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2002 Ford Taurus recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 3 US recalls for the 2002 Ford Taurus, and 2 in Canada. Owners filed 1,426 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension.

3US recalls
0urgent recalls
1,426owner complaints
–overall crash rating

Is your car affected?

Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (3)

Exterior lighting: brake lights, switch

2004-03-02 · campaign 04V106000 · 938,789 vehicles

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 and remedy

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.

Remedy: 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

2003-03-10 · campaign 03V087000 · 67,894 vehicles

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 and remedy

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 FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD/MERCURY AT 1-800-392-3673.

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages

2002-10-02 · campaign 02V266000 · 369,614 vehicles

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 and remedy

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CUSTOMER EXPERIENCING AN "UNINTENDED VEHICLE SPEED INCREASE" OR A PERCEIVED "UNABLE TO STOP" CONDITION.

Remedy: 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.

Canadian recalls (2)

Show 2 Canadian recalls

Lights and instruments

2004-03-12 · campaign 2004-092

On certain vehicles, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch and/or associated wiring may render the stop lamps inoperable or cause them to stay on all the time. If the switch and/or wiring fail in the open position, the brake lights will not activate 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. Correction: Dealer will install a newly designed stop lamp switch and wire assembly.

Other

2002-10-11 · campaign 2002-187

On certain vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals, the manufacturing process of the subject Taurus adjustable pedal assembly resulted in variability in lateral pedal spacing ranging from 41mm to 85mm. Discussions with drivers of vehicles with adjustable pedals disclosed that some were unfamiliar with the feature. Decreased brake to accelerator pedal spacing may increase the risk of simultaneous application of the brake and accelerator pedals which may cause a collision, injuries or death. Correction: 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 pedal measured. If the spacing is found to be less than 50mm, the dealer will adjust the pedals to increase the distance between them to greater than 50mm.

Owner complaints (1,426)

Owners filed 1,426 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Taurus (75 crashes, 11 fires, 44 injuries reported). Among 39 model years of this model, it ranks #2 for the most complaints (median 318).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Suspension962
Visibility98
Vehicle speed control76
Structure54
Engine and engine cooling53
Air bags47
Electrical system42
Power train39

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Ford Taurus.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2002 Ford Taurus 4-DR.––––
2002 Ford Taurus 4-DR. w/SAB––––
2002 Ford Taurus 4-DR. Wagon––––

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2002 Ford Taurus version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
Taurus 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd182521$3,200
Taurus 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd182520$3,350
Taurus 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd182521$3,200
Taurus Wagon 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd172420$3,350
Taurus Wagon 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd172419$3,550
Taurus Wagon 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd172419$3,550
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.