROM $150.00 ON LABOR FEES AND $75-100 ON A TEMP. FIX HELICOIL OR HEAD REPLACEMENT FOR $2500.00. FORD MECH. SAID IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *JS

MY SPEED CONTROL STOPPED WORKING IN 2012. IT IS A FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. VIN [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AUTO HEADLAMPS AND TAIL LAMPS DON'T WORK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON. DOME LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN DOOR OPEN. FUEL GAGE STUCK ON FULL. IS IT THE VSM?

THE VEHICLE IS DEPENDENT UPON A VEHICLE SECURITY MODULE TO OPEN DOORS, SHOW IF DOORS ARE OPEN OR CLOSED, AUTOMATICALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK DOORS, TURN ON AND OFF LIGHTS, ETC. THE UNIT INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY ANOTHER UNIT BY FORD. FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS DEVICE. MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE DEVICES BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH LOCKS NOT WORKING (OPEN AND CLOSE), HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING OR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING, FALSE SAFETY INDICATIONS BEING DISPLAYED, ETC. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE TO REPLACE THIS MODULE TO STOP THESE SAME ISSUES IN MY VEHICLE. IT IS A THERMAL PROBLEM AND ONLY OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS WARMED DURING THE DAY IN THE HEAT. IT BEGINS TO WORK PROPERLY AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONER COOLS THE CAB DOWN OR AT NIGHT WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE COOLER. THE ORIGINAL PART # IS 2C7T-15K602-AJ, THE REPLACEMENT PART # IS 4C7Z-15604-AC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 10 MPH WITH A BOAT HITCHED TO THE REAR TRAILER. HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE DOWNHILL AND SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND ACTIVATED THE VEHICLE OVERDRIVE. WHEN THE OVERDRIVE WAS ACTIVATED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IMMEDIATELY WENT BLANK AND THE VEHICLE WENT IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A FUSE HAD BLOWN IN THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE ACCORDINGLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE TOWING A CAMPER DOWNHILL UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS AS THE FIRST FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,100.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F250. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. THE RPM DECREASED TO AN IDLE SPEED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WAS A WAITING PERIOD OF A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE POSITIVE CABLE WAS REMOVED AND THEN RECONNECTED TO THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE BATTERY CABLE WAS ADJUSTED. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THERE WAS NOT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,009. UPDATED 05/10/10 *BF UPDATED 05/10/10*JB

2002 F250 SD WOULD STOP ON ME. HAD CPS SENSOR REPLACED CORRECTED PROBLEM. NHTSA HAS A RECALL ON THIS PART.*A

MY 2002 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE BRAKE SWITCH RECALL PROBLEM. THE BRAKE SWITCH (UNDER THE HOOD) BURNED AND THE FUSE BLOCK (UNDER THE DASH) MELTED. THE CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE WHILE MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING. THE SWITCH, FUSE BLOCK, AND CABLE END WERE REPLACED DUE TO THIS INCIDENT. *TR

1ST CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. 3 WEEKS LATER A NEW PROBLEM BEGAN. TO START VEHICLE I HAD TO TURN KEY TO ACCESSORY, MOVE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL, THEN TURNED KEY THE REST OF THE WAY TO START. AFTER ARRIVING ANYWHERE COULD NOT LEAVE VEHICLE IN PARK AND COULD NOT MOVE GEAR SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE. I HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT WITH THE ABOVE PROCEDURE. WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE SHIFTING PROBLEM BEGAN I COULD NOT SHUT OVERDRIVE OFF. THEN, 2 DAYS LATER WHILE LEAVING HOME , THE SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND BELLOWING WHITE SMOKE EMINATED FROM STEERING COLUMN. THIS FIRE OCCURRED ON MAY 13, 2007. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALER FROM WHICH IT WAS PURCHASED, LAIRD-NOLLER FORD IN LAWRENCE, KS AT A COST OF $110.00. IT WAS CURRENTLY STILL IN THE REPAIR SHOP AT ABOVE DEALERSHIP, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE FUSE PANEL SHORT-CIRCUITED AND MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $670.00, BRINGING MY COST TO OVER $780.00. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CALLED ME ON MAY 17, 2007 AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL STILL DID NOT WORK AFTER FIXING THE FUSE PANEL. THEY TRACED DOWN THE PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND IT NEEDED A NEW MODULE AT A COST OF OVER $350.00 WHICH THEY BELIEVED IT TO BE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS. THEY DENIED THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM, AND REFUSED TO PAY ANY OF THE COST ON THIS PART AND THE ENSUING DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *AK

FAILURE OF CAM POSITION SENSOR ON 2002 F250 7.3 DIESEL SUPERDUTY. VEHICLE STARTED TO DIE FOR NO REASON AT RANDOM TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER, AND THEY POINTED TO CPS. REPLACED CPS AT A COST OF $200 AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FUEL RELATED TO BEGIN WITH UNTIL I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THE FAILURE ON THE INTERNET ,AND THEN SUSPECTED BY THE DEALER. NO CODES READ.*AK

OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS, THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM) HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF FAILURE. FIRST THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD RANDOMLY LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. FINALLY, THE DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER, THE DOME LIGHT WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON AND THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR STAYS ILLUMINATED. THE RENO FORD DEALER WOULD NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR. THE PICKUP TRUCK REMAINS UNREPAIRED. *NM

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE. *NM

ON NOVEMBER 30, 2006, I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 F250 DIESEL SUPER DUTY FORD TRUCK ON INTERSTATE 25 IN DENVER AT 6 AM AND IN THE MIDDLE LANE, EVERYTHING JUST SHUT DOWN. NO POWER BRAKES, STEERING, ETC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER BUT NOT ALL THE WAY OFF THE INTERSTATE DODGING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I CALLED AAA AND HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. IT WAS A BAD CAM SENSOR AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS FAILED IN LESS THAN 18 MONTHS. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I DID NOT GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CARS WERE BUZZING BY ONLY A FEW FEET FROM MY DOOR. FORD SAID THIS PART GOES OUT EVERY 25,000 MILES. WHAT A SAFETY HAZARD!! THIS KNOW IT FAILS FREQUENTLY AND THEY ARE NOT PROACTIVE IN INITIATING A RECALL TO IMPROVE THIS PART. I SENT THEM A MESSAGE AND THEY JUST GAVE ME THE STANDARDIZED REPLY. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE REPORTED TO SOMEONE THAT CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING HURT. I WENT TO AN AUTO SAFETY WEB SITE AND NOTICED THERE WERE MANY SIMILAR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS SAME PART. CAN YOU HELP? IT MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON JUNE 24, 2006 THE VEHICLE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, THEY RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ALTERNATOR. THE FIRST THREE TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BACK UP LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND A BURNING SMELL WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRES AND FUSE BOX. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING AND WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS AT A LATER TIME.