2003 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

WATER LEAKED INTO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY WINDSHIELD AND SOAKED FRONT FLOOR AREA (AT LEAST 1 TO 2 QUARTS OF WATER) IT ALSO SHORTED OUT AND DESTROYED THE BLOWER MOTOR. DEALER INSTALLED NEW MOLDING AND AN ADDITIONAL RAIN HAT. CARE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. SO DEALER WOULD NOT HELP WITH COST. I WONDER IF IT WILL TAKE A FIRE FOR FORD TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IF NEEDED CONTACT ME FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD TAURUS AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR, A RESISTOR AND THE BOWER MOTOR WHEEL. THIS WAS DO TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN BY FORD THAT LETS MOISTURE INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR AREA THUS CAUSING IT TO FAIL, THEY REFUSE TO DO A RECALL AND I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES FOR AUTO REPAIR. *JB

RAIN WATER IS SEEPING ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. APPARENTLY THIS WATER IS RAIN WATER THAT SOMEHOW LEAKS FROM THE FRONT INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR & THEN MAKES IT WAY INTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR. THERE IS NO PRIOR ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR CAUSING THIS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT FORD HAS PUBLISHED INTO IN ITS TECHNICAL BULLETINS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT IS HAPPENING TO MY 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE BLOWER MOTOR & RESISTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS ALSO CAN CAUSE SHORT CIRCUIT & POTENTIALLY ELECTRIC FIRE IN THE CAR. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT! OTHER FOLKS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO. *NM

AS WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2003 TAURUS OWNERS, I ALSO HAVE WATER LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT FROM A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW. I ALSO REPLACED THE HEATER FAN WHICH I FOUND TO BE FULL OF WATER. I AM ALSO VERY, VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE IDEA THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND FORD WON'T MAKE IT RIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HAVING THEIR FEET HELD TO THE FIRE BY A GOVERNMENT AGENCY. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR HAS OCCASIONALLY DONE WHAT IS CALLED A "NEUTRAL DROP". WHILE STARTING OUT FROM A STOP IN "DRIVE", THE TRANSMISSION HAS (ON THREE OCCASIONS) NOT ENGAGED UNTIL THE ENGINE HAS REACHED ABOUT 2000 RPM. THE RESULTANT EFFECT FROM THIS SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS THE FEELING OF HAVING SOMEONE RUN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, TESTS WERE RUN WITH NO ERROR CODES FOUND FOR ANY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS. APPARENTLY THE COMPUTER'S MEMORY IS SELECTIVE. I USED TO HAVE A WIFE LIKE THAT. I'VE PURCHASED FIVE FORDS SINCE 1994 AND HAVE HAD SERIOUS DESIGN/MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THEM. DO YOU THINK I'LL BUY ANOTHER ONE? I HAVE A LONG MEMORY, AND THAT'S IT FOR ME. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS IN RAINY WEATHER, WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE COWLING AROUND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ADDITIONALLY, THE RAINWATER LEAKED INTO THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER MOTOR WHICH SHORTED OUT AFTERWARDS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

PREMATURE RUSTING OF WHEEL WELLS. *TR

NO WARNINGS....FORD TAURUS 2003 SES...58,000 MILES....TRANSMISSION FAILED. I HAD A REMANFACTURED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. TRADED CAR IN FOR A HYUNDAI THE SAME WEEK. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WATER LEAKED ONTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD THROUGH THE BLOWER MOTOR VENTS CAUSING THE DEFROSTER/FOGGER BLOWER MOTOR TO SHORT OUT. THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON TWO OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHILE IDLING. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS BLINKED ON/OFF PRIOR TO STALLING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE STALLING PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

2003 TAURUS SES-WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER INTO PASS. SIDE FLOOR. *NM

AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTION. TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT A FEW TIMES BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER CHARGED 50 DOLLARS TO REPAIR WITHIN 2 WEEKS SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. NOW TURN HEADLIGHTS ON MANUALLY. COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED ON TURNPIKE WHEN THEY MALFUNCTIONED DRIVE TOTALLY BLIND TILL LIGHT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON MANUALLY. *NM

BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH WENT OUT, PLUS WATER LEAK ON PASSENGER FRONT SIDE. *NM

2003 FORD TAURUS BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AND THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM WAS WATER GETTING INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR AREA FROM THE COWL AREA AT THE CABIN FILTER. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A TSB FIX WITH A SHIELD AND WEATHERSTRIP. THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROBLEM AFTER THE WATER HAS ALREADY CAUSED THE PROBLEM COSTING YOU $300 EXTRA BECAUSE NOW YOU NEED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FIXED. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 FORD TAURUS SE, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I TRIED TO MAKE A PHONE CALL HOME. AT THE TIME MY PHONE COULD NOT CONNECT, I RE-TRIED THE PHONE CALL MY PHONE MADE A CLICKING SOUND, SIMULTANEOUSLY MY DASH BOARD BLINKED OUT AND RESET TO ALL THE WRONG INFORMATION. WHEN I EXITED THE FREEWAY I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED MY VEHICLE EVERYTHING RESET CORRECTLY. I CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID IT WAS A VOLTAGE SPIKE. I THEN TALKED TO A GOOD FRIEND IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DEPT. AT A COMPETITOR. HE TOLD ME THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF CELL PHONE SIGNALS WILL INTERFERE WITH THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN SOME VEHICLES. I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD TAKE THIS A BIT MORE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THIS MODEL TAURUS HAS, IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A NOISE AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED, PUNCTURING THE TIRE, AND FRACTURING THE SWAY BAR LINK. THE COIL SPRING, TIRE, SWAY BAR LINK AND STRUT WERE REPLACED.

TL*- THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD OF HIS 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED MORE WATER WHEN IT RAINED OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WET. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK DUE TO THERE BEING NO DEFLECTOR OVER THE POLLEN FILTER. THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE REPAIR, AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY MORE LEAKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN HAD STOPPED WORKING . HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RESISTER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RESISTER SWITCH. THE AIR CONDITIONER RESISTER SWITCH FAILED AGAIN APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THE BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST FROM THE PREVIOUS LEAKS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 61000 MILES. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED THE REPAIR BILL AND WANTS TO REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE WATER LEAK SHORTED OUT THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A SILENT RECALL REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD LEAK. UPDATE *4/20/07 *TR UPDATED 09/19/07. *JB

FAILURE OF BLOWER MOTOR AND FAN RESISTOR DUE TO WATER PUDDLING IN THIS AREA AND CAUSING REPLACEMENT. *NM

THERE WAS WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AFTER A RAIN STORM THIS WEEK AND NOW THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER MOTOR DOESN'T WORK IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10011149 AND SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 031506. *JB

I JUST PURCHASED A 2003 FORD TAURUS FROM ROYAL FORD IN OWEGO, N.Y. AND THE BLOWER MOTOR QUIT ON ME, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE, I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS. *NM

THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE RIGHT COWL TRIM THAT ALLOWED WATER TO SEEP INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR TO RUST OUT AND STOP WORKING. IF THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITHIN THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY IT WAS FIXED FOR FREE BUT IF YOU WERE UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE IT FAIL AFTERWARDS FORD SAYS YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE. THEY KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT DID NOT WARN THE CONSUMER. I BELIEVE THAT SINCE THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. *NM

ON FEB 9, 2006 OUR BLOWER MOTOR WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH. WE TOOK IT IN THEN AND THEY REPLACED THE RESISTOR, NEVER MENTIONING A POTENTIAL WATER PROBLEM THAT WOULD LEAD TO BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE. ON JUNE 25, 2006 OUR BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT. WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND WERE TOLD A WATER LEAK CAUSED THIS & THEY REPLACED IT & TOLD US ABOUT A BONNET THEY COULD INSTALL SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WE FEEL WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD IN FEBRUARY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND GIVEN THE CHANCE TO PURCHASE THE BONNNET AT THAT TIME, INSTEAD OF PAYING FOR A NEW BLOWER MOTOR IN JUNE. WE FEEL THESE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT ON THESE VEHICLES IN THE FIRST PLACE AND NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *JB

