2002 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Taurus years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 25 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1,426 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Taurus. That is the most of any Taurus model year in the database (25 years). The most reported problem area is suspension (962 complaints, 67%), typically at around 85,000 miles. Complaints mention 75 crashes, 11 fires, 44 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
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- 1,426owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 75complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Ford Taurus problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension problems | 962 | 67% | 85,000 | “coil spring” (57%) | $1,100 |
| Visibility problems | 98 | 7% | 59,687 | “blower motor” (47%) | $740 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 76 | 5% | 103,000 | “control cable” (22%) | — |
| Structure problems | 54 | 4% | 62,000 | “blower motor” (28%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 53 | 4% | 57,600 | “blower motor” (13%) | — |
| Air Bags | 47 | 3% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 42 | 3% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 39 | 3% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 38 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 2% | 61,386 | — | — |
| Equipment | 26 | 2% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 24 | 2% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 18 | 1% | 56,786 | — | — |
| Steering | 18 | 1% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 16 | 1% | 101,831 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 13 | 1% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 12 | 1% | 115,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 11 | 1% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 9 | 1% | 126,650 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 1% | 137,120 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 3 | 0% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 0% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 0% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 0% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | 24,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 0% | 35,340 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 104,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Ford Taurus recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles are being recalled to correct a problem with a malfunctioning stop lamp switch and/or associated wiring. This malfunctioning could render the stop lamps inoperable or cause them to stay on all the time. This could cause confusion to a following driver, which could lead to a crash.
Risk: In addition, if the switch and/or associated wiring fail in the open position, the brake lights will not actuate and the driver will not be able to shift the vehicle out of "park" if they fail in the closed position, the brake lights will remain on, which will not allow the speed control to be activated. This could also cause the battery to discharge.
Fix: Dealers will remove the stop lamp switch and associated wiring assembly and install a newly designed stop lamp switch and wire assembly. Owner notification is expected to begin on april 5, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Visibility:windshield
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting." the windshields may potentially exhibit increased wind noise, water leakage, and squeaks and rattles.
Risk: Potential loss of windshield retention may also reduce occupant protection in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace these windshields. Owner notification began on march 31, 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 ford/mercury at 1-800-392-3673.
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable padels are being recalled in order to adjust the brake and accelerator pedals to a minimum of 50 mm of lateral separation. Simultaneous application of both the brake and accelerator pedals could result in an increase in engine rpm.
Risk: This could result in a customer experiencing an "unintended vehicle speed increase" or a perceived "unable to stop" condition.
Fix: Owners will be instructed as to the proper way to set the position of the pedals and to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the spacing between the brake and accelerator pedals measured. If the spacing is found to be less than 50 mm, the dealer will adjust the pedals to increase the distance between them to greater than 50 mm. Owner notification began october 28, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Speed control cable damage (PE12033) — opened Oct 24, 2012, closed Jun 26, 2013.
- Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture (EA08018) — opened Aug 28, 2008, closed Jun 30, 2011.
- Brake/accelerator pedal application (RP03001) — opened Oct 31, 2003, closed Mar 23, 2004.
- Brake light switch failure (RQ03008) — opened Oct 23, 2003, closed Mar 5, 2004, led to recall 04V106000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Cylinder two misfire. Replaced coil pack, wires and all spark plugs. Problem reoccurring.
Backing out of parking space resulting to damage to both vehicles . Brake\gas pedals. Position of driver ( body turned) relative to pedals while backing car can allow drivers foot to be in contact with both pedals. Increased pressure on the brake can allow increased pressure on the gas pedal…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUBURN AUTOMOTIVE (500 S. OPDYKE RD, WATERFORD, MI 48328, [redacted]) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the front and rear driver's side coil springs fractured. The contact drove to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were contact nor…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle's windshield was loosening on the upper passenger side. The contact noticed that the windshield was coming out of the molding. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Other Ford Taurus years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Taurus | 17 | 2 |
| 2018 Taurus | 50 | 4 |
| 2017 Taurus | 44 | 4 |
| 2016 Taurus | 83 | 4 |
| 2015 Taurus | 278 | 6 |
| 2014 Taurus | 229 | 5 |
| 2013 Taurus | 585 | 9 |
| 2012 Taurus | 79 | 5 |
| 2011 Taurus | 187 | 4 |
| 2010 Taurus | 204 | 3 |
| 2009 Taurus | 64 | 0 |
| 2008 Taurus | 175 | 1 |
| 2007 Taurus | 149 | 0 |
| 2006 Taurus | 318 | 2 |
| 2005 Taurus | 774 | 0 |
| 2004 Taurus | 375 | 1 |
| 2003 Taurus | 1,223 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1,426 | 3 |
| 2001 Taurus | 1,037 | 9 |
| 2000 Taurus | 1,195 | 8 |
| 1999 Taurus | 874 | 5 |
| 1998 Taurus | 545 | 2 |
| 1997 Taurus | 770 | 3 |
| 1996 Taurus | 825 | 6 |
| 1995 Taurus | 1,205 | 5 |
See all Ford Taurus problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Taurus?
Owners most often report suspension, visibility, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 962 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Ford Taurus?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Ford Taurus a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Taurus model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.