2003 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

FOUND FLAT TIRE RESULTING FROM BROKEN FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING PIERCING SIDE WALL OF TIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH); THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,349. UPDATE 09/10/08*CW UPDATED 09/15/08*JB

NOTICE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO THAT OUR BLOWER MOTOR WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL TIMES. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND NOW DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. WE CANNOT HEAT OR COOL THE VEHICLE OR DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD OR SIDE WINDOWS. I KNOW THE TEMP CONTROL IS WORKING BECAUSE WHEN I TURN THE AC ON THERE IS A FAINT FEELING OF COLD WHEN I HOLD MY HAND ON THE VENTS. I ACTUALLY WORK FOR A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT YES IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT WHERE WATER LEAKS IN AND SHORTS OUT THE FAN MODULE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW FAN AND SHIELD SO IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN BUT IT WOULD BE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. FORD HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ACCORDING TO OUR ADVISORS BUT NOT A RECALL AS THEY DON'T FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY CONCERN IF YOU CAN'T CLEAR YOUR WINDOWS? *TR

APPLICATION OF BRAKES CAUSES CAR TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY. ROTORS, PADS AND CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE. REPLACED RIGHT FRONT BEARING, BALL JOINT, SWAY BAR LINK AND HALF SHAFT THE SECOND TIME, DO TO BEARING WEAR AND SQUEAK. NONE OF THE ABOVE HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,000. UPDATED 08/04/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. UPDATED 08/06/08

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL FOR THAT COMPONENT; THEREFORE, THEY WILL NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/07/09.*JB

THE A/C - HEATER BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A WATER LEAK THROUGH THE CABIN FILTER INTO THE MOTOR HOUSING. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR, RESISTOR, COWL AND NEW WEATHERSTRIPPING AT A COST OF $465.01. SINCE THERE IS A TSB FROM FORD REGARDING THIS, I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO AN ALL OUT RECALL. FORD KNOWS THAT IT IS A BAD DESIGN AND FORD NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON IT'S PRODUCTS. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO STRUT, SWAY BAR LINKAGE AND TIRE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN A RIGHT HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE , PUNCTURED MY TIRE AND BROKE THE STABILIZER ARM. HAD JUST PARKED MY CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THANK GOD WE WEREN'T HURT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,500. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/15/08 *JB

THE PASSENGER SPRING BROKE ON MY '03 FORD TAURUS. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A BRAKE GRINDING. THE BRAKES WERE FINE, BUT THE REPAIRMAN NOTICED THE DAMAGE. LUCKILY, I AM HAVING THIS REPAIRED, BEFORE I GOT ON THE ROAD FOR A 200 MILE TRIP. THE TIRE WAS BEING DAMAGED AND WOULD HAVE BLOWN. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS, WATER LEAKING IN CABIN ON PASSENGER SIDE AND FLOODED A/C UNIT. AC ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. REPAIR OF LEAK WILL COST $579 FROM DEALER. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM IN VEHICLES BUT WILL NOT REPAIR. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE EARLIER IN THE DAY, THEN MY WAS GOING TO MY DAUGHTERS HOME, WHEN SHE STOPPED FOR A STOP SIGN BY MY DAUGHTERS HOME, THE CAR PULLED AWAY AND STOPPED ACCELERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. SHE WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING FROM ADIFFERENT DIRECTION. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF SHE HAD BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE OR OPEN ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OF ANY TYPE THAT A PROBLEM WAS FORTHCOMING. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS. ROUGH ESTIMATES $2000 +/-. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS, BUT WILL NOT DISCOUNT ANY REPAIR OR HELP CUSTOMER IN ANY WAY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET ON THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME RESULT. NO HELP FROM FORD. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, BECAUSE ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED FROM THIS CONDITION. *TR

THERE WAS NO WARNING. FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE WHEN DRIVING TO WORK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PLATTSBURGHFORD AND REPAIRED. DEALER ADVISED THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH TAURUS. THAT THE 2003 NEVER HAD A RECALL BUT OTHER YEAR TAURUS DID. *TR