2003 FORD TAURUS TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 59,000 MILES. WE WERE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH DURING THE WEEKEND. IT WAS HARD TO GET IT TOWED IT BEING THE WEEKEND. COST TO REPAIR WAS $2,000. WON'T BUY FORD CAR AGAIN. B *JB

I HAVE A 1993 FORD TAURUS THAT LEAKED WATER FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. THEN MY AC SWITCH WENT OUT. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR AND SHORTED OUT. HE ALSO HAD A 1992 TAURUS THAT HE JUST REPAIED WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WILL NEED A NEW BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR. ALSO SOME KIND OF COWL IS NEEDED TO PREVENT THIS AGAIN. *JB

YESTERDAY MY FORD TAURUS 2003 WHILE MY CHILD WAS WITH ME HAD THE ENGINE GO WILD OUT OF CONTROL. THE ENGINE ALL BY ITS SELF STARTED RACING AT HIGH SPEED AND THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF IT. I HAD GOOD SENSE TO HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED IT INTO NEUTRAL. IT RAN THIS WAY FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER. I TOOK THE CAR RIGHT AWAY TO WESTFIELD FORD 708-354-8600 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE WENT WACKY AND NEEDED TO BE RE-PROGRAMMED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONDITION WHEN THE CAR CAN JUST TAKE OFF BY ITS SELF WITH NO SAFETY SHUT DOWN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE MAYBE SOMEONE WAS KILLED THIS WAY BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN A COMPUTER. IF THERE WAS MORE TRAFFIC PRESENT I COULD HAVE DIED ALONG WITH MY CHILD. THE CUSTOMER REPORT FROM WESTFIELD SAYS 94490 DIAGNOSIS J# 1 06F0Z0ENGD. THE FORD PEOPLE SEEMED TO ACT LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO OTHER PEOPLE. *JB

BLOWER FAN DOESN'T WORK. *AK

ON 6-7-06, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK, THE FAN MOTOR QUIT. FOR THE NEXT WEEK, THE MOTOR WOULD QUIT OR FAIL TO RUN ANY TIME THAT IT WAS RAINING OR HAD RAINED. THIS EFFECTED USING THE DEFROST AND THE AIR CONDITIONING. AFTER CHECKING ALL FUSES, I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ASKED IF THIS WAS A 2003 MODEL TAURUS? HE THEN EXPLAINED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THAT CAR. HE EXPLAINED ABOUT THE WATER GETTING IN THE MOTOR AND THAT THERE WAS A TSB ON HOW TO FIX THIS. HOWEVER, FORD WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COST SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS 401.14 DOLLARS. SINCE THIS CAUSED A ELECTRICAL SHORT AND WAS NOT PROTECTED BY FUSES, I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A FIRE. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD BUT HAD 37,398 MILES WHEN THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. *NM

ENGINE MISFIRED THEN SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. *NM

WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER AND AIR. FOUND ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN IT. *NM

MY 2003 FORD TAURUS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 5 TIMES FOR STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND NOT STARTING ON ANY GIVEN DAY. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED EXCEPT THE CAR ITSELF. UPON THE LAST VISIT, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STARTER AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO LET ME KNOW IT WAS READY, I WENT UP THERE AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AT THAT TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT ALSO. ANY INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG, WOULD BE NICE. I HAVE DRIVEN THEIR LOANER CAR MORE THAN THE CAR I BOUGHT! *NM

THROTTLE STICKS AT THE TOP OF THE PEDAL. THE 'BARREL' GOING FROM THE AIR CLEANER TO THE CARBURETOR HAS A BUTTERFLY IN IT, WHEN THE BUTTERFLY RETURNS, IT GETS STUCK, THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME KIND OF SEAL MATERIAL. TO THROTTLE UP SOMETIMES MEANS EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON THE THROTTLE, WHEN THE BUTTERFLY BREAKS LOOSE, THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD. *JB

MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS GOING FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. CAR ONLY HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. BACK SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS, DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT RAINS, WATER DRIPS FROM THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD INTO THE VEHICLE, CAUSING INTERIOR DAMAGE. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILS DUE TO THE WATER DAMAGE AND THE BLOWER HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. RETURNED USPS, MADE 2ND ATTEMPT 07/03/07, ATTEMPT FAILED. *LJ

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. A PROBLEM WITH THE MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING HAS CAUSED THE STOP LAMPS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNLESS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 04V106000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

OVER A YEAR AGO, I NOTICED THAT IT WAS HARD TO GET THE GEAR SHIFT TO MOVE FROM THE PARK POSITION TO DRIVE OR REVERSE IN THE 2003 FORD TAURUS. NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED I COULD NOT GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. FINALLY, SOMETHING TOLD ME TO PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL,HARD, AND THEN IT WOULD RELEASE. I WOULD DO THIS FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR MONTHS. EACH TIME THAT THIS OCCURRED IT WOULD TAKE LONGER AND LONGER TO GET THE CAR INTO GEAR, THEN AGAIN, IT WOULD DISAPPEAR FOR MONTHS, THEN START ALL OVER AGAIN. I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP, AND IT WOULD NOT FAIL FOR THEM, BUT INTRIGUED, THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK WHENEVER IT OCCURRED AGAIN. MONTHS LATER, YOU GUESSED IT, THE PROBLEM RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE AND LASTED MORE THAN JUST A FEW DAYS. THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD RELEASE IS WHEN I REALLY STOMPED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. BACK TO THE SHOP IT WENT BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ALWAYS WORK , BUT THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD. THAT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS TIME THE MECHANICS CALLED FORD WHO TOLD THEM THAT THEY DID HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN CARS AND ASKED FOR THE VIN #. FOR SOME REASON, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN, MY VIN # NUMBER DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS NOT AN EXPENSIVE JOB, I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME. AFTER ALL, I DID HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THE MECHANICS RECEIVED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH TO INSTALL, THE PART HAD BEEN COMPLETELY REDESIGNED. THAT TELLS ME THAT FORD KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND ADDRESSED IT, BUT ONLY FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM THE DRIVE POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IT MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 04V106000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

ENGINE STARTS MISFIRING AND LOSES POWER COMPLETELY AND SHUTS OFF. YOU CAN TURN IGNITION OFF AND RESTART ENGINE AND THE ENGINE RUNS GOOD FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE FUEL RAIL SENSOR CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM, BUT I'VE INSTALLED TWO SENSORS IN FOUR MONTHS. *JB

PURCHASED USED '03 TAURUS SES FROM NON-FORD DEALER, ON 3/2/06. APRIL 22, AFTER HEAVY RAIN NOTICED PUDDLE OF WATER ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. FOLLOWING MONDAY MORNING DURING DRIVE TO WORK...STILL RAINING AND MISTY...WINDOWS FOGGING UP...TURN ON HEATER/DEFOGGER/AC...NOT WORKING! CALL DEALER TO ADVISE OF THE WATER AND HEATER/AC NOT FUNCTIONING...ADVISED STILL COVERED UNDER 3/36 FACTORY WARRANTY...HOWEVER, FORD ADVISED WARRANTY EXPIRED 3/31/06. DEALER THEN HAD THEIR MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK...ADVISED THERE'S A LEAK BEHIND FIREWALL CAUSING WATER TO GET IN...AND ALSO CAUSE OF MOTOR BLOWER NOT WORKING...EST. $500-600 TO REPAIR...NOT INCLUDING PART FOR MOTOR BLOWER! THEY WOULD NEED TO CONTACT FORD ABOUT PRICE ON MOTOR BLOWER...I DECIDE TO CHECK PRICING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS! CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS ASKING IF THEY COULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION ON HAVING COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS IT WAS NOT QUITE 30 DAYS BEYOND EXPIRING. THEY CONTACTED SERVICE MGR. AT FORD DEALER CLOSEST TO ME...TOLD THAT THEY WOULD AGREE TO REPAIR WORK ACCORDING TO FORD'S GUIDELINES AND DISCOUNT REPAIR COST...I DROPPED CAR OFF TODAY FOR THEM TO "ASSES" THE PROBLEM WHICH WILL COST $80 ON TOP OF THE $109 PAID TO OTHER DEALERS MECHANIC. I'D LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES WITH SERVICE MGR...TO DISCUSS...NEVER CALLED BACK! I PUT $4K DOWN PAYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE AND ONLY ABOUT TO MAKE 2ND CAR NOTE...I'M CERTAIN THAT I, LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO'VE COMPLAINED, WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTLY REPAIR. *NM

DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT IN FORD TAURUS, WATER GETS INTO THE HEATER SYSTEM CAUSING THE HEATER/AIR BLOWER TO FAIL. ALSO, PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR CAUSING CARPET TO SMELL. *NM

1. PURCHASED CAR IN APRIL 2003; 2. NOTICED WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER SIDE (ON FLOORBOARD) OF CAR DURING HEAVY RAINS AFTER PURCHASE. PROBLEM OCCURS ONLY DURING HEAVY RAIN AND HAS CAUSED A BAD SMELL INSIDE CAR. THE FIRE RETARDANT INSULATION IS SATURATED AND IS CAUSE OF ODOR. 3. RECEIVED RECALL IN JUNE 2006 REGARDING STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND AIR FILTER. NOT CERTAIN IF RECALL RELATED TO LEAKING WATER PROBLEM, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER DEALERSHIP PERFORMED RECALL REPAIRS. 2. *TR

IN 2004 I HAD THE FORD DEALER REPAIR A WATER LEAK THAT CAUSED THE PASSENGER FLOOR TO FILL WITH WATER IN RAIN AND CAR WASHES. I STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM TODAY. MY FAMILY ALSO HAD THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM IN 1995 ON A FORD CONTOUR. *NM

2003 FORD TAURUS BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT DUE TO A WATER LEAK THAT IS KNOWN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DEFROSTER IS INOPERABLE RESULTING IN WATER LEAKAGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED HOWEVER NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

2003 TAURUS BLOWER MOTOR BLEW OUT PER MECHANIC. THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSED WATER TO ENTER INTO THE AIR INTAKE OF THE VEHICLE, ENTERING THE BLOWER MOTOR. *TS *JB

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A 2003 FORD SES TAURUS AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR WAS IN A DIRECT HIT IN FRONT AND TOTALED WITH 12,000 OF DAMAGE INCLUDING BLOCK CRACKED ON ENGINE. VIN # [XXX]. NOTE THIS CAR WE REQUESTED TO HAVE REPLACED UNDER THE LEMON LAW AND WENT ALL THE WAY AND COULDN'T GET ANY HELP FROM ANYONE TO GET ANYTHING DONE. PLEASE HELP US IN RESOLVE FOR OUR NEEDS RESOLVE BUT NOT TO LET ANOTHER PERSON GET HURT AND OR ABUSED AS SUCH. THERE WAS INJURIES IN THIS CASE AND I DO HAVE A FULL SENT OF PHOTOS TO FAX. SINCERELY ITS TIME TO STOP THIS TYPE OF IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BROKEN COIL SPRING. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V332000, REGARDING THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - *NM

