Cylinder two misfire. Replaced coil pack, wires and all spark plugs. Problem reoccurring.
- NHTSA ID
- 11736873
- Incident
- May 7, 2026
Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 61 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 61, in the owner's own words
Cylinder two misfire. Replaced coil pack, wires and all spark plugs. Problem reoccurring.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE DOORS WERE NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *DT *TR
THE KEY TURNS OVER BUT THE CAR WON'T START.
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. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE WITH THAT VEHICLE AND CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS, THOUGH THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $6005.00 OF DAMAGE AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF FIXING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER RELAY SWITCH CONTINUOUSLY FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
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. 2ND INCIDENT- ON SEPTEMBER 13TH - TRAVELING APPROX 50 MPH AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND FOR A FEW SECONDS I THOUGHT I WOULD NOT ONLY KILL MYSELF BUT OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE ON THE FREEWAY. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX PARKING LOT. I CALLED AAA AND THEY DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE SANDY SPRINGS FORD DEALERSHIP. MY WIFE CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE THE NEXT DAY - SPOKE WITH KAREN. WHY WERE WE NOT TOLD ABOUT THE RECALL (DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET)? HER RESPONSE: THEY JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT THAT VERY SAME DAY. WE JUST RETURNED FROM VACATION AND OUR NEIGHBOR JUST DELIVERED OUR MAIL, WELL THERE WAS A LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THE RECALL. THEN, ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH WE RECEIVED AN AUTOMATED CALL FROM SANDY SPRINGS FORD ABOUT THE RECALL. DOES FORD HAVE ANY IDEA IN THE ACT OF NEGLIGENCE THEY HAVE CREATED? THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FATALITIES. OUR CAR IS STILL AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP - IT IS STALLING OUT AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT THE SAME (CHARGED US TO FIX THEM). FORD SAID THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF AND THEY WERE REQUIRED TO REPORT IT AND MAIL YOU THE PART. WAS THIS DONE? FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CAN NOT FATHOM THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT HAVE ALERTED THEIR DEALERS ABOUT THIS RECALL. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALERTED AND WARNED ON MONDAY EVENING AND TOLD DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR.
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. *TR
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. *TR
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. THE MECHANICS KNEW THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY; BROKEN PLASTIC TABS HAD ALLOWED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE SHEATH TO SLIP OUT OF THE THROTTLE CONNECTOR. THE CABLE SHEATH WAS JAMMED AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE CONNECTOR, HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN. WHEN THE SHEATH WAS REINSERTED INTO THE CONNECTOR, RPM RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE MECHANICS WIRED THE CABLE TO THE CONNECTOR SO WE COULD CONTINUE OUR TRIP. FUNCTION IS NORMAL 3K MILES LATER. THE DEALER INDICATED NO RECALLS OR TSB'S RELATED TO THE PROBLEM AND WANTS $34. FOR A NEW CABLE. *TR
STARTED THE ENGINE THIS MORNING AND THE ENGINE RACED TO OVER 4000 RPM, HAVING NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TODAY. SHUT IT DOWN AND STARTED IT AGAIN - SAME THING. NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE ON THIS CAR. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND A BEIGE COLORED PLASTIC GUIDE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD A CHIP OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE GUIDE ENTRY POINT SUCH THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AND SHEATH WERE CAUGHT OUT OF ALIGNMENT IN THE SLOT OF THE CHIP IN THE GUIDE. I PULLED OUT, STRAIGHTENED AND RESET THE CABLE, SHEATH AND GUIDE AND, AGAIN STARTED THE ENGINE. PERFECT IDLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING! I WON'T DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL I KNOW IT'S RESOLVED. DO YOU NEED PICTURES? I DON'T SEE ANY RECALL FOR THIS HERE... *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS SEDAN, AND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT A MONTH AGO I PUSHED GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, THE THROTTLES BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE CARS ENGINE TO SPEED UP TO 80 MPH IN A 30 MPH SPEED ZONE. I HAD TO APPLY AS MUCH PRESSURE TO THE BREAKS AS I COULD TO CONTROL THE CAR, AND FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION, WITH THE ENGINE STILL RACING, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE CAR. I WAS SO AFRAID I JUST SET IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO COLLECT MY THOUGHTS. I OPEN THE HOOD TO SEE IF ANYTHING HAD BROKEN OR CAME APART BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY UNUSUAL. I TURN THE CAR BACK ON, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING, I LOOKED FOR THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND FOUND IT. HOWEVER, I NOTICE THAT THE SMALL PLASTIC O-RING ON THE CABLE USED AS A STOP WAS CAUGHT ON THE CORNER OF THE AIR INTAKE HOUSING. I PULLED BACK ON THE CABLE RELEASING IT. WHEN I LET GO OF THE CABLE IT WENT BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION, THE ENGINE STOPPED RACING AND SLOWED TO A NORMAL IDLE. I CREPT BACK HOME WERE THE CAR SET FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE I HAD THE NERVES TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. IT HAPPEN AGAIN ON 3/14/12 WHEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PASS A TRUCK ON I-70W IN COLUMBUS, OH.