MY WIFE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN OUR 2003 FORD TAURUS, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. I REPLACED THE STRUT, SPRING AND TIRE. I CHECKED WITH FORD TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. THE SPRING RECALL ONLY COVERED 2002 TAURUS. I STILL HAVE THE SPRING, STRUT AND MAYBE THE TIRE. I REPORTED THIS WITH FORD, EVEN GAVE THEM THE SERIAL # OFF THE SPRING AND STRUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHENEVER IT RAINS ON THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD BECOMES WET. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE SHORTS OUT. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,102.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A SPLASH SHIELD OVER THE CABIN FILTER, LOCATED ABOVE THE HEATER AND NEAR THE BLOWER FAN. WHEN IT RAINS, WATER ENTERS AND SHORTS OUT THE RESISTOR OR FAN. AS A RESULT, POWER IS LOST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, ONLY SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 31506. THE CONTACT HAS TO PURCHASE A SPLASH SHIELD, WHICH PREVENTS WATER FROM SEEPING DOWN INTO THE BLOWER FAN. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD RESISTOR THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED SINCE JUNE OF 2008 BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE TO SHORT OUT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 11-25-08 *BF UPDATED 11/26/08. *JB

MY WIFE STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE. THEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND FELT THE VEHICLE JERK. WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED, WHICH DAMAGED THE BRAKE HOSE AND TIRES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,931. UPDATED 06/30/08 *BF THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED. UPDATED 06/27/08

JUST PULLED INTO MY WORKPLACE IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD BANG AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END FELL RIGHT ON MY TIRE. NO PRIOR WARNING WHATSOEVER. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPRING HAD BROKEN. I DID HAVE EXTENDED COVERAGE BUT WHAT A HASSLE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET THEM TO PAY WHICH THEY FINALLY DID MINUS A $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. TOOK 1 1/2 WEEKS TO GET IT FIXED AND NOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON 2003 TAURUS W/ ABOUT 49K MILES. *TR

AFTER A STRONG RAIN, A LEAKY COWL IN MY 2003 TAURUS LET WATER INTO MY BLOWER MOTOR AND SHORTED IT OUT. THE FAN ONLY WORKED ON HIGH. I HAD IT FIXED ONCE, AND THEN AFTER ANOTHER STORM IT IMMEDIATELY SHORTED OUT AGAIN. THEN, IN THE LAST WEEK (9/1/92008), IT STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER, EVEN ON HIGH. FORD HAS ISSUED A RELATED RECALL FOR A LEAKY WINDSHIELD (03V087000), BUT WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHEN I WENT IN TO TALK WITH FORD, THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID SINCE IT WAS NOT YET RECALLED, THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT FOR FREE. I HAVE NOT AS OF YET HAD THIS REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED AND AN ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED AS I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 115000 MILES ON IT, BUT HAS HAD ROUTINE SERVICE PERFORMED. ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT YET BEEN SERVICED, I DID CHECK THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL IS NORMAL AND NOT DISCOLORED OR EVIDENCE OF FOULED FLUID. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, HEARD A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AND A HUGE BANG! MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO GO INTO REVERSE WITHOUT PRESSURE ON THE TIRE...I GOT OUT AND THE TIRE WAS BLOW OUT! I CALLED THE TOW COMPANY AND THE TECHNICIAN FELT UNDER THE CAR AND SAID MY COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN! HE SAID IT WAS A GOOD THING IT HAPPENED IN MY GARAGE AND NOT WHEN I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD!!! FORD HAD A RECALL ON 1999 - 2002 FORD TAURUS CARS BUT OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM NEVER GOT RESOLVED ON THE 2003 CARS! VERY FRUSTRATING AND COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS! FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP! *TR

THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN HAS STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A LEAK IN A DEFECTIVE COWL. *TR

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (GOT MAYBE AN INCH) AND THE CAR JOLTED SLIGHTLY. I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A PUFF OF WHAT SEEMED SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW MY TIRE WAS FLAT. REMOVED TIRE TO FIND FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING HAD SNAPPED IN HALF AND RIPPED A LONG DEEP LINE IN TIRE. *TR

