There are 50 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2002 Ford F-150in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Front seatbelts on 2002 Ford F-150 become unlatched unexpectedly while driving. This has been noticed over the last two or three years occasionally, but has been getting worse. Seat belt has become unlatched about 5-6 times during a 600 mile road trip. Seat belt was confirmed by two passengers that it was indeed latched correctly and nothing pushing the release button. Seatbelt was confirmed to be latched by firmly tugging on seat belt to witness that it was latched. Both passengers confirmed that the seatbelt become unlatched randomly while driving. Passenger and driver safety is at risk. If driver seatbelt comes unlatched while driving or during accident, the driver could loose control of truck and put other drivers at risk. The unlatching does not show any warning signs as to when it will become unlatched. Seatbelt just becomes unlatched and starts to recoil without warning. Ford service just says that the truck is out of warranty and that they dont cover seat belt replacements as there is no open recalls for such. Seatbelt is still currently installed on vehicle but can be available for inspection on vehicle or removed for inspection.
Systems failed. Recalls incomplete
The contact owned a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 50 MPH, she crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact's wife was taken to the hospital where she was treated for a concussion, multiple hematomas to her right thigh, right abdomen, and head; as well as three fractures on her vertebrae. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The contact was informed by his insurance that the vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Think Neighbor. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle and attempting to secure the front driver’s seat belt latch into the buckle, the seat belt latch failed to lock into place. The seat belt loosened and unlatched from the buckle while the contact was driving. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN A CAR THAT WAS TRAVELING IN AN EXCESS OF 80+ MILES AND REAR-ENDED MY 2002 FORD F 150. MY TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND MY DRIVERS SEAT BACK FRAME BROKE FROM RIGHT SIDE AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 3 DAYS. I HAD A CONCUSSION, NECK INJURY, KNEES AND RE-INJURED MY BACK. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURING INTO THE BUCKLE TO CLICK, LOCK, AND SECURE THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULLINAX FORD OF MOBILE (7311 AIRPORT BLVD, MOBILE, AL 36608, 1-(888) 241-4640) AND AUTONATION FORD MOBILE (901 EAST INTERSTATE 65 SERVICE RD S, MOBILE, AL 36606, (251) 202-2016). BOTH DEALERS INDICATED THAT A SEAT BELT KIT NEEDED TO BE PURCHASED AS A UNIT, WHICH INCLUDED ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD APPROVE JUST THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BEING REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY SEAT BELT RECALLS FOR THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY ISSUED TWO TSBS FOR THE SEAT BELTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000. *TT *JB
FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES RANDOMLY UNBUCKLE THEMSELVES. WHEN FASTENED, THE BUCKLES SEEMS SECURE. PULL SEVERE TIMES ON THEM AND THEY DO NOT UNBUCKLE. BUT, WHILE DRIVING, THEY UNBUCKLE THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
ON 2002 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RANDOMLY COMES UNBUCKLED.
WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION), THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RANDOMLY DISCONNECTS. THERE IS NO WARNING OR SPECIFIC CONDITION THAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN. OBVIOUSLY THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.
ON 2002 FORD F-150 DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS RANDOMLY COME UNBUCKLED AND ANY GIVEN TIME.
WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING AT A LIGHT, ETC, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL DISENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED RANDOMLY. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER (SIMI VALLEY FORD, 2440 1ST ST, SIMI VALLEY, CA 93065) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ATTACHED TO THE VIN AND, WITH THE VEHICLE BEING A DIFFERENT YEAR THAN WHAT WAS IN THE RECALL, THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET AT A COST OF $700. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THROUGH EMAIL. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) RANDOMLY DISENGAGE EITHER WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING MOTIONLESS. VERY UNSAFE!
PASSENGER SEATBELT RELEASES WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAYS EVERY PASSENGER THAT RIDES IN MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK AT ANY TIME
PURCHASED USED IN 2004. HAVING SIMILAR ISSUE WITH DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IN THAT WHILE TRUCK IS IN MOTION MY SEAT BELT WILL COME UNBUCKLED RANDOMLY. THIS LAST HAPPENED NOV 17TH 2016 AND ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 25 MINUTES OR SO AND DOES HAPPEN ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY.
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RANDOMLY DISENGAGES WHILE IN MOTION. REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKEN - BLACK "SLEEVE" SLIDES DOWN EXPOSING SPRING MECHANISM INSIDE WHICH IS MISSING SOME PLASTIC PIECES. FRONT PASSENGER HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A COUPE OF YEARS. BACKSEAT IS FAIRLY NEW.
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASES RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER BUCKLING / LATCHING SEATBELT DRIVER CAN PULL HARD ON BELT AND WON'T RELEASE, THEN AFTER DRIVING FOR A RANDOM AMOUNT OF TIME (30 SECONDS TO 3 HOURS) THE SEAT BELT WILL RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING. REPLACED LATCH WITH ALTERNATIVE (2001 YEAR AND DIFFERENT COLOR) 1L7Z 7861203 BAB. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF A SEATBELT'S ABILITY TO PERFORM IN AN ACCIDENT DEFECTIVE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.
DRIVER SEAT BELT LOCKED. UNABLE TO BUCKLE AT ALL. WHEN I PULL THE BELT WILL NOT RELEASE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND STARTED EMITTING SPARKS. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
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 25, 2026