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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...

4.5

definitely annoying
Typical Repair Cost:
$120
Average Mileage:
89,550 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (8 reports)
2002 Ford Taurus engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Ford Taurus Owner Comments

problem #8

Nov 182010

Taurus SE 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 128,000 miles

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

my crappy 2002 ford taurus has problem with check engine and not one person knows what code p1336 means this is sad for ford because ive been loyal for 15 years owned only ford but now believe import is the best way to go why dont ford help their best customers i will never buy another ever my 2008 fusion is getting traded in for an import mabye the japanese will help us americans who are in crisis with domestic car problems and not make us sell our children to fix our cars ford is the worst buy imports stay away from us made cars cuz youll be broke and riding the bus thank you ford for 15 years of nothing

- Ken L., Stoughton, MA, US

problem #7

Aug 112010

Taurus 3.0

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

I have a 2002 ford taurus its a nice car but the dam engine light is on and wont go off. the car was given to us the person who gave it to us said she already had the same dam o2 sensor replaced twice. The other day i was accelerating the engine light starting flashing so i pulled over and check the manual it said that it was a serious prob and it could cause a fire in the vehicle so i drove home parked it and got my truck. I went and got a diagnostics tester and it said the the prob was a dealer code called the dealer they said it is some thing in the erg system (what ever that is) so needless to say FUC FORD they suck bananas.

- Jacob F., Franklin, GA, US

problem #6

Jun 222010

Taurus SES 3.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

Have changed plugs and plug wires. Check engine light will come on, car gets horrible gas mileage and stumbles around. Reset the light, car runs fine and gets 29mpg. WHen the light comes on again, it begins to stumble around and gets about 20mpg. All this happens after the light comes on.

- Joseph T., Gallipolis Ferry, WV, US

problem #5

Nov 242008

Taurus SES 3.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,000 miles

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

its been 13 months! been to every dealer and shop to see whats the problem. why is my engine light on? one said is my gas cap an (evap leak) i was like what? they read the code couldn't identify. another time hooked up to a code reader got 2 codes for emissions? still couldn't identify! why did ford make a product when it can't be fixed or read when theres a problem. then one day after i had replaced my expensive anti-freeze resevoir(tank) the light went off for not nearly at least a couple hours then came right back on i was so disgusted i felt like junking the vehicle. how can this problem be fixed?

- Tyler P., Delmar, NY, US

problem #4

Apr 152009

Taurus SE 3.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,350 miles

I have a 2002 Ford Taurus SE with approximately 85,350 miles. I drive it to school and work so it gets driven about 40 miles a day. I've never had any trouble out of it, it gets up and goes and averages about 25 mpg. The check engine light used to flash occasionally until I had a tune-up done on it and then it was fine. This morning, however, I was going about 65 miles per hour and the check engine light came on and stayed on. I slowed down and cut off the radio. There was no engine noise, no sluggish deceleration, it did just as its supposed to. When I got into traffic it was just fine. It idled perfectly, yet the light was still on. Its not sluggish, it never hops, its just the light. I believe the speed I was going caused the car to blow another sensor. You would think if Ford made such a powerful V6, they would make good enough sensors to back it up! I love my car, I traded my elderly Honda for it, but after blowing sensors, I'm switching back to Honda.

- nathan m., Zebulon, GA, US

problem #3

Jul 152008

Taurus SEL 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

Took car to the Ford dealer they changed 2 spark plugs and the wires.One month later same thing check engine light came on they replaced the idol filter and was told the number 2 cylinder was missing and they needed to replace( THE same spark plug) the spark plug. I showed the mechanic my bill from the last repair that I'd had it fixed! Any way they had the mechanic who worked on it the first time take a look at it . No charge for whatever he did, but a month later that stupid light came on and it' still on 7 months later. It's very sluggish when you need to accelerate to pull onto the interstate it hops along and then it will go, unless you break and then it does it's bunny hop again.

- Laura E., Byesville, OH, US

problem #2

Jun 012008

Taurus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

my '02 taurus's check engine light popped on one day for no discernible reason. no accompanying problems, stalls, or anything. took it to my local shop, they did a free diagnostic (they could have charged me $70), got a "nonspecific code", couldn't tell me why it came on, reset the light and suggested I call the dealer, which I did. the dealer said they did not recognize the code, no help there. Of course the light came back on as I was pulling away from the shop. this never really caused any problem, just worry for me, I can't afford an engine problem right now. However, my state requires yearly inspections, and the engine light is an automatic fail, so my inspection lapsed for almost a year. finally, about two months ago, I took her in for an oil change and, on a whim, asked if they could do another free diagnostic, which they did. again, "nonspecific code", couldn't tell, reset the light. They said if I could drive 50 miles without it coming back on, I should be fine. I drove it about 100 miles, no light, so I hurried back to get my inspection done. I passed. fast forward about 2000 miles and 2-3 months, the light has NOT come back on. Did it fix itself? I think not...

- Brian K., The Colony, TX, US

problem #1

Jul 312006

(reported on)

Taurus

  • 32,000 miles

i bought this car in 2001 since then I have had 5 idle control valves put in. now they tell me it needs the carbon cleaned out. What I want to know if its carbon thats causing the problem now what was the problem the first 7 months when I had 2 idle control valves replaced?

- Guy G., Verona, PA, US

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