There are 18 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2002 Ford Taurusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY SO THAT IT WOULD NOT BE DRAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
TRAVELING ON DARKENED ROAD WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLAMPS ENGAGED AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY CUT OFF, AND HAD TO CHANGE SELECTOR SWITCH TO MANUAL HEAD LIGHTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.. I HAD THE LIGHT SENSOR REPLACED BUT NO CHANGE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CAUSE IS MOST LIKELY THE AUTOMATIC HEADLAMP RELAY, WHICH IS NOT REPLACEABLE, AS IT IS BURIED BEHIND THE FUSE BOX, AND EXCESSIVE COST (>$300) TO REPLACE. I FEEL FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL, BECAUSE IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD VEHICLES. APPARENTLY THE RELAY USED TO ENERGIZE THE HEADLIGHTS IN "AUTOMATIC " MODE IS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE THE CURRENT, AND I SUSPECT, BURNS OUT AND BECOMES UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT FEATURE, (WHEN IT WORKS) IS A GREAT SAFETY ADVANCEMENT, AS MANY DRIVERS FAIL TO TURN ON HEADLIGHTS AT DUSK, THEREFORE THE AUTOMATIC ON FEATURE GREATLY IMPROVES VISIBILITY OF ONCOMING VEHICLES AT DUSK AND EARLY EVENING. SINCE IT IS NOT PREDICABLE WHEN THE LIGHTS WILL FAIL, MANY PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE AUTOMATIC ON/OFF FEATURE, PREFERRING TO SWITCH TO MANUAL ON/OF ONLY WHEN AUTOMATIC FAILS. BUT THIS COULD BE ANY TIME AT FREE WAY SPEEDS, AND IS THEREFORE A HAZARDOUS CONDITION THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECTIFYING, AS IT MOMENTARILY DISTRACTS THE DRIVER. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! [XXX] SYSTEMS AND SAFETY ENGINEER PROGRESS RAIL SERVICES, ALBERTVILLE, ALABAMA A DIVISION OF CATERPILLAR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I AM BEING TOLD THIS THIRD PARTY AS I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND HAVE NOT SEEN A POLICE REPORT. MY 19-YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS EXITING A MAIN ROAD SLOWING TO A STOP. SHE WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE IMPACT KNOCKED HER VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER KNOCKING THAT VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. MY DAUGHTER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE RECEIVED WHIPLASH FROM THE INCIDENT AS SHE WAS FORCED BACKWARD AND FRONTWARD. SHE ALSO HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. HER SIGNIFICANT OTHER HIT HIS KNEE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. BOTH WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS AT THE TIME. HER VEHICLE (TITLED IN MY NAME AND PURCHASED BY ME) SUSTAINED MAJOR DISABLING DAMAGE RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V106000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 198,000.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH EXACT SAME PROBLEM, SWITCH IS STUCK IN A CLOSED POSITION, FAILED IN THE CLOSED POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL REMAIN ON, ALSO CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE SEE: 2002 FORD TAURUS RECALL ID FROM NHTSA: 04V106000 OUR VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE RECALL. *TR
I AM NOT ABLE TO GET MY CAR OUT OF PARK AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ON WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED. I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2002 FORD TAURUS, BUT AT A DIFFERENT TRIM LEVEL. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR MY VIN AND THAT NO REPAIR RELATED TO THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WAS EVER DONE BY A FORD DEALERSHIP. I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IF MY 2002 TAURUS SE WAS MANUFACTURED DIFFERENTLY THAN THE RECALLED VEHICLES. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL (04S12) BUT MY MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED. WAS IT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM OR DEFECTIVE LABOR? *TR
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM - CERTAIN LIGHTS STAY ON, OTHERS TOGGLE ON AND OFF, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS COME ON AND GO OFF REPEATEDLY WITHOUT NOTICE OR CAUSE. FORD RECALLED VEHICLE AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED ID#04V106000 AT THAT TIME (A COUPLE YEARS AGO NOW) AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS NEW AND HAD NOT SHOWN ANY PROBLEMS YET. (IT IS POSSIBLE THE DEALER DID NOT ACTUALLY DO REPAIR AS ADVISED) FORDS RECALL # 04S12 OTHER STRANGE THINGS ARE HAPPENING WITH VARIOUS ELECTRICAL ITEMS, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS IN THE DASH LIGHT UP WITHOUT NOTICE SAYING DOORS ARE OPEN OR TRUNK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, BUT COULD NOT SHIFT THE GEAR OUT OF PARK. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURED STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO WORK. UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR
A PROBLEM WITH A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING WITH MY 2002 FORD TAURUS. APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL #04V106000 THAT APPLIES TO 836,000 FORD TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2000 AND 2003, BUT NOT TO MY VEHICLE ACCORDING TO FORD. THIS PROBLEM THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO ALL VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL AND HAVING THE EXACT THE SAME DEFECT. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RULING BY NHTSA, AND A REPLY TO THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN PRESSURE WAS NOT BEING APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. SHE WOULD HAVE TO CUT OFF THE BATTERY TO TURN OFF THE BRAKE LIGHT. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) AND WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD THE REPAIR PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. SHE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,000.
THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL ON MY 2002 FORD TAURUS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AND IS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAVE REPLACED BULBS AND CHECKED FUSES, STILL NO LUCK.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING IN THE BRAKE LAMPS SWITCH WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE LAMPS NOT TO ILLUMINATE. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT ACTIVATE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V106000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR.
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS NOT RETRACTING FROM THE RETRACTORS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, AND THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, BUT PROBLEMS RECURRED. ALSO, ON ANOTHER ISSUE CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES ON A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04V106000 CONCERNING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEM WITH THE STOP LIGHTS NOT OPERATING WHEN BRAKING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. THE BACK SEAT BELTS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FRONT.
THE BRAKING LIGHTS OF MY FORD TAURUS 2002 SE WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS STAYS ON EVEN AFTER I TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL. I FOUND THAT FORD HAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE ON 2000 AND 2001 TAURUS, BUT NOT 2002 MODEL. THIS IS UNFAIR SINCE FORD DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER THE RECALL. *LA
WHILE APPLYING HIGH BEAM LIGHT SWITCH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ARE TOO DIM WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH POOR HIGH BEAM LIGHTS, THE MANAGER TESTED THE HIGH BEAMS WITH A LIGHT METER AND BARELY GOT A READING. *TT
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026