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2002 Ford Mustang

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Mustang.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2002 Ford Mustang is a passenger car that uses 5W-20 viscosity oil and has a 5.0-quart oil capacity. It has 213 total owner complaints, with the most common issue area being Engine & Engine Cooling, and it has been subject to 6 recalls. Within the model's complaint history from 1990 to 2026, the 2002 model year's 213 complaints are notably lower than the peak of 868 in 2005 but higher than the low of 4 in 2026, placing it in a moderate position in the Mustang's reliability record.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque85-105 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 59 · 540 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 59 · 540 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP225-55R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	183.1 in
Overall width	73.2 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	101.2 in
Curb weight	3210 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.2 / 60.6 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Mustang of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.6–6.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.60 sec — 2002 Bullitt Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2002	Bullitt Coupe 4.6L V8	5.60 sec	14.07 sec	265 hp	RWD
2002	GT Premium Coupe 4.6L V8	6.30 sec	15.10 sec	260 hp	RWD
2001	Bullitt Coupe 4.6L V8	5.70 sec	14.10 sec	265 hp	RWD
2001	Bullitt Coupe 4.6L V8	5.80 sec	14.30 sec	265 hp	RWD
2001	GT Deluxe Convertible 4.6L V8	6.00 sec	14.70 sec	260 hp	RWD
2001	GT Premium Coupe 4.6L V8	6.00 sec	14.70 sec	260 hp	RWD
2003	Mach 1 Premium Coupe 4.6L V8	4.70 sec	13.20 sec	305 hp	RWD
2003	Mach 1 Premium Coupe 4.6L V8	5.20 sec	14.00 sec	305 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-105 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 10.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	24 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Upper: 7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	10.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-105 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	258 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	MT: 740, AT: 715 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	MT: 40, AT: 15 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	SOHC: 680, DOHC: 690, ALL OTHERS: 655 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	SOHC: 20, DOHC: 60, ALL OTHERS: 25 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.052-0.056 in

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.17 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	8.60 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	59
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	59

Service checks

Pressure Test	13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	189-196 °F
Pressure Test	13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	13-18 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	30.0-50.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	35.0-50.0
Injector Primary Resistance	11-18 ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	85 ft-lbs / 25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	95 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.040; Rear: 0.125 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.998 in / 0.526 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.974 in / 0.502 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	14 ft. lbs.	14 ft. lbs
2	29 ft. lbs.	29 ft. lbs
3	36 ft. lbs.; Perform following 3 steps on each bolt; before moving to next bolt in sequence	36 ft. lbs
1	loosen 2-3 turns
2	if long bolt	30–37 ft. lbs
3	turn 175-185 degrees; Proceed to next bolt in sequence	175–185 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 mi	Clutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 mi	PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the federal record, the 2002 Ford Mustang registers 213 complaints, 6 recalls, and 100 TSBs, continuing a downward trajectory from 2000’s spike of 474 complaints and 11 recalls and improving on 2001’s 283 complaints and 8 recalls. Across the generation, federal activity peaked at 701 complaints and 16 recalls in 1995 and saw a secondary elevation in 2000 before trending downward; 2002 falls in this latter-phase decline, posting fewer complaints than 2003’s 271 and sitting well below the generation’s highs. The 2002 model’s leading complaint categories are Engine & Engine Cooling at 33, Air Bags at 20, Power Train at 18, and Seat Belts at 15, with 26 crash complaints and 12 fire complaints recorded, though the data does not specify root causes. Because 2002 sits near a low point in complaints and recalls relative to the surrounding 2000–2004 span and is far removed from the generation’s peak volumes, it represents one of the more stable used-model years in this range, making it a comparatively good year to buy if a pre-purchase inspection addresses the engine and restraint-system areas flagged in the federal data.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

100

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

213

Owner complaints

26 involved a crash · 12 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01’02’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 213 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling33

Air Bags20

Power Train18

Seat Belts15

Suspension13

Vehicle Speed Control12

Structure8

Electrical System8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 100 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
07212	2007-10-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG…
06216	2006-01-01	Power Train	LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED…
041601	2005-11-14	Engine And Engine Cooling	WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR…
042421	2005-06-07	Seat Belts	SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT
05310	2005-02-21	Seat Belts	SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Mustang. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 59 battery Vehicles taking 5.0 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 Mustang take?

5.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 Mustang have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.