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. FUSE AND RELAY ARE GOOD. CHECKED BLOWER MOTOR, CONDENSATION ON OUTSIDE OF MOTOR. SMELLS OF MOLD, WATER ON PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. IN NOVEMBER OF 2007 BLOWER STOPPED BUT I TAPPED THE HOUSING AND IT STARTING WORKING AGAIN. NOW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. *TR

HEARD A CLUNKING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SPRING HAD BROKEN. *TR

LEAKY COWL. CAUSES FLOORBOARD TO BE CONSTANTLY SOAKED. HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED WITH COMPLAINT # 10184014. THE RECALL # IS 03V087000. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO COVER THESE CARS NO MATTER THE MILEAGE SINCE IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING IN THE VEHICLE AND WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE INABILITY TO USE THE HEATER OR FAN CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD DURING IRREGULAR WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,625 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 26,645. UPDATED 6/2/08 *CN

THE PART IN QUESTION IS A TRANSITOR FOR THE FORD TAURUS 2003. THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST WITH EARLIER MODEL SUCH AS THE 2001. A LEAK ABOVE THE DASH BOARD ALLOWS WATER TO FILL THE COMPARTMENT AND OVERFLOW ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE AMOUNT OF WATER IS ENOUGH TO SHORT OUT TRANSITORS AND CAUSE PROBLEMS. WHEN TALKING TO A FORD DEALER"VANCOUVER FORD DEALER", THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY REPAIR THIS PROBLEM QUIT OFTEN. COULD A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE 2003 MODELS??? THX *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW AND THEN STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I ALSO HAD WATER LEAKING ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. AGAIN YESTERDAY, MY HEATER AND A/C WILL ONLY BLOW ON HIGH. I SEE MANY PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS. PLEASE REFER TO RECALL REF# 03V087000 AND COMPLAINT #10184014. *TR

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C BLOWER MOTOR ON MY CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO. YESTERDAY, 04/23/2008, THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR WENT OUT CAUSING THE BLOWER TO WORK ONLY ON HIGH. TODAY, 04/24/2008, THE BLOWER MOTOR COMPLETELY STOPPED BLOWING. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A TSB OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE READ SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEBSITES WHERE OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL AND FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. IF THEY KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM FIX IT! WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT? *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS CABIN AIR INTAKE LEAK DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT ALLOWS RAIN WATER TO ENTER INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND CAUSES HEATER/AC FAN UNIT TO SHORT OUT DISABLING DEFROSTER AS WELL AS HEAT AND AIRCONDITIONING CONTROL. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS, COWL LEAK. WATER LEAKS INTO HEATER AND A/C BLOWER MOTOR CAUSING CORROSION. BLOWER MOTOR IS INOPERABLE. INHERENT PROBLEM, BUT NEVER CORRECTED. POSTINGS OF THIS CONDITION ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE FORD DEALER WANTS ALMOST $600.00 TO REPAIR. THE IS A TSB 03-15-6 ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS. BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE DUE TO RAIN LEAKING THROUGH CABIN FILTER INTO BLOWER MOTOR. VISIBILITY IMPAIRED WHEN WINDSHIELD THEN FOGGED. WATER FOUND ON PASSENGER FLOOR. BLOWER AND RESISTOR FOUND CORRODED. DEALER REPLACED MOTOR, RESISTOR, WEATHERSTRIP AND DEFECTIVE COWL PANEL/RAIN HAT. LABOR + PARTS $412. TSB 03-15-06. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW FORD TAURUS SE IN 2003. AFTER ONLY 30,000. MILES ON THE ODOMETER MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO GOODYEAR AND A MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REFERRED ME TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. MY QUOTE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT WAS $3,000. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FALLS UNDER "CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE" AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS SITUATION RECTIFIED. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AND REQUESTED THAT THE CAR BE REPLACED WITH A NEW TAURUS OR A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR OF ANY COLLATERAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE CAR SITTING IN MY GARAGE SINCE 2008, I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS NEARLY KILLED AS I TRIED TO NAVIGATE FROM THE FREEWAY TO THE SHOULDER. IN ESSENCE I PAID $1,000. PER MILE FOR THE LIFE OF THIS CAR. 2003 WAS ONE OF FORD'S WORST YEAR FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. TO HAVE SUCH A MAJOR COMPONENT FAIL AFTER OWNING THE CAR 5-YEARS AND JUST 30,000. MILES IS A TRAVESTY. IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OWNERS DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HOPE THAT WE CAN RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THIS TRAVESTY BY AN AMERICAN AUTO COMPANY'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND I DON'T KNOW HOW A COMPANY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS , TO ME, IS AN ILLEGAL ACT THAT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED! *TR UPDATED IVOQ 07/09/12 THE CONSUMER ALSO REPORTED TRANSMISSION FAILURES EXPERIENCED BY OTHER CONSUMERS. UPDATED IVOQ 07/23/12