DURING A SNOW FALL, MY WIFE HAD JUST STARTED HER 2003 TAURUS AND TURNED THE HEATER/DEFROSTER MOTOR ON HIGH. SHE CLEANED SNOW OFF THE EXTERIOR WINDOWS AND WHEN SHE RE-ENTERED THE CAR, THE BLOWER WAS NOT RUNNING; IT WOULD NOT RUN AT ANY SPEED. SHE HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO HEATER/DEFROSTER WORKING. SHE HAD NO CHOICE BECAUSE SHE HAD TO GET HOME. THIS TYPE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON MANY TAURSE'S. SERVICE BULLETIN 031506 HAS BEEN ISSUED AND FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE REPLACEMENT BLOWER, A TACIT ADMISSION THAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS FAULTY. WHEN THE FORD DEALER CALLED ME WITH DESCRIPTION AND COST OF REPAIRS I SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED, THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME NO TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED. THE CAR WAS 6 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIRS COST ME $450. I HAVE OWNED ABOUT 2 DOZEN VARIOUS AMERICAN CARS OVER ABOUT 35 YEARS AND I KNOW AMERICAN CAR QUALITY HAS IMPROVED TREMENDOUSLY SINCE THE 70'S. BUT ANY COMPANY THAT TREATS ITS CUSTOMERS THE WAY I WAS TREATED IN THIS CASE DESERVES TO CONTINUE LOSING MARKET SHARE. I ACTUALLY HATE TO HAVE TO SAY THIS, BUT OUR NEXT 2 CARS WILL PROBABLY BE JAPANESE. *JB

MY 2003 FORD TAURUS'S TRANSMISSION DIED AS I WAS DRIVING MY SONS TO SCHOOL AT 45 MPH, COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. *NM

BLOWER MOTOR/DEFROST NO LONGER WORKS. *NM

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY. CAR WENT INTO FREE ROLL. CAUSED SERIOUS PERSONAL PROBLEMS FINANCIALLY. *NM

JUST LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE. MY HEATER BLOWER QUIT WORKING ON ALL MODES EXCEPT HIGH. THEN WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS HIGH WENT OUT. I TESTED IT AND FOUND THE RESISTOR TO BE BAD, BUT WHEN I BY-PASSED IT, THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS ALSO BAD. THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THERE WAS MORE TO THE STORY THAN WHAT I WAS SEEING. I NOTICED THAT THE RESISTOR HAD RUST ON IT. THIS WAS NOT GOOD, WHEN I OPENED THE FAN MOTOR CASING I FOUND WATER IN IT. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THE SEAL IS FAULTY (DEFECTIVE) . I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS AT FORD DEALERSHIPS SO FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT OBLIGATED TO TELL CUSTOMERS. SO IF YOU STILL HAVE A WARRANTY IT'S COVERED ONLY IF YOU CONTACT FORD. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A WARRANTY NO LONGER THAN YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY THE BILL. THEY HAVE NOT PUT OUT A RECALL BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED. MOST TAKE IT IN TO SERVICE AND FORD REPAIRS AND CHARGES THEM, USUALLY WITHOUT TELLING THEM ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE SEAL. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE CALLED AND MADE COMPLAINTS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT FIXED AT THE MOMENT, BUT I AM DETERMINED. THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE SEAL, BUT YET DID NOT HAVE THE COMMON COURTESY TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE IT COST APPROXIMATELY $400-$500 FOR THOSE WITHOUT WARRANTY INSTEAD OF SAVING THE $300-$400 . SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT RIPPING OFF CUSTOMERS, AND MAKING THEM PAY THE PRICE FOR ANOTHER'S KNOWING MISTAKE. THIS LEADS TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD LOURIE. *NM

BLOWER WAS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE AND THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR TO TURN ON THE HEAT THE BLOWER WOULDN'T WORK. I PURCHASED A NEW BLOWER MOTOR FROM A FORD DEALER. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE WAS NO PRIOR EVIDENCE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR OR LEAKING FROM THAT AREA; HOWEVER, WHEN WE TOOK OUT THE OLD BLOWER MOTOR, WATER POURED OUT ONTO THE FLOOR. WHEN I CALLED THE FORD DEALER BACK, I WAS TOLD FROM THE PARTS DEPARTMENT, THAT THERE HAD BEEN CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF BLOWER MOTORS BURNING OUT FROM WATER LEAKING INTO THAT AREA. *NM