2002 Ford Taurus Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,426 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 126,650miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the engine of the 2002 Ford Taurus, 1% of the 1,426 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 126,650 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I had the experience described exactly in your current investigation pe 12-033. Throttle was stuck open which caused engine to remain between 3000-4000 rpms even while decelerating or stopped. Physical inspection revealed fractured speed control cable collar. I would like to know if Ford as agreed to recall vehicles or fix this problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10520964, filed 2013-06, 136,800 miles“My son was driving my 2002 Ford Taurus on 4-15-2014 at approximately 12:00 a.m. He had the cruise control set to 35 MPH. While driving, the cruise control began to accelerate. He tried to disengage the cruise control by hitting the brake. The cruise control would not disengage and the car kept accelerating reaching the speed of about 70mph. As a turn approached he could no longer control the vehicle. He hit a curb and a stop sign before the car came to a stop on the roadway. …”
NHTSA complaint #10607475, filed 2014-07, 141,768 miles“1st major incident- on september 12th -traveling at approx 50 MPH and when I tried to brake the car would not slow down but stayed or even accelerated its speed.I eventually was able to get control of the car and continued to my destination. My wife called the sandy springs Ford dealership and we made an appointment to drop off the car the next evening for service on wednesday, august 14th. The Ford rep took down all of my information but never mentioned the recall or the repercussions of driving this car after this reported incident. …”
NHTSA complaint #10542506, filed 2013-09, 116,500 miles“I pushed the accelerator into passing gear to go around a vehicle in the passing zone on a hill. When I released the accelerator the car continued to accelerate and on topping the hill we were traveling over 70 MPH. I tapped the accelerator but acceleration continued. Coming down the hill I shifted into neutral and the engine accelerated to over 6000 RPM. I stopped on level ground and shut the engine off. On restart, the engine immediately revved to over 6000 RPM and a transaxle warning icon appeared. By alternately shifting in and out of gear I jerked to an auto body shop. …”
NHTSA complaint #10469448, filed 2012-08, 175,660 miles“With a hard press on the gas pedal at 55mph..the gas pedal stuck in the fully pressed position after lifting my foot off the gas pedal...I then put the transmission in neutral and stomp the gas pedal a few times and then the gas pedal released from the fully pressed position.”
NHTSA complaint #10500079, filed 2013-02Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 6% |
| 2018 | 3 | 6% |
| 2017 | 4 | 9% |
| 2016 | 12 | 14% |
| 2015 | 33 | 12% |
| 2014 | 16 | 7% |
| 2013 | 70 | 12% |
| 2012 | 11 | 14% |
| 2011 | 40 | 21% |
| 2010 | 37 | 18% |
| 2009 | 6 | 9% |
| 2008 | 20 | 11% |
| 2007 | 7 | 5% |
| 2006 | 24 | 8% |
| 2005 | 68 | 9% |
| 2004 | 25 | 7% |
| 2003 | 23 | 2% |
| 2002 | 9 | 1% |
| 2001 | 6 | 1% |
| 2000 | 5 | 0% |
| 1999 | 2 | 0% |
| 1998 | 2 | 0% |
| 1997 | 5 | 1% |
| 1996 | 2 | 0% |
| 1995 | 3 | 0% |
| 1994 | 2 | 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 complaintsAir bags
47 complaintsBrakes
46 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
39 complaintsTires
38 complaintsFuel system
27 complaintsEquipment
26 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Ford Taurus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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