2002 Ford Taurus vs 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Taurus | 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,426 | 25 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 96 | 49 |
| Investigations | 4 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 75 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–21 | 17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 81,000 mi | 73,963 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Taurus | Mercedes-Benz S500 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 962 | 6 |
| Visibility | 98 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 76 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 42 | 14 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 53 | 2 |
| Structure | 54 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 47 | 1 |
| Power Train | 39 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 71 | 0 |
| Stalling | 57 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 43 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 22 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 19 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 18 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 6 | 0 |
2002 Ford Taurus
2002 Mercedes-Benz S500
Compare all Ford Taurus vs Mercedes-Benz S500 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.