Problems · by component

2002 Ford Expedition electrical system problems

47 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Expedition cite electrical system, 12% of all 383 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
47
12% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
22
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STUTTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLUG AND IGNITION COIL WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED EIGHT MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2016Electrical system, EngineODI 10865245
“ON THE EVENING OF JULY 7TH, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 P.M. WE HEARD A COMMOTION OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX AND DISCOVERED MY '02 EXPEDITION FULLY ON FIRE AND BEING DOUSED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT HAD JUST COME BACK FROM REPAIRS THAT AFTERNOON - TO THE PIGTAIL SWITCH AND RE-WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS AND RADIO. NOT ONLY WAS MY CAR DESTROYED, BUT THE CARS ON EITHER SIDE WERE DAMAGED, AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX. WE RETAINED AN ATTORNEY AND OUR INITIAL REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE CAUSE AS "FAULTY WIRING." THE PRIVATE FIRE INVESTIGATOR WE RETAINED HAS ADVISED OUR ATTORNEY THAT THE FIRE IS DUE TO THE FLAWED CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER FIRES IN FORD VEHICLES. WE INTEND TO PURSUE THIS MATTER LEGALLY AND WOULD SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE OR ADVISE YOUR OFFICE CAN PROVIDE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2015Electrical system, Structure, EngineFire reportedODI 10743691
“CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS IN THE MORNING BUT IT DID NOT SHIFT ANY GEAR, CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS CHECKING THE VEHICLE THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE ENGINE AND THE WHOLE FRONT OF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2015Power train, Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 10691689
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE FOUR POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE 5 AMP FUSES ON FORTY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2015Electrical systemODI 10690006
“5 AMP FUSE POPPED. REPLACED WITH ANOTHER 5 AMP FUSE. SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID ATTACHED TO BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE WAS CONTAINED AND CONTROLLED. MINIMAL DAMAGES. UNSURE OF VEHICLE DRIVABILITY. COULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING TRANSIT. CONDITION UNSAFE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2015Electrical system, Service brakesFire reportedODI 10680434
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE REPAIRS SPECIFIC NECESSARY BUT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE FUSE BOX. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,793.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 2, 2013Power train, Electrical systemODI 10554325

Showing 6 of 47 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.