2003 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD THUMP AND THEN MY TIRE DEFLATED LIKE A BALLOON. HAD A TIRE GUY COME TO FIX IT AND HE SAID IT WAS DUE TO A BROKEN STRUT/SPRING. IT HAD BROKEN AND SLASHED THE TIRE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A THE BLOWER RESISTOR REPLACED YET THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER DISCOVERED WATER DAMAGE AROUND THE HEATER BLOWER. THE DEALER CREATED A SHIELD AROUND AND REPLACED THE HEATER BLOWER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,152.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND CAUSING THE TIRE TO FLATTEN. THE DAMAGED TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE COIL SPRING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE REPAIRED AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF SUSPENSION REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY A SECOND MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 277,000.

MY HUSBAND AND I ALONG WITH OUR 2 YR OLD WERE DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING AND STOPPED AT STOPPED SIGN AND MY HUSBAND HIT THE GAS TO GO AND IT TOOK OFF SLOWLY, THAN JUST WOULDN'T GO WE HAD TO COAST OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC AROUND US. NO WARNING LIGHT OR ANYTHING THE TRANSMISSION JUST WENT OUT. THE CAR WONT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE, IT SHIFTS BUT WONT MOVE. WE NEED THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, WE GOT AN ESTIMATE OF 2100. I LOST MY JOB, IM PREGNANT WITH MY 2ND CHILD AND WE JUST PURCHASED THE 2003 FORD TAURUS ABOUT 10 MONTHS AGO. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE REPAIRING A CAR WE JUST GOT. *TR

WHEN COMING HOME FROM PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM WORK, MY CAR COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR RUNS BUT I CANNOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GAS STATION. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND I SEE BY YOUR WEBSITE THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHO IS GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED. *TR

I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND REALIZED I HAD A VERY FLAT TIRE. I CALLED THE SERVICE STATION UP THE STREET. HE TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT DOWN SLOWLY & HE'D PUT THE DONUT ON IT AND ORDER ME A NEW TIRE. WHEN HE LOOKED AT MY CAR AT HIS SHOP, HE SAID THE DRIVER'S SIDE, FRONT COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED AND SLICED THROUGH MY TIRE. HE SAID I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY OR I COULD HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT. HE SAID I WAS ALSO LUCKY I HADN'T JUST PUT THE DONUT ON IT MYSELF AND DRIVEN IT OVER THE WEEKEND, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE SNAPPED THE DONUT WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND REALIZED MANY, MANY 2003 FORD TAURUSES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. FORD HAS HAD TO RECALL SEVERAL MAKES & YEARS, BUT THE 2003 FORD TAURUS HAS NOT SO FAR BEEN INCLUDED. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR OUT 2 DAYS EARLIER WITH NO PROBLEMS. IT MUST HAVE SNAPPED WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED ONE OF THE TIRES WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS PIERCED BY A FRACTURED COIL SPRING. THE FRACTURED PORTION OF THE COIL SPRING WAS CUT OFF AND A NEW TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE THE CONTACT INSTALLED NEW COIL SPRINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,203.

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING IN THE STRUT BROKE AND SLASHED THE ADJACENT TIRE. THIS WAS NOTICED WHEN THE CAR WAS BEGINNING TO BE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH STRUT ASSEMBLIES FOR SAFETY SAKE, REPLACE THE DAMAGED TIRE AS WELL. WE OPTED TO REPLACE THE OTHER THREE TIRES DUE TO WEAR. ALSO, THE GARAGE RECOMMENDED WE REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS AND LH SIDE TIE ROD END. THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED AS WELL. TOTAL COST $1871. I AM OUTRAGED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1999 THRU 2001 TAURUS CARS BUT NOTHING COVERING UP TO AND INCLUDING 2003'S. I ALSO THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THE CUTOFF TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN A CAR EXCEEDS 100000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND ALL FORD TAURUS CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED. MY DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT WHEN GOING 65MPH! SEVERE INJURY AND DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT AND OTHER PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED! I IMPLORE NHTSA TO FORCE FORD TO ENGAGE IN A RETROACTIVE RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED TAURUS CARS. IT IS INEXCUSABLE TO HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. I CAN UNDERSTAND A BROKEN SPRING CAN OCCUR, BUT THE COMPLAINTS CLEARLY SHOW THAT THE SPRING THEN SLASHES THE TIRE, CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE BLOWOUT AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE BECAME FLAT AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FELL DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING WHICH ALSO DAMAGED THE TIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS FRONT COIL SPRINGS, STRUTS, AND THE FRONT TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 230,000. UPDATED 2/28/11 *CN UPDATED 05/19/11

