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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 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
111,678 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2002 Ford Taurus Owner Comments

problem #9

Jan 012019

Taurus

  • miles

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

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.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #8

Jan 032018

Taurus

  • 146,000 miles
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

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #7

Oct 082015

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 182,606 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. Whether the vehicle was on or off, the brake lamps illuminated continuously. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V755000 (exterior lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 182,606 updated 02/05/16

- Wichata, KS, USA

problem #6

May 012015

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles

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

Traveling on darkened road with automatic headlamps engaged at night. Headlights suddenly cut off, and had to change selector switch to manual head lights. This has happened several times.. I had the light sensor replaced but no change. After doing some research, the cause is most likely the automatic headlamp relay, which is not replaceable, as it is buried behind the fuse box, and excessive cost (>$300) to replace. I feel Ford should issue a recall, because it appears this is a common problem with Ford vehicles. Apparently the relay used to energize the headlights in "automatic " mode is not able to handle the current, and I suspect, burns out and becomes unable to maintain the electrical circuit. The automatic headlight feature, (when it works) is a great safety advancement, as many drivers fail to turn on headlights at dusk, therefore the automatic on feature greatly improves visibility of oncoming vehicles at dusk and early evening. Since it is not predicable when the lights will fail, many people will continue to use the automatic on/off feature, preferring to switch to manual on/of only when automatic fails. But this could be any time at free way speeds, and is therefore a hazardous condition that the manufacturer should be responsible for rectifying, as it momentarily distracts the driver. Thank you for listening! [xxx] systems and safety engineer progress rail services, albertville, Alabama a division of caterpillar information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #5

Oct 212014

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
I am being told this third party as I was unable to see the accident scene and have not seen a police report. My 19-yr old daughter was exiting a main road slowing to a stop. She was doing approximately 2-3 mph when she was struck from behind by another vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The impact knocked her vehicle into the vehicle in front of her knocking that vehicle into the vehicle in front of it. My daughter's airbags did not deploy. She received whiplash from the incident as she was forced backward and frontward. She also hit her head on the steering wheel. Her significant other hit his knee on the passenger side dash. Both were wearing their seatbelts at the time. Her vehicle (titled in my name and purchased by me) sustained major disabling damage resulting in a total loss.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #4

Sep 232012

Taurus

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. While parked, the contact was unable to shift the vehicle out of park. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 04V106000 exterior lighting:brake lights:switch) that could have been related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #3

Oct 012011

Taurus

  • 198,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated the vehicle caught on fire while parked with the engine shut off. The fire department advised the contact that the fire originated at the rear tail light assembly. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. The failure and the current mileage was 198,000.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

problem #2

Jan 222010

Taurus

  • 143,260 miles
I am not able to get my car out of park and my brake lights will not stay on when the brake is pressed. I found that there was a recall on 2002 Ford Taurus, but at a different trim level. I called the dealer and was told there were no open recalls for my VIN and that no repair related to the brake lamp switch was ever done by a Ford dealership. I'd like to understand if my 2002 Taurus SE was manufactured differently than the recalled vehicles. I am having the same problem described in the recall (04S12) but my model was not included. Was it determined that it was a defective part that caused the problem or defective labor?

- San Mateo, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 012006

Taurus

  • 70,237 miles
The passenger side brake and turn signal on my 2002 Ford Taurus will not illuminate and is malfunctioning. There also seems to be problem with the turn signal lever located inside the vehicle attached to the steering column on the left side. I have replaced bulbs and checked fuses, still no luck.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

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