Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Ford Taurus
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Ford Taurus has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,426 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16E026000 Front Brake Pad Shims May Shift and Contact Disc NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V106000 FORD/BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V087000 FORD/FMVSS 212/WINDSHIELD MOUNTING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V266000 FORD/BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL DISTANCE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 962 complaints
- Visibility 98 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 76 complaints
- Structure 54 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 53 complaints
- Air Bags 47 complaints
Of the 1,426 complaints on file, 75 report a crash and 11 a fire; across all 1,426 complaints, owners report 44 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Ford Taurus has frequent suspension issues and various recall alerts on critical systems like brakes and visibility. With numerous complaints and safety recalls, cost-of-ownership can increase due to unexpected repairs, leading to a below-average reliability rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 50,000–80,000 miles | $400–$700 | very common |
| brake lights switch | 30,000–60,000 miles | $100–$200 | common |
| windshield mounting | 40,000–70,000 miles | $200–$350 | common |
| vehicle speed control | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$600 | occasional |
| electrical system | 70,000–90,000 miles | $200–$500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection every 10,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 5,000 miles
- Transmission fluid replacement every 50,000 miles
- Air filter replacement every 15,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Uneven tire wear
- Unresponsive brakes
- Difficulty steering
- Engine overheating
- Erratic vehicle speed control
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Ford Taurus at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.