Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. When the brake pedal was depressed, the brake lights failed to illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake light switch was malfunctioning, but was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V106000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 233,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. Whether the vehicle was on or off, the brake lamps illuminated continuously. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V755000 (exterior lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 182,606 updated 02/05/16
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.
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.
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.
My 2002 Ford Taurus suddenly would not shift out of park. My back driver side brake light won't work. I look it up and saw a recall but when I called the dealership they said there wasn't a recall on my car. Please help
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. The consumer stated that the problem was never fixed. The back seat belts had the same problems as the front.
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?
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
Certain passenger vehicles are being recalled to correct a problem with a malfunctioning stop lamp switch and/or associated wiring. This malfunctioning could render the stop lamps inoperable or cause them to stay on all the time. This could cause confusion to a following driver, which could lead to a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the stop lamp switch and associated wiring assembly and install a newly designed stop lamp switch and wire assembly. Owner notification is expected to begin on April 5, 2004.
NHTSA investigations
Brake light switch failure
Ford conducted a recall in March, 2001 to correct a defect affecting the brake light switch in my 2000 through early-2001 taurus and sable vehicles equipped with power adjustable pedals (recall 01v-078).rq03-008 was opened to investigate complaints concerning the remedy and scope of 01v-078.odi's analysis identified concerns with post-repair failures in recalled vehicles,failures in my 2001-02 vehicles with…
Headlight complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2002 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the lights of the 2002 Ford Taurus, 2% of the model year's 1,426 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights › switch (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Taurus headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-106 (switch, Mar 2, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Taurus headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 2 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.