WAS PULLING OUT OF THE CAR GARAGE AND PUT IN REVERSE THE CAR STARTED BACK AND THE ENGINES RPM ROARED UP AND CRASHED IN TO NEIGHBOR TREE WENT ACROSS THE STREET AND CRASHED IN THE OTHER NEIGHBOR TREE AND HOUSE ALL OF THIS IN REVERSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS SEDAN SES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

WHILE PARKED IN MY GARAGE THE FRONT END OF MY 2003 FORD TAURUS COLLAPSED. UPON INSPECTION THE TIRE WAS FULLY DEFLATED. I PUT THE SMALL SPARE ON THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SERVICE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED CAUSING A SHARP SHARD TO PENETRATE THE TIRE. THE SPRING BROKE INTO TWO EXTREMELY SHARP PIECES. THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED WITH MY 1993 FORD TAURUS A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK. I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. I CAN ONLY THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE PIECE BROKE AND CUT THROUGH MY TIRE. I WAS AGAIN FORTUNATE THAT NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE SMALL SPARE TO THE REPAIR SHIP. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO RESPONDED WITH A GENERAL "BRUSH OFF" LETTER AND NOT RECOGNIZING ANY OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS I EXPRESSED!!! ON BOTH CARS!!!! I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE INCLUDING A REPLACEMENT TIRE. I HAVE SAVED THE PART (SPRING/COIL) IF FURTHER INSPECTION IS REQUIRED BY NHTSA. *TR

THE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE NEXT TO IT, CAUSING THE TIRE TO EXPLODE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS SE (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED AT 5 MPH AND PUNCTURED THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE COIL SPRINGS AND TIRE WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A SMOOTH PAVED VILLAGE HIGHWAY CAUSING A PUNCTURE AND RESULTING IN A BLOW OUT OF THAT TIRE. *TR

WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY GAS PEDAL OF MY VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD - THE CAR JERKED AND THEN NOTHING. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. I HAD TO ROLL AND THEN PUSH MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANK GOD THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME OR I WOULD OF BEEN HIT - IT WAS VERY SCARY. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. HAD TO WAIT FOR AAA AND THEN GET MY CAR TOWED TO TRANSMISSION PLACE. THEY REPLACED AND IT COST ME $1,133.58. *TR

COMING INTO TOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MPH AND THEN NOTHING THE SPLINES IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER STRIPPED OUT AND I LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS. COULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. FORD DOES HAVE A RECALL FOR NEWER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON MY MODEL. MY FORD DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF THESE REPAIRS ON OLDER MODELS AS WELL. *TR

