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#BS-2002-FORTAU-336B2002 Ford Taurus
Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 1,000 complaints, 61 crashes, 8 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 3.7x the class average.
Top reported problems
broken front spring
48 complaints • Severity 8.8/10
transmission failure
25 complaints • Severity 9/10
both rear coil springs broken
11 complaints • Severity 8.2/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
276 owners reported suspension:front:springs:coil springs issues — failures commonly reported around 68K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (277 reports) • Median: 68K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs (276 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2002 Ford Taurus: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs Issues
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs complaints account for 28% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Taurus, with 276 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 68,185 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 68K-mile mark.
Suspension:front Issues
Suspension:front complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Taurus, with 136 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:front-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Suspension:rear:springs:coil Springs Issues
Suspension:rear:springs:coil Springs complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Taurus, with 62 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:rear:springs:coil springs-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Suspension:rear Issues
Suspension:rear complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Taurus, with 57 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:rear-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Ford Taurus. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (4 recalls)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
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.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Ford Taurus is the 2003 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.
2002 Ford Taurus vs. Class Average (Large Cars)
This vehicle
1,000
Class avg
274
3.7x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical large cars vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Ford Taurus Model Years
2002 Ford Taurus: Frequently Asked Questions
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.