RecallMyCar

2002 Ford Taurus Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2002 Ford Taurus, and owners have filed 1,426 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
1,426
owner complaints to NHTSA
75 / 11
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–21
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2002 Ford Taurus

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 04V106000 Reported 938,789 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

    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…

  2. Windshield (visibility)

    NHTSA 03V087000 Reported 67,894 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

    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…

  3. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 02V266000 Reported 369,614 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

    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…

1,426 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 Ford Taurus have filed 1,426 complaints with NHTSA; 75 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 44 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 84,507 miles. Complaints peaked in 2008 with 245 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Cylinder two misfire. Replaced coil pack, wires and all spark plugs. Problem reoccurring.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 10, 2026 · Fuel/propulsion system

“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 wit”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 10, 2025 · Service brakes

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2002 Ford Taurus (Taurus Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–21 mpg
City / Highway17–18 / 24–25
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classLarge Cars, Midsize Station Wagons
Engine6 cyl, 3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Ford Taurus model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Taurus model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 Ford Taurus02
1981 Ford Taurus02
1983 Ford Taurus01
1984 Ford Taurus04
1985 Ford Taurus02
1986 Ford Taurus8101
1987 Ford Taurus8255
1988 Ford Taurus5333
1989 Ford Taurus5562
1990 Ford Taurus6381
1991 Ford Taurus4649
1992 Ford Taurus5681
1993 Ford Taurus61,557
1994 Ford Taurus4923
1995 Ford Taurus51,205
1996 Ford Taurus6825
1997 Ford Taurus3770
1998 Ford Taurus2545
1999 Ford Taurus5874
2000 Ford Taurus81,195
2001 Ford Taurus91,037
2002 Ford Taurus31,426
2003 Ford Taurus31,223
2004 Ford Taurus1375
2005 Ford Taurus0774
2006 Ford Taurus2318
2007 Ford Taurus0149
2008 Ford Taurus1175
2009 Ford Taurus064
2010 Ford Taurus3204
2011 Ford Taurus4187
2012 Ford Taurus579
2013 Ford Taurus9584
2014 Ford Taurus5229
2015 Ford Taurus6277
2016 Ford Taurus481
2017 Ford Taurus444
2018 Ford Taurus450
2019 Ford Taurus216

Checking a specific 2002 Ford Taurus

How do I know if my 2002 Ford Taurus has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2002 Ford Taurus; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V266000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.