I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I JUST BROKE MY NECK ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO SO IT WAS HARD FOR ME ALONE TO PUSH THE CARD TO SAFE AREA. THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS WOULD NOT GO FURTHER LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I TRIED PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE, REVERSE AND THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THE MOTOR WOULD REV UP LIKE IT WAS IN PARK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL FORD. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL OR AT LEAST PAY TO FIX ALL THESE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS I AM READING ABOUT. THE AMOUNT THAT IT COST TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION IS THE SAME AMOUNT THE CAR IS WORTH IF THAT. WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET FORD INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THIS REALLY LEAVES A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH ABOUT FORD. ONE UNHAPPY CUSTOMER TELLS THE WHOLE WORLD 100 HAPPY CUSTOMERS BARLEY GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT A COMPANY, BUT I BELIEVE IF FORD WOULD DO A RECALL ON THESE 2003 TAURUS TRANSMISSIONS EVERYBODY WOULD CHANGE THEIR MIND ABOUT HOW FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. ALL THESE TRANSMISSION COMPLIANT SOUND THE SAME. SO IT MUST BE THE PRODUCT NOT THE DRIVER. *TR

CAME BACK FROM VACATION (WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR ON VACATION), BACKED UP CAR IN DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD SNAP. LOOKED AND THE TIRE WAS FLAT. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WHEN TOW TRUCK OPERATOR REMOVED THE TIRE TO REPLACE IT, HE FOUND A BROKEN FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE BACK SIDE OF THE TIRE, IT HAD NUMEROUS TEARS AND PUNCTURES. WE WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE COIL AND THE TIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO REPLACED TWO STRUTS ASSEMBLY AND A TIRE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED A LOUD NOISE EMITTED NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED IN HALF. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COIL SPRING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THIS FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A SECOND PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TRANSMISSION JUST DIED LIKE THIS WEBSITE STATES. *TR HTTP://BIT.LY/VIL7

I OWN A 2003 FORD TAURUS LX AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER ON 11/23. MILEAGE IS 71,000. I WAS DRIVING ON A RATHER BUSY ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR A NOISE AND THE CAR NO LONGER RESPONDED EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON AND THE ROAD WAS NOT HEAVILY TRAVELED AT THE TIME. I AM THANKFUL FOR THAT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO THE POST OFFICE DRIVEWAY AND A KIND GENTLEMAN PUSHED ME BECAUSE I WAS BLOCKING THE ACCESS ROAD TO THE PARKING LOT. I COULD GO NO FURTHER. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP BUT AN ESTIMATE IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING BROKE ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS AND BLEW OUT THE TIRE. MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. *TR

I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2003 FORD TAURUS SES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY CAR YESTERDAY GETTING READY TO PULL ONTO A HEAVILY TRAVELED HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PREVIOUS INDICATION. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 72,210 MILES ON IT AND FROM WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED ON OTHER COMPLAINT WEBSITES THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON THING ESPECIALLY WITH THE 2003 YEARS. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME BEING A LOYAL FORD CUSTOMER THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THIS. IT HAS CLEARLY BEEN EXPOSED AS AN ISSUE WITH FORD AND THEY ARE TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY?!? THE WORST PART OF THIS ISSUE IS THAT NOT ONLY DID MY WIFE, AND FIVE MONTH OLD CHILD STALL OUT HALF ON, HALF OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, BUT A LOADED ROCK TRUCK ALMOST TOOK HER AND AN ONCOMING VEHICLE OUT IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO AVOID AN ALMOST CERTAIN INCIDENT. THANK GOD MY FAMILY IS SAFE AND NO HARM WAS DONE, BUT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT FORD'S IGNORANCE OF QUALITY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY SAFETY! *TR

WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY AUTO LOST POWER TO DRIVE AXLES. HAD TO PUSH CAR 1/4 MILE TO PARKING LOT,WALK 5 MILES HOME,ARRANGE TOW AND GET AUTO CHECKED OUT. TALKED TO 5 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION. COST TO REPAIR OR REPLACE TRANSMISSION 900-1500 DOLLARS DEPENDING ON PROBLEM. WILL KNOW MORE LATTER BUT COSTS KEEP RISING. THIS IS BS AS FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.I KNOW THIS IS TRUE AS I KNOW SEVERAL FORD MECHANICS. *TR

THE 2003 FORD TAURUS WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR APPLYING BRAKES WILL SURGE AND LUNGE FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE IT SURGES WITH PEOPLE WALKING IN FRONT OF IT AND CARS IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CAR THEN FEELS LIKE IT IS HIT FROM THE REAR END AND SMELLS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO CATCH ON FIRE. VERY SCARY SITUATION, MY CHILDREN ARE VERY SCARED AND WE ALREADY HAVE AN EVACUATION PLAN IF THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE. IT IS DEFINTELY NOT SAFE. A SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. IT ALSO GOES DEAD WHILE BACKING UP. EVEN WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO THE FLOOR, IT SURGES AND MOVES FORWARD. THE ENGINGE JERKING IS A VERY HARD JOLT. WE HOPE THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED. *TR

TRAVELING IN A BUSY AREA, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE TRANSMISSION LOST ALL DRIVE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY DRIVE GEAR OR REVERSE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO LOOKED TO SEE IF THE FILTER HAD FALLEN CAUSING NO FLUID TO GET TO THE PUMP. NO SUCH LUCK. APPEARS THE PUMP OR PUMP SHAFT HAS FAILED. A FRIEND OF HIS THAT DOES TRANSMISSION WORK FOR FORD ADMITTED TO THIS BEING AN ISSUE. IT IS A SHAME WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM FORD ABOUT THIS. I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT MY WIFE, WHO NORMALLY DRIVES THE CAR, WAS NOT STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO WAY TO GET OFF THE ROAD. *TR

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 2009 AND HAD WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH IT. ON NOVEMBER 5, 2009 MY HUSBAND AND I LEFT FOR THE STORE. WE HAD NOT EVEN GOTTEN 1 MILE AWAY FROM THE HOUSE WHEN THE CAR STOPPED RESPONDING WHEN YOU PRESSED ON THE GAS. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO LOUD NOISES AND THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. WHEN WE STOPPED TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED WE FOUND THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. WHEN YOU SHIFTED OUT OF PARK--NOTHING, LITERALLY NOTHING HAPPENED. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND FORKED OVER THE $1000 TO HAVE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN. PROBLEM SOLVED--OR SO WE THOUGHT. EARLIER THIS WEEK (MARCH 22, 2011) MY HUSBAND LEFT FOR WORK AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SAME AS LAST TIME- NO WARNING AND THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. WE ARE AT OUR WITS END WITH THIS CAR AND ALTHOUGH I LOVE IT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING TRANSMISSIONS IN IT EVERY FEW MONTHS. *TR

SPARK PLUG EJECTION 2003 FORD TAURUS SES 24V. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD TAURUS DOWN I88.. I WAS DOING ABOUT 65 MPH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR REVS ALL THE WAY UP WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS. I PULL OVER AND TRY TO SHIFT IT DOES NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. TURNS OUT MY TRANNY WENT.. THANKS ALOT FORD. MY CAR ONLY HAD 118,000 MILES ON AND I HAD GENERAL MAINTENANCE ON IT REGULARLY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: LINKAGE 2003 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON; 3.0L DOHC A BLACK PLASTIC CONNECTOR ALONG THE THROTTLE CABLE UNDER THE HOOD BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM A GRAY PLASTIC PIECE. THE BLACK PLASTIC PIECE BECAME STUCK AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE GRAY PIECE, CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO STAY WIDE OPEN & UNDESIRED ACCELERATION & SOME PANIC. IT APPEARS THAT THIS COULD BE REPAIRED BY SIMPLY INSERTING 2 SCREWS TO SECURE THE 2 PLASTIC PIECES TOGETHER. *TR

I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT LAST DEC AND NOW AM EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, MY SIGNAL LIGHTS/HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND WAS TOLD THE WIRES AND HARNESS NEED TO BE REPLACED. HINGES THAT HOLD REAR WINDOW IN HAVE SNAPPED OFF, WINDOW HELD IN PLACE BY LOCK. *TR

