2002 Ford Taurus Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 47about this part
- Share
- 3%of 1,426 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Ford Taurus, 3% of the 1,426 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,000 miles. 42 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driving on high way 20 in cherokee county ga a car ran a red light hitting me head on going approximately 30 MPH myself going 45-50 MPH luckily I did not suffer major bodily injury (whiplash and lots of bruises). My question is should airbags have deployed? And seat belt did not lock causing me to make contact with the dash and steering wheel. I was driving a 2002 Ford Taurus ls.”
NHTSA complaint #10041402, filed 2003-10, 18,000 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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10650234, filed 2014-10, 50,000 miles“My daughter had an accident in a 2002 Ford Taurus se where she impacted a concrete barrier head on and hard enough to total the vehicle which was owned and insured by me. The worse of the impact was on the drivers side front end. Only the passenger airbag deployed with no one seated there, but her drivers side airbag did not deploy at all. This resulted in a concussion and facial lacerations and bruising when her face hit the steering wheel. The seat belt restraining system failed to act properly to protect her from this injury. …”
NHTSA complaint #10433466, filed 2011-10, 159,200 miles“I was traveling east at approximately 35 MPH and still accelerating to the posted speed of 45. Another car that was traveling west on the opposite side of the same road was struck and came onto my side of the road in front of me. I struck that car, and the airbags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10080491, filed 2004-07, 34,500 miles“On 22 sep 10 my wife hit a parked truck in a 2002 Ford Taurus. Her car hit the right front at about 35 MPH and the airbag didn't deploy. She suffered a non-displaced fracture of the sternum as a result of the accident. The car apparently went under the truck's bumper. The right headlight, hood, windshield and right front side were damaged. The car was totaled as a result of the accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10360936, filed 2010-10, 80,842 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 6% |
| 2017 | 2 | 5% |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% |
| 2015 | 5 | 2% |
| 2014 | 5 | 2% |
| 2013 | 11 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3 | 4% |
| 2011 | 8 | 4% |
| 2010 | 11 | 5% |
| 2009 | 6 | 9% |
| 2008 | 15 | 9% |
| 2007 | 7 | 5% |
| 2006 | 21 | 7% |
| 2005 | 27 | 3% |
| 2004 | 21 | 6% |
| 2003 | 46 | 4% |
| 2002 | 47 | 3% |
| 2001 | 66 | 6% |
| 2000 | 88 | 7% |
| 1999 | 40 | 5% |
| 1998 | 39 | 7% |
| 1997 | 42 | 5% |
| 1996 | 45 | 5% |
| 1995 | 55 | 5% |
| 1994 | 38 | 4% |
| 1993 | 54 | 3% |
| 1992 | 49 | 7% |
| 1991 | 55 | 8% |
| 1990 | 41 | 11% |
| 1989 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 2002 Ford Taurus
962 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
100 complaintsVehicle speed control
76 complaintsBody and structure
54 complaintsEngine cooling
53 complaintsBrakes
46 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
39 complaintsTires
38 complaintsFuel system
27 complaintsEquipment
26 complaintsExterior lighting
24 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Ford Taurus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology