2002 Ford Taurus Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Ford Taurus.

20012003
Complaints
1,757
Crashes
104
Fires
12
Injuries
72
Fatalities
Recalls
0

Worst 2002 Ford Taurus Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1402 complaints

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs

Avg mileage:81,535 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:1
#2297 complaints

Suspension:Front

Avg mileage:93,818 mi
Crash-related:1
#3155 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:105,745 mi
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Ford Taurus.

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
402
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
81,535
Suspension:Front
297
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
93,818
Suspension Failures
155
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
105,745
Suspension:Rear
109
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
81,908
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs
85
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
74,522
Unintended Acceleration
65
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
Avg Miles
105,900
Structural Problems
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,051
Tire Defects
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
79,580
Electrical Faults
32
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
83,051
Visibility:Windshield
31
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
68,052
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor
27
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
53,447
Air Bags:Frontal
23
complaints
Crashes
23
Fires
Avg Miles
46,927
Airbags
22
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
1
Avg Miles
78,693
Suspension:Rear:Springs
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,211
Visibility
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
87,464
Automatic Transmission
20
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
64,375
Engine & Cooling
18
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
68,941
Transmission / Drivetrain
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
116,672
Body Structure
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
92,988
Other Equipment
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
65,538
Hydraulic Brakes
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
85,829
Brakes
12
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
107,079
Steering Defects
12
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
105,264
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
96,779
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
53,779
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
22,420
Headlight/Taillight Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
125,638
Gasoline Fuel System
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,047
Engine Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
125,121

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Ford Taurus. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Ford Taurus Years

2002 Ford Taurus — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Ford Taurus reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2002 Ford Taurus has 1,757 NHTSA complaints, 104 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs with 402 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Ford Taurus?
Top reported problems: Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs (402 complaints, avg 81,535 mi); Suspension:Front (297 complaints, avg 93,818 mi); Suspension Failures (155 complaints, avg 105,745 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Ford Taurus?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 85,597 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Ford Taurus include 104 crash-related reports, 12 fire reports, 72 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Ford Taurus as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Ford Taurus?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (suspension:front:springs:coil springs) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Taurus reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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