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR AT THE COST OF $400, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AGAIN. THE AUTOMATIC CONTROL AND POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULES WERE REPLACED AND A NEW COMPUTER WAS INSTALLED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. DURING THE FINAL TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD BE FLOWN IN TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE ENGINEER CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING 2.4 VOLTS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHUT OFF. BYPASS WIRES WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 30 DAYS AND IS CURRENTLY AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,693. UPDATED 09/25/08 *BF UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB

INTERMITTENT BLOWER MOTOR, WET FLOOR PASSENGER SIDE UNDER BLOWER, WATER INSIDE THE BLOWER MOTOR HOUSING. *TR

APRIL 5, 2008 STARTED OFF LIKE ANY OTHER SATURDAY,CLEANING MY HOUSE THEN GOING SHOPPING AT MY LOCAL GROCERY, BUT THIS DAY WAS DIFFERENT. WHEN I GOT IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS TO GO SHOPPING, I TURNED THE KEY TO START MY CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRIED AGAIN BY PUTTING MY CAR IN REVERSE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE. NO PROBLEMS WERE INDICATED BEFORE THAT DAY. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO ASK THEM ABOUT A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM, BUT THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO BRING MY CAR TO THEIR SHOP. I SAID 'HOW CAN I BRING MY CAR TO YOUR SHOP WHEN I CAN'T DRIVE IT ANYWHERE SINCE IT WON'T GO IN REVERSE'? THE PERSON ON THE PHONE TOLD ME I COULD HAVE IT TOWED TO THEIR LOCATION AND WHEN I ASKED HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, THE GUY TOLD ME $3500. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW SHOCKED I WAS TO HEAR THIS COST! IN THE MEANTIME A NEIGHBOR CAME TO MY HOUSE AND SUGGESTED I CALL ONE OF MY TOWN'S TRANSMISSION SHOPS. I DID AND WAS TOLD THE COST TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WOULD BE ABOUT $1500. I WAS ALSO ASKED HOW MANY MILES I HAD ON MY CAR AND I TOLD HIM 35,000. HE WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR A TRANSMISSION WAS OUT W/ONLY 35,000 MILES ON MY CAR. LATER THAT DAY MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN MY CAR. FOR ONE WEEK SOMEONE HAD TO TAKE ME TO WORK AND BACK HOME AND AT THE END OF THE WEEK I PAID $1500 AND GOT MY CAR BACK HOME. DURING THAT WEEK I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED OTHER 2003 FORD TAURUS OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD W/MY CAR. SEEMS FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2003 FORD TAURUS FROM CARMAX IN BALTIMORE, MD IN SEPT 2006 AFTER TRADING IN MY 2000 FORD RANGER. THE TAURUS WAS A RENTAL CAR IN NJ BEFORE BEING SOLD TO CARMAX. SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, STARTER, BLOWER MOTOR RELAY, TRANSMISSION GASKET AND NOW THE AIR COMPRESSOR, POWER STEERING PUMP AND BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HOME GARAGE, FRONT SPRING BROKE, PIERCING FRONT TIRE CAUSING IT TO EXPLODE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, HAD TO REPLACE TIRE, FRONT SPRINGS AND STRUTS TO CORRECT DAMAGE. $986. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER, DEFROSTER OR ANY ONE OR COMBINATION OF THESE COMPONENTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE FAILURE WOULD NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

1. DISCOVERED WATER COLLECTING IN PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD, FOLLOWING HEAVY RAINS. 2. BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED, CAUSING BLOWER MOTOR TO ONLY OPERATE ON THE HIGHEST SPEED. 3. LOCATED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #TSB 04-15-3 WHICH DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING, THE CAUSE, AND CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUIRED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE CORRECTIVE WORK PERFORMED AS DESCRIBED IN THE TSB. *TR

1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, NONE. CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION MADE NO NOISE, WAS NOT SLIPPING, ETC... CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. 2) THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, THE CONSEQUENCES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE CAR AT 107,000 MILES, NO WARNING, WAS ON THE FREEWAY COMING HOME FROM WORK, DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO PASS ANOTHER CAR AND THEN RPMS MAXED OUT. CAR DID NOTHING IN ANY GEARS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MERGE OVER 3 LANES AND ARRIVE SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER. HOWEVER, HAD I NOT HAD ENOUGH SPEED THIS MOST DEFINITELY COULD HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. 3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE? THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY MY DAD, A FORMER MECHANIC, WAS ABLE TO PUT IN A USED (16,000 MILES) TRANSMISSION FOR ME. THIS COST ME ABOUT $700 DOLLARS. WHILE THIS TRANSMISSION IS STILL DOING FINE, CAR NOW HAS 135,000 MILES, THIS GIVES ME NO ASSURANCE AS THESE TRANSMISSIONS TEND TO GO WITHOUT WARNING AT LOW MILEAGE. *TR

I WAS LOOKING ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE WITH REGARD TO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I HAD HEARD ABOUT WITH THE 2003 TAURUS (FRONT END COLLAPSE) WHEN I CAME ACROSS THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. DRIVING IN HIGHWAY PASSING LANE, THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE MOMENTUM. SPEEDOMETER RAPIDLY BEGAN TO DROP WHILE RPM'S WENT BALLISTIC, THEN DROPPED. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I QUICKLY REALIZED THE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP THAT I COULD NOT CONTROL REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO MAKE IT INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, WHERE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE HALT AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. NOT ONLY DID I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY 2003 TAURUS AT 71K MILES, WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2001 FORD F-150 AT 110K MILES & 2005 FORD FOCUS AT 80K MILES, AT A COST OF $8300.00. ALL OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PURCHASED NEW AND DRIVEN BY THE SAME DRIVER. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I WOULD THINK EITHER FORD OR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND PERFORM AN IN DEPTH INVESTIGATION WHY SO MANY FORD TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING AND ISSUE A NOTIFICATION OF THESE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND THE STEPS TO REMEDIATE THOSE ISSUES BEFORE THE ISSUE CAUSES SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

HEATER/AC FAN ONLY WORKING ON HIGH SPEED THEN QUIT ENTIRELY, FOUND FAN MOTOR FULL OF WATER . SOMEHOW WATER LEAKS IN FROM AIR INLET. FORD AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX. *TR

TAURUS WITH A WATER LEAK OR BLOWN A/C HEATER BLOWER MOTOR. THE BLOWER ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I HAVE WATER DRAINING ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR IN RAIN STORMS. THE BLOWER WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH SPEED BEFORE IT STOP WORKING COMPLETELY. REFER TO FORD RECALL NUMBER: 03V087000. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING EXPLODED, 2003 FORD TAURUS. CAR WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC LANE. FRONT TIRE RUBBED ON WHEEL WELL. INABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS. $900 TO REPAIR. I READ OF ISSUES WITH 2003 AND 2001 MODELS. FORD RECALLED 2001 MODELS AND APPARENTLY FORD DIDN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM IN TIME. WHERE IS THE 2003 RECALL? *TR

BLOWER MOTOR WORKED THEN QUIT ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING. DID NOT WORK ON ANY SETTING. IT WAS RAINING AND WINDOWS WERE STARTING TO FOG. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO WRECK BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ANY DEFROSTER. RECALL NUMBER 03V087000 DOES NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH ITS SIMILAR. I THINK IT SHOULD INCLUDE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE HAVING THE BLOWER MOTOR GO OUT IS DANGEROUS. *TR