2002 Ford Taurus
The Verdict
The 2002 Ford Taurus has 1,470 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (1,186 complaints) and electrical (104 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Taurus, consider the 2019 model year which has 99% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2019 has 99% fewer complaints
View the 2019 Ford Taurus dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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 NOI...
Risk
POTENTIAL LOSS OF WINDSHIELD RETENTION MAY ALSO REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy
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 FR...
Reported Oct 3, 2003
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 663 | 95 | 195 | 166 | 91 |
| 2001 | 702 | 89 | 113 | 88 | 52 |
| 2002 | 1186 | 46 | 104 | 88 | 46 |
| 2003 | 636 | 36 | 141 | 111 | 299 |
| 2004 | 187 | 19 | 47 | 55 | 67 |
| 2005 | 462 | 26 | 43 | 138 | 103 |
| 2006 | 173 | 23 | 37 | 59 | 26 |
| 2007 | 63 | 6 | 30 | 37 | 13 |
| 2008 | 71 | 8 | 23 | 37 | 35 |
| 2009 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 5 |
| 2010 | 71 | 30 | 19 | 52 | 28 |
| 2011 | 60 | 11 | 50 | 50 | 16 |
| 2012 | 35 | 4 | 24 | 14 | 1 |
| 2013 | 333 | 5 | 52 | 166 | 29 |
| 2014 | 94 | 9 | 34 | 86 | 10 |
| 2015 | 123 | 2 | 24 | 94 | 12 |
| 2016 | 43 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 1 |
| 2017 | 21 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 1 |
| 2018 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
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 allowing the vehicle to continue in a reversed direction . Can strike a person or object resulting in injury or damage. Subject car is a station wagon and appears to have lower seating \configuration than a sedan .
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, (248) 332-9300) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF
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 INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
TAKATA RECALL: I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A MAN LESS THAN 5 MONTHS AGO AND I SLOWLY STARTED TO NOTICE SOME THINGS. I STARTED OUT WITH 3 WINDOWS WORKING INSTEAD OF FOUR WHICH I WAS NOT TOLD. MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T EVEN WORK AND IT STOPPED ABOUT A MOTH AGO. A WEEK BEFORE THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, MY BROTHER WAS ACTUALLLY THE ONE DRIVING WHEN THAT HAPPENED. ALSO, I FOUND OUT THAT I HAD THE WRONG BATTERY IN THE CAR SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER DAMAGE THAT HAS DONE. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION.
ON 14 OCT 2017, THE SUBJECT VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED. ON THE DRIVE HOME, THE THROTTLE CABLE BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT STOP ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED THE CAR BY CRASHING INTO A DUMPSTER/FENCE AT A SERVICE STATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE DOORS WERE NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *DT *TR
FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING BROKE CAUSING A BLOWOUT ON THE TIRE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET
DRIVING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25 MPH ,MY CAR SUDDENLY REVVED UP AND SPED UP WITHOUT MY PRESSING THE GAS. I NEARLY REAR-ENDED A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PRESSED ON MY BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT HELP MUCH .I DOWNSHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR BUT STILL NOT MUCH HELP. FINALLY IT RETURNED TO NORMAL SPEED. I WAS TOO SCARED AND DID NOT SEE HOW HIGH THE RPMS WENT.
MY 2002 FORD TAURUS SUDDENLY WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. MY BACK DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WON'T WORK. I LOOK IT UP AND SAW A RECALL BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON MY CAR. PLEASE HELP
THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED 2 FAILURES OF THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SPRING RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF THE TIRE. FIRST AT 75,000 MILES SECOND AT 100000 MI. BOTH TIRES FLATTENED AT BETWEEN 30 & 50 MPH
COIL SPRING IN DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT FAILED SUDDENLY WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IN SISTER BAY, WI. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG WHEN SPRING FRACTURED AND SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. FAILURE OF COIL SPRING OCCURRED AT ABOUT 10:15 AM ON THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017. AFTER VEHICLE WAS SAFELY PARKED IN A BANK PARKING LOT THE OWNER THEN JACKED UP FRONT END AND REMOVED WHEEL/TIRE. OWNER NOTICED HOW ENERGY RELEASED WHEN COIL SPRING FRACTURED DROVE SPRING VIOLENTLY DOWNWARD TO FRONT WHEEL KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY. FORTUNATELY WHEN SPRING WAS DRIVEN DOWNWARD IT DID NOT PUNCTURE TIRE. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE WAS LOADED ON A TRANSPORTER AND TAKEN TO JIM OLSON EXPRESS IN STURGEON BAY, WI, FOR REPAIR. SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT STRUTS AND ALIGNMENT CHECK/ADJUSTMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR INCLUDING CHARGE OF USD 165 BY TRANSPORTER COMPANY WAS USD 1,010. AT TIME OF COIL SPRING FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD 134,128 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. VISUAL INSPECTION BY OWNER OF BROKEN PIECE OF COIL SPRING DID NOT REVEAL ANY SURFACE CORROSION. OWNER SPECULATES COIL SPRING FRACTURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO 15 YEARS OF STRESS LOADS ON THE SPRING OR PERHAPS THERE WAS A DEFECT IN METAL OF COIL SPRING.
ENTERING MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN GAS PEDAL "BROKE". CAR ACCELERATED TO HIGHEST RPM AND I HAD TO COUNTERACT THIS BY PUTTING BOTH FEET ON MY BRAKES TO KEEP MY CAR FROM FLYING OFF AND HITTING SOMETHING. EXTREMELY SCARY. CAR CANNOT BE TURNED ON WITHOUT THE ENGINE REVVING TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SPEED. HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE I MAY BE DEAD. GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. HAVE NOT YET HAD IT INSPECTED BY A SHOP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE FRONT COIL SPRING DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING, PUNCTURING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT AND HER CHILDREN WERE RESCUED BY A FAMILY MEMBER WHO TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,365.
COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM. HAVE REPLACED WATER PUMP 4 TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. PLEASE ISSUE RECALL. SPECIFIC PROBLEM...CAR SHUTS DOWN.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD TAURUS, IT STARTED TO STALL AND AND NOT PICK UP SPEED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. IT STARTED SHAKING AND CUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP TWICE THEN IT STOPPED IN FRONT OF MY JOB. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THEY STATED THE COMPUTER WENT OUT IN THE CAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THAT. CAN FORD GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS. NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS RUPTURED AND DAMAGED THE TIRE SEVERELY. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 04/05/17*LJ *CN
THE BOSCH CO. HAS NOT GOT BACK TO ME ABOUT ITS BRAKE PAD RECALL (RECALL NOTICE 16E026) ON PADS PGD598. I CALLED STARTING IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR AND THEN TWO OR THREE MORE TIMES AND STILL NO RESPONSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE SUSPENSION COIL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND DAMAGED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
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