Problems · by component
2002 Ford Taurus suspension problems
972 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Taurus cite suspension, 66% of all 1,469 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
972
66% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
What owners say about the suspension
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO BRAKE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUBURN AUTOMOTIVE (500 S. OPDYKE RD, WATERFORD, MI 48328, (248) 332-9300) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACT NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.”
“THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED 2 FAILURES OF THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SPRING RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF THE TIRE. FIRST AT 75,000 MILES SECOND AT 100000 MI. BOTH TIRES FLATTENED AT BETWEEN 30 & 50 MPH”
“COIL SPRING IN DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT STRUT FAILED SUDDENLY WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IN SISTER BAY, WI. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG WHEN SPRING FRACTURED AND SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. FAILURE OF COIL SPRING OCCURRED AT ABOUT 10:15 AM ON THURSDAY JUNE 29, 2017. AFTER VEHICLE WAS SAFELY PARKED IN A BANK PARKING LOT THE OWNER THEN JACKED UP FRONT END AND REMOVED WHEEL/TIRE. OWNER NOTICED HOW ENERGY RELEASED WHEN COIL SPRING FRACTURED DROVE SPRING VIOLENTLY DOWNWARD TO FRONT WHEEL KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY. FORTUNATELY WHEN SPRING WAS DRIVEN DOWNWARD IT DID NOT PUNCTURE TIRE. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE WAS LOADED ON A TRANSPORTER AND TAKEN TO JIM OLSON EXPRESS IN STURGEON BAY, WI, FOR REPAIR. SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT STRUTS AND ALIGNMENT CHECK/ADJUSTMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR INCLUDING CHARGE OF USD 165 BY TRANSPORTER COMPANY WAS USD 1,010. AT TIME OF COIL SPRING FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD 134,128 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. VISUAL INSPECTION BY OWNER OF BROKEN PIECE OF COIL SPRING DID NOT REVEAL ANY SURFACE CORROSION. OWNER SPECULATES COIL SPRING FRACTURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO 15 YEARS OF STRESS LOADS ON THE SPRING OR PERHAPS THERE WAS A DEFECT…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE FRONT COIL SPRING DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING, PUNCTURING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT AND HER CHILDREN WERE RESCUED BY A FAMILY MEMBER WHO TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,365.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS RUPTURED AND DAMAGED THE TIRE SEVERELY. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 04/05/17*LJ *CN”
Showing 6 of 972 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.