It wasn't all that bad. But any single-engine fighter of the period was risky business. I think "Widowmaker" applied more to the F-104 in NATO service.
The only allies that flew the -102 were Greece and Turkey. Under 900 total of the F-102s were built. Almost 300 of them went on to be expended as targets, so no more than 600 of them could have been losses for all reasons (including maintenance downs). About a dozen were lost in Vietnam, maybe 20 -- most in accidents or destroyed on the ground by mortars.
A pretty horrible record for today, but typical for the Century Series. Over half of 104s crashed, over half of 105s were combat losses.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
bttt
I think several were also used late in their career as stand in for Soviet fighters in dissimilar combat training.
102 and 104 both suffered greatly by use in roles they were NEVER intended to fit into.