2003 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD TAURUS WITH A FIVE YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM ELDER FORD. BLOWER MOTOR WAS FULL OF WATER THAT LEAKED THROUGH THE VENT. THIS MADE IT BURN OUT. THE DEALER WANTS $420 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND COWL COVER. THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, I HAVE NOT MODIFIED ANY PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. NOT EVEN THREE YEARS LATER THIS IS THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING. AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED FOR OVER $800. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED AND FORD SHOULD NOT BE RIPPING PEOPLE OFF BY BUILDING JUNK. *AK

BLOWER MOTOR ON 03 FORD TAURUS CEASED TO OPERATE. NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. FUSE AND RELAY OK. DANGEROUS BECAUSE VISIBILITY PROBLEM DUE TO FROST. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE UNAWARE OF PROBLEM! INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALED THAT FORD IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM. (TSB 03-15-6). CALLED DEALER, THEY CLAIM WE HAVE NO RECOURSE BECAUSE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. SHE ALSO DETECTED SMOKE AND THEN THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BLOWER MOTOR WAS LEAKING AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR BUT THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT THE MECHANIC STATED BOTH WERE RUSTED FROM WATER DAMAGE. UPDATED 03/05/08 *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD TAURUS SES. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A FRONT WINDOW WATER LEAK, HOWEVER IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THE LEAK HAS MADE THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WHEN THE WEATHER IS INCLEMENT. THE VIN OF THIS TAURUS IS [XXX]. TODAY I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REMOVED AND THE GLASS INSTALLER TOLD ME THAT THE REASON THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED IS THAT THERE WAS NO ADHESIVE AT BOTH OF THE BOTTOM CORNERS OF THE GLASS, AND THAT THIS ALLOWED THE WATER TO ENTER THE CABIN AREA. IT WAS SO BAD THAT DURING THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THERE WOULD BE WATER DRIPPING FROM THE LOWER PARTS OF THE DASH BOARD AND THE WATER HAD FILLED THE HEATER FAN HOUSING, FROZEN AND MADE THE FAN TOTALLY INOPERABLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFELY ISSUE AS THE FAN WAS TOTALLY INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE DE-FOGGING OF THE WINDSHIELD. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN THE UP POSITION, BOTH OF THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY. IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS THE UP AND STANDARD POSITION, THE LIGHTS WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *JB UPDATED 02/09/06. *JB

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SPRING OF 2005 TO BUY AMERICAN. I STILL WILL. WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED A LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALTHOUGH UNDER WARRANTY, I PAID DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR. IT SEEMED OK FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WHEN I GO TO THE POST OFFICE I KEEP IMPORTANT MAIL TEMPORARILY ON THE FLOOR. AFTER A LONG RAIN. I FOUND MY IMPORTANT MAIL SITTING IN A PUDDLE, NOW MY BLOWER SWITCH IS NOT FUNCTIONING, PROBABLY DUE TO THIS LEAK. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. THIS WAS A NEW CAR TO ME. I WANT IT PERMANENTLY REPAIRED FOR NO CHARGE. THANK YOU. FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. *NM

WHEN DRIVING MY 2003 FORD TAURUS WAGON IT STALLS FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS BUT COMES BACK ON BY ITSELF. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL. AT TRAFFIC LIGHT & ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON &CAR DID STALL & I HAD TO RESTART CAR. DRIVING AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY ALL LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WILL COME ON & CAR STALLS BUT RESTARTS ON ITS OWN WHICH IS SCARY. WARRANTY ALREADY EXPIRED. *TR

DURING A SNOW STORM, WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON A SLUSHY ROAD, THE VEHICLE'S BLOWER MOTOR QUIT WORKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE CAR BECAME MOST UN-DRIVABLE AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES DUE TO CONDENSATION AND FROSTING ON THE WINDSHIELD. I ALMOST RAN INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ONE TIME. *NM

WATER COLLECTS IN BLOWER CASE OF THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, SHORTING OUT THE MOTOR DUE TO DEFECTIVE HVAC AIR INTAKE DESIGN. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR OF CONDENSATION WHILE DRIVING, LIMITING VISIBILITY. *JB

CAR HEATER MOTOR FAILED - FULL OF WATER- REPAIRMAN SAYS IT'LL KEEP HAPPENING BECAUSE OF DESIGN FLAW OF 2003 FORD TAURUS WAGON. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC, BUT HE ALSO COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE PCM TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION LEVEL, WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT SHUTS OFF AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 1/8/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14/09.*JB

SINCE OWNING THIS AUTO FROM 2004 FORWARD, I'VE BEEN IN A FEW FRONT-END INCIDENTS AND THE AIR BAG NEVER ACTIVATED.

2003 FORD TAURUS HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSE WATER TO GET IN TO DASH BOARD AREA ON PASSENGER SIDE. MY FAN BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING, WHEN I REMOVED THE MOTOR THERE WAS WATER IN THE MOTOR AND THE FLOOR WAS WET. WE HAD NOTICED WATER ON THE FLOOR SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. *JB

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR AND BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILED DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE INTO BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CAUSED BY POORLY DESIGNED COWL VENT SCREEN(PASSENGER SIDE). FORD HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. THEY ISSUED TSB #03-15-6 TO DETAIL THE REPAIR PROCEDURE AND REDESIGNED THE PASSENGER SIDE COWL OUTSIDE SCREEN/VENT PANEL TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. WHILE IT MIGHT NOT BE A SERIOUS ENOUGH PROBLEM TO RECALL ALL THE CARS COVERED UNDER THIS TSB, THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECT SHOULD BE BORNE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, NOT THE CONSUMER! THEY CHARGED ME $382.57 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

