Problems · by component
2002 Ford Taurus power train problems
49 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Taurus cite power train, 3% of all 1,469 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
49
3% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Backing out of parking space resulting to damage to both vehicles . Brake\gas pedals. Position of driver ( body turned) relative to pedals while backing car can allow drivers foot to be in contact with both pedals. Increased pressure on the brake can allow increased pressure on the gas pedal allowing the vehicle to continue in a reversed direction . Can strike a person or object resulting in injury or damage. Subject car is a station wagon and appears to have lower seating \configuration than a sedan .”
“DRIVING OUT OF TOWN THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS INCLUDING NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS OR WARNINGS DISPLAYING ANY NEED OF MAINTANANCE. WHILE TURNING ONTO ANOTHER STREET AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED THEN PRESSING ACCELERATOR TO GO, THE DRIVETRAIN SUDDENLY STOPPED PULLING AND THE CAR STOPPED . THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED BUT THE RPMS WERE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN THEN STABILIZED AT ABOUT 1,200 RPMS. THERE WERE NO SIGHNS OF ANY FLUID LEAKS OR PINCHED LINES. JUST A SUDDEN STOP, LEAVING ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE EXPENSES OF HIRING A WRECKER TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST SHOP, AND THE ACTUAL REPAIR EXPENSE WAS WELL OVER OUR FAMILY BUDGET AND HAS CAUSED US A GREAT DEAL OF UNNECESSARY HARDSHIPS IN OUR DAILY LIVES.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT HESITATED TO SWITCH INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND THE TRANSMISSION FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. MA 10/25/15 *CN”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPLINE AND TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.”
“I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2002 AFTER PREVIOUSLY OWNING SEVERAL FORD VEHICLES. ON JULY 20, 2012, I ATTENDED A FAMILY FUNERAL A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOME. WHILE RETURNING HOME VIA I-75 IN MIDDLE GEORGIA, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY INCREASED TO OVER 6000 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY LET OFF THE GAS AND LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW TO SEE WHITE SMOKE BOILING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER SAFELY GETTING THE CAR OFF THE INTERSTATE, I RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. IT'S SIMPLY A MIRACLE THE CAR DID NOT CATCH FIRE. I WAITED FOR TWO HOURS IN 100 DEGREE HEAT BEFORE A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME AND I QUOTE, "WE SEE A LOT OF TAURUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AT AROUND 120,000 MILES." IF THIS IS SO, WHY CAN'T FORD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? I REALIZE THE CAR HAS SOME AGE ON IT, BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS. SINCE DAY ONE, I HAVE "BABIED" THIS CAR AND HAVE NEVER ONCE ABUSED IT IN ANY WAY. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN IT RECKLESSLY AND HAVE ALWAYS SERVICED IT ON REGULAR…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,700. UPDATED 9/12/14*CN”
Showing 6 of 49 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.