WE HAD A SMALL HAIL STORM PEA SIZE HAIL AND CALLED GEICO TO LOOK AT THE ROOF, TRUNK AND HOOD OF THE CAR. THE ROOF HAD LARGE AREA'S OF PAINT MISSING AND BUBBLED WITH LARGE AREA'S OF RUST UNDER IT. THE ADJUSTER TOLD US THIS WAS A DEFECT THAT FORD WAS HAVE WITH CARS AND TRUCKS BETWEEN 2000 - 2006 AND DENIED THE CLAIM. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF RESEARCH AND BODY SHOPS TELLING ME THIS IS A FORD DEFECT, CALLING FORD AND THEM TELLING ME IT'S NOT THERE PROBLEM, LOOKING AT WEB-SITES WITH 100'S OF COMPLAINTS, LEMON LAWS, FACEBOOK PAGES AGAINST FORD, FRUSTRATION BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LOOSING THEIR CARS DUE TO RUST, AND FORD TELLING US OH WELL EVEN AFTER THE TSA REPORT FORD POSTED STATING THEY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT ADHERING TO THE ALUMINUM TO MAKE THE CAR WEIGH LESS AND A GOOD POSSIBLE FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE PANELS WITH STEAL AND GOOD PRIMER AND PAINTED, THE FORD 800 NUMBER STATED WE ARE SORRY BUT UNLESS WE GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS AND NHTSA SEES ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO DO A RECALL WE WON'T HELP. EVEN THE DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED COMPLAINTS OF PAINT PEELING OFF THE CAR LIKE AN ORANGE. *TR

PARKED CAR OVERNIGHT, STARTED NEXT MORNING- CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. PARK WORKED, ALL OTHER GEARS ACTED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. *TR

I WAS ON HIGHWAY 89S COMING OFF OF THE RAMP WHEN I HIT THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF THE RAMP THE FORD TAURUS JUST STOPPED. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS REVVING UP A LOT ON THE HIGHWAY THEN NOTHING. IT IS NOW SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER BEING TOWED FROM CLINTON ST. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2003 TAURUS WITH MY SON DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AT NIGHT. AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT FROM BEHIND, HE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD & WAIT FOR THE TOW TRUCK, STILL DANGEROUS ON A BUSY STREET IN ANY CONDITION OR SITUATION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FORD ISSUE WITH NO SOLUTION. WORSE YET, THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS & THE FLUID SMELLS NORMAL. *TR

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY LATE SATURDAY NIGHT, AND WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED. THE CAR WAS JUST COASTING ON IT'S OWN MOMENTUM. HE TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR, TRIED REVERSE-NONE OF THE GEARS WORKED. OUR MECHANIC VERIFIED WHAT WE FEARED- WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE ARE NOW TRYING TO DECIDE HOW TO HANDLE THIS. WE CAN NOT AFFORD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, YET WE STILL OWE MONEY ON THE CAR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD TAURUS ON NB 23 HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES PH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE WAS LIKE IT WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL. HAD TO COAST FROM THE LEFT LANE OVER TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE ROAD, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THERE HAD BEEN NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE NO TRANSMISSION. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS SES, STOPS ON BUSY HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. TRANSMISSION FAILURE! CAR WON'T MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS! VERY DANGEROUS! FORD AND DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM! I HOPE MY PROBLEM BECOMES THEIR PROBLEM!! THEY SELL US THIS JUNK AND THEN DON'T HAVE TO STAND BEHIND IT...NO WONDER EVERYONE IS BUYING FOREIGN! *TR

LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION ON A DANGEROUS HIGHWAY INTERSECTION DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