2002 FORD TAURUS ALMOST GOT ON FIRE ON 11/2/11. THERE WAS GRAY SMOKE AND HORRIBLE BURNING SMELL COMING OUT OF THE FRONT OF FORD CAR. CALLED THE POLICE DEPT, THEY CAME AND FOUND A BELT BROKE.... IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE POLICE PERSONS THAT CAME TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND WHAT TO DO, ALONG WITH THE FACT (AND LUCK) I HAD THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE STREET WITH SPEED, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND PRODUCE EVEN MORE DAMAGES FOR MYSELF AND ANYONE THAT COULD BE AROUND. FORD, TK, AND FIRESTONE HAS THE DETAILS OF.. ALL PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE AND WHAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *TR ...UPDATE 01/20/12 *BF THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED IVOQ 03/07/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE ENGINE WAS QUICKLY TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION YET THE ENGINE NOISE CONTINUED TO INCREASE EXCESSIVELY WITHOUT THE KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LATER BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,656.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING UP HILL THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE MOTOR MADE A NOISE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE GARAGE WHERE THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 57,200.
'MODEL YEAR : 2002 'MAKE: FORD 'MODEL: TAURUS SE 'COMPONENT*: CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AT REST AND LATELY IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. CRANKS RIGHT BACK UP BUT THIS IS DANGEROUS. HAVE TAKEN TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS OR HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE RPM BOBS AND THE ENGINE STOPS IF AT REST(STOP LIGHT) OR WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR EVEN WHILE ON INTERSTATE. THIS IS A HAZARD. THERE ARE SEVERAL FORD TAURUS OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE IF YOU GOGGLE "FORD TAURUS SHUTS OFF" EVERYONE IS SEEKING A RESOLUTION THROUGH FORUM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL SHUT OFF. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRVING 30 MPH .THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE OFF FROM THE BOTTOM OF IT'S BASE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY WALL.THE CONTACT WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE BRAKES, STRUTS, BALL JOINTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68000.
THE BLOWER IN MY 2002 FORD TAURUS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS ALSO WATER ON THE FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH I SUSPECT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR
I HAD NO HEAT FROM MY 02 TAURUS THIS PAST SEPTEMBER AND AFTER 2 FLUSHES IT IS NOW A CLOGGED HEATER CORE. I NOTICED THAT I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS CONDITION SINCE I WAS TOLD BY AN ON-LINE BLOGGER THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE TAURUS' COOLANT SYSTEMS HAVING PARTICLES IN THEM WHEN THEY LEFT THE MANUFACTURER, FORD. *TR
DURING STARTING OF CAR, RAN VERY ROUGH AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER #1DUE TO A BROKEN VALVE SPRING IN THE ENGINE. OIL WAS ALWAYS CHANGED ABOUT EVERY 3000 MI. WITH NO PREVIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, IT FELT AS IF THE ENGINE WERE SHAKING. THE HIGHWAY FELT ROUGH TO DRIVE ON AND THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY BUMP AND GROOVE IN THE ROAD FELT AS IF THE ENGINE WERE MOVING AROUND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 110,000.
BLOWER MOTOR DOESN'T WORK. FORD DEALER FIXED IT. PROBLEM WAS A LEAK IN THE COWL, THEY HAD TO PUT A NEW COWL , COWL SEAL , AND SILICONE A HOLE. WITH ALL THIS IS COULD THIS BE A DEFECT? *TR
THE FAN BLOWER MOTOR ON MY DAD'S 2003 FORD TAURUS SE WITH ONLY 33,000 MILES AND ON MY 2002 FORD TAURUS SES WITH 82,000 MILES BOTH FAILED RECENTLY. MY DAD PASSED AWAY JULY 7TH AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO SEAL THE CAR WHEN A PROSPECTIVE BUYER MENTIONED THAT THE FAN WASN'T WORKING. I CHECKED IT OUT AND IT WORK SPORADICALLY. I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO HILLER FORD IN FRANKLIN WI AFTER TALKING TO FORD - THEY WANTED IT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTOR AND RAIN HAT WHICH COST $520. THE DAY OF MY DAD'S FUNERAL, THE BLOWER MOTOR ON MY CAR BEGAN TO WORK SPORADICALLY. I TOOK MY CAR TO HILLER FORD AND AUTHORIZED THE REPAIRS TODAY. THE ESTIMATE IS $429 TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTOR AND A SEAL. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT IT APPEARS THERE IS A LEAK IN THE POST FOR THE WINDSHIELD AND WATER WAS GETTING BEHIND THE DASH SOAKING THE BLOWER MOTOR UNIT. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ON AUGUST 22, 2008, THEY CLAIM NEITHER CAR WAS SUBJECT TO THE 2003 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 03V087000). I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FORD IS OFFERING NO RELIEF BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THE CARS WEREN'T SUBJECT TO THE RECALL AND THE WINDSHIELD LEAK ISN'T RELATED TO THE BLOWER MOTOR GOING BAD. I'M OUT ALMOST $1000 IN REPAIR COSTS AND I'VE SEEN MANY COMMENTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR AND LEAKS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT BACKED APPROXIMATELY TEN FEET OUT OF HER PARKING GARAGE, AND THE COIL SPRING FAILED AND RIPPED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT COIL SPRING, STRUTS, AND FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED. THE REPAIR COSTS WERE $1,300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 09/16/08. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING FAILED. THE CONTACT PAID $350 FOR THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, HIS EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID FOR SOME OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE, THE RPM'S INCREASE TO 1,100. ALSO, WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE IDLES AT HIGH RPM'S. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,304 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
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