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CarComplaints.com Notes: Most people need a car where the coil springs don't puncture or shred tires while driving. The Taurus fails in that respect.

The 1999-2003 Ford Taurus has a huge problem with coil springs breaking, which can puncture or even shred tires while driving.

The US government spent THREE YEARS (2008-2011) investigating the 2002-2003 Taurus coil springs. Although Taurus/Sable from earlier years were recalled, ultimately the NHTSA did not force a recall. They determined that because there had been no deaths & very few bad crashes & injuries, the broken coil springs defect was no big deal & not a safety defect. Tell that to all the owners who had close calls...

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,779 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Ford Taurus engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Ford Taurus Owner Comments

problem #10

Jun 012008

Taurus

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

During starting of car, ran very rough and engine light came on. It was discovered there was no compression in cylinder #1due to a broken valve spring in the engine. Oil was always changed about every 3000 mi. With no previous engine problems.

- Allison Park , PA, USA

problem #9

Dec 022008

Taurus

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. While driving less than 65 mph, it felt as if the engine were shaking. The highway felt rough to drive on and the coil spring snapped. The contact stated that every bump and groove in the road felt as if the engine were moving around. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were less than 110,000.

- North Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #8

Feb 042008

Taurus

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. Whenever the contact starts the vehicle, the RPM's increase to 1,100. Also, when the gear is placed into drive, the engine idles at high RPM's. the contact did not notice any differences in the vehicle prior to the failure. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current mileage was 105,304 and failure mileage was 96,000.

- Irmo, SC, USA

problem #7

Nov 272007

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,123 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine starts to misfire and loses power during strong acceleration to pass a slower vehicle on the freeway, occurs after engine is warm, around twenty miles of driving. This occurs every time I drive the vehicle and it is unsafe to operate. The dealer has looked at it three times and he states that they can't find anything wrong, even after I take a mechanic for a ride and prove it to them. Dealer replaced wiring, plugs, ignition and it still does it and now the dealer doesn't want to work on the car any longer.

- March Arb, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 022008

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 3 mph, the driver side front tire blew out followed by a loud bang. The contact attempted to change the tire, but it would not come off. After careful inspection, he noticed that the front coil springs failed. The dealer stated that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 04V332000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs). The contact had the vehicle repaired at his expense. He filed a formal complaint with the manufacturer. The current and failure mileages were 98,000. Updated 02-14-08. There was an oil leak near the oil pan.

- Pinckney, MI, USA

problem #5

Jan 012006

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. Each time the contact's foot was removed from the accelerator pedal the vehicle would stall. There were no warning indicators at the time of failure, and the weather and road conditions were not a factor. In order to repair the failure several valves had to be changed. The contact attempted to speak to the dealer, but was unsuccessful. The contact possesses copies of the repair invoices. The failure mileage was 31,000.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #4

Jul 312005

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving and the car just went dead in the middle of the road. Tried starting and smelled fuel. Car towed. Fuel line had come loose and fell off. Then a week later, car stalled on freeway - I was able to coast off. Car started again after 1 1/2 hours. Taken to Ford service dept. I had to slip into neutral and give gas when slowing down or breaking in tandem with using breaks. Dealership said there were no problems. Same week, car stalls on freeway again. I am stopped in rush hour traffic trying to start car. It starts - I make it to work, car stalls in parking lot. Take it again to dealership - they say no problem. 2 weeks later, car stalls on freeway. I had to drive with no air conditioning in order to keep the car from stalling. Again to dealership (3rd time in 3 weeks) and again they say there is no problem. They also tell me air conditioning pulls a lot of gas - " what - you shouldn't be able to drive your car with air conditioning on in the 100 plus degree weather in AZ" I have been lucky up to now, but am afraid of having an accident on the freeway if it stalls again. I would like to hear back from someone at Ford Motor Company - I have already paid two different dealerships diagnostic fees and both say there is no problem. I think there is.

- Anthem, AZ, USA

problem #3

Oct 302003

(reported on)

Taurus

  • 2,500 miles
At highway speeds vehicle shuts off without warning, consumer believes this is a very dangerous situation. It may cause an accident.

- Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA

problem #2

Apr 092003

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,064 miles
While driving on a major highway my car stalled. The car began to decrease in speed and shake profoundly. There were no warning lights on to indicate the problem with the car. More pressure was applied to the gas pedal and still no increase in speed. After several attempts to accelerate the car increased to 40 mph and then continued to decrease in speed. I pulled off to the side of the highway were my car was struck by another vehicle. After the incident the car did start and accelerated as if nothing ever happened.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #1

Sep 082002

Taurus

  • 100 miles
The vehicle continued to lose power, the sensor, alternator and ignition was replaced, however the problem recurred.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

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