DRIVING A 2003 FORD TAURUS SEL DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 65 MPH, THE CAR JUST STOPS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY WITH NO MISHAPS. I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, NO ENGINE NOISES OR SLIPPAGE. AFTER MY 300.00 TOW BACK HOME, I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. THE CAR HAS 108, 000 MILES ON IT. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE 2003 TAURUS - THE TRANSMISSION JUST GOES WITHOUT WARNING. IT COULD HAVE VERY EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, AND SEEMS THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I FOUND, FORD SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS TRANSMISSION QUIT IN MIDDLE OF MY WIFE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. NO WARNING LIGHT, NOISE, INDICATION OF AN ISSUE. AFTER SHE GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND PARKED, SHE TRIED TO ENGAGE THE CAR IN "REVERSE" AND THERE WAS NOT A SOUND OF ENGAGEMENT AND THE SAME WHEN SHE TRIED TO ENGAGE THE CAR IN "DRIVE". THIS MORNING I LOOKED AT THE CAR AND EVERYTHING SHE SAID IS TRUE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF HER MERGING ACROSS THE MAIN ROAD COULD HAVE CREATED A DEVASTATING ACCIDENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T ALLOW HER TO MERGE TO A SAFE LOCATION AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. WAS PULLING OUT INTO BUSY TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT STOPPED MOVING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A ONE TIME EVENT. THERE WERE NO SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO FAILURE. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE TO REPAIR OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE REPAIR COSTS. *TR

THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE!! MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY 45 MINUTES AWAY FROM HOME AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED SUDDENLY, SHE WAS IN AN AREA WHERE HER CELL PHONE HAD NO SERVICE, SHE HAD TO ACCEPT HELP FROM A STRANGER THAT STOPPED TO HELP! HER AND HER 15 YEAR OLD SISTER WERE TERRIFIED!! AFTER FINALLY GETTING IN TOUCH WITH ME I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN WHICH THEY HAD TO RIDE WITH A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHICH WAS JUST AS SCARY TO THEM!! SINCE THEN I HAVE DONE A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESEARCH AND MY FINDINGS ARE ASTONISHING!!! THE 2003 FORD TAURUS HAS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM! TRANSMISSION FAILURE... I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR AND SHE WAS DRIVING IT TO CHAPEL HILL BECAUSE IT WAS SAFER (IN MY EYES) THAT HER 1998 MERCURY MARQUIS, I AM VERY UPSET THAT NO ONE HAS TOLD US OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I REALLY EXPECT TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE IN REFERENCE TO FIXING THIS PROBLEM OR I WILL BE CONTACTING THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF ALL THE OTHER OWNERS AND PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I'M LETTING FORD TOUCH MY CAR AGAIN... AND WILL BE GETTING THE RESULTS LATER NEXT WEEK, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE OUT OF A VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COULD OF BEEN FIXED SOONER! THANK YOU AND KNOW I WILL BE HEARING FROM SOMEONE SOON! *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 30 M.P.H. PULLED OVER , PUT IN PARK, SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE. CYCLED THROUGH GEARS, NO ENGAGEMENT. FREE WHEELS IN ANY GEAR BUT PARK. NO SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO THIS. WILL UPDATE WHEN IT IS REPLACED. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. NO WARNINGS OR SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION PRIOR TO. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED PULLING. NO SLIPPING NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER THEN NOTHING. IT ONLY HAS 43K MILES AND I'M NEARLY 80 YRS OLD. I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND $2000 ON A REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS ODD TO ME THAT MOST RECALLS ARE FOR SOMETHING STUPID LIKE A TAILLIGHT MAY BE PRONE TO LEAKING BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS IT IS OVERLOOKED. IT IS JUST A GOOD THING THAT SHE WASN'T HIT BY SOMEONE SINCE SHE HAD PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND MADE IT TO HER LANE BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED PULLING NOT NOISE, POP OR ANYTHING!! WILL SOMEONE WITH A BACKBONE PLEASE STAND UP!!! *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO A DEAD STOP. MANY REPORTS NOTED ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM - IN LINE WITH TOYOTA FAILURES. ENDANGERS THE PUBLIC. ALL RELATED TO KNOWN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE GARAGE HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WASNT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V106000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH; THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 133,000.