OUR 2003 FORD TAURUS STARTED TO LEAK FROM SOMEWHERE. THE FLOORS BECAME WET WHEN IT RAINED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY FIXED"THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES EACH TIME THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. WE WERE LEFT WITHOUT A CAR FOR A WEEK THE LAST TIME ,AND STILL WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE WATER DAMAGE HAS LEFT MY CAR WITH A FOUL SMELL AND HAS SHORTED OUT OUR BLOWER FOR THE SECOND TIME. FORD IN WATERBURY CT HAS GIVEN UP ON THE CAR AND CLAIMED THAT THEY CANNOT FIND WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM. THIS HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS. SINCE THIS TIME OUR WARRANTY HAS RAN OUT AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. WE ARE AWARE OF RECALL # 03V087000, BUT WE ARE NOT SURE IF THIS IS PART OF IT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND MANY DESCRIPTIONS OF FORD MODELS 2001-2003 WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT THE VALUE OF MY TAURUS HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, AND I CANNOT TRADE IN THIS CAR KNOWING THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I'M NOT SURE ANYONE WOULD EVEN WANT THIS CAR AT THIS POINT. WE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED AND FEEL "RIPPED OFF" BY FORD. THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT BUT IS NOW PLAGUED BY WATER DAMAGED CARPETS AND UNHEALTHY MOLD. THE HEATER/AC/BLOWER DOES NOT WORK AND ON VERY COLD, ICY, OR HOT DAYS IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO SAFETY HAZARDS.*AK PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WE HAVE NOWHERE LEFT TO TURN. FORD TAURUS 4 DR SEDAN TAN. *AK

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR 2003 FORD TAURUS WAGON, WE NOTICED EXTENSIVE WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. WE TOOK CAR TO NEWPORT FORD, AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO OVERFLOW THE RAINHAT AND TRAVEL THROUGH THE HEATER SYSTEM TO THE FLOOR. THEY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, STILL UNDER WARRANTY, WE NOTICED WATER ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR AGAIN. HAVING MOVED, WE TOOK THE CAR TO HOWELL MOTORS OF WRIGHT'S CORNERS, NY. THEY TOO WERE AWARE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT, AND WERE IN POSSESSION OF TSB # 04-15-3 WHICH CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE BLOWER MOTOR, AND/OR BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. WE NOT BEING AUTOMOBILE MECHANICS, WERE NOT AWARE OF THE CERTAINTY OF A DEFROST SYSTEM FAILURE. NOT KNOWING THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, WE DID NOT INSIST THAT THEY REPLACE ALL THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS. LAST WEEK, THE DEFROSTER BLOWER SUDDENLY FAILED DURING THE FIRST SNOWSTORM OF THE YEAR. WATER AND SLUSH FROM PASSING TRAFFIC FROZE TO THE WINDSHIELD REDUCING VISIBILITY TO ZERO. WAS FORCED TO LIMP HOME, STOPPING AT GAS STATIONS TO SCRAPE AND CLEAN WINDSHIELD. RESEARCHED ON INTERNET, AND LEARNED THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND WERE INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NO LONGER A WARRANTY ISSUE, AND WERE CHARGED $ 267.26 FOR A NEW BLOWER MOTOR, TO REPLACE THE ONE DESTROYED BY THE WATER POOLING IN THE HEATER SYSTEM. WE ARGUED THAT THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, AS THE CAR HAD BEEN IN TWICE PREVIOUSLY, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AS THE CAR WAS CLEARLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN THE WINTER, WE PAID THE DEALER. FORD IS TRYING TO PASS THIS OFF AS A "COMFORT" ISSUE, WHILE IN REALITY, HAVING ZERO VISIBILITY FROM THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE, BUT ILLEGAL IN NY STATE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD GLASS LEAKED DURING RAINY WEATHER AND PUDDLES OF RAINWATER FORM IN THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEALANT AROUND THE WINDSHIELD GLASS. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 03V087000 REGARDING VISIBILITY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE AIR CONDITION FAILED. UPDATED 09/22/06. *JB

I WAS GOING TO WORK THE MONDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING 2005, I STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND THEN PROCEEDED TO GO, WENT TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO SPEED UP, AND IT REVVED, AND I COASTED IN A PARKING LOT.*AK

I FOUND THIS WEB SITE ( TTP://FORUMS.CARREVIEW.COM/SHOW THREAD.PHP?T=2030 ) WHILE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO CHANGE THE HEATER FAN BLOWER RESISTER ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHAT WAS DESCRIBED ON THIS SITE IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. MY WIFE NOTICED A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT OF THE CAR. NOT LONG LATER THE FAN FOR THE HEATER WENT OUT. THE ABOVE MENTIONED SITE SAID THAT A FORD ADMITTED DESIGN DEFECT ALLOWED WATER TO GET INTO THE HEATER SYSTEM AND CAUSES THE BLOWER TO GO OUT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR WHEN IT IS COLD BECAUSE THE FRONT WINDOW WILL FOG UP AND I CAN'T SAFELY SEE OUT THE WINDOW. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE RESISTER/ BLOWER MOTOR OR WHATEVER WENT OUT ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS TO CAUSE THE FAN TO QUIT WORKING AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWED WATER INTO THE HEATING SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE RESOLVED SOON.*AK

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAD A SHARP METAL EDGE ON BOTTOM OUTER CORNER. THE SHARP EDGE SLICED THE PASSENGER'S LEG, REQUIRING 25 STITCHES TO CLOSE THE WOUND. *NM

WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MILES TURNED OFF LI EXPRESSWAY CAME TO A LIGHT WHEN I STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL TO HEAR ENGINE REVVING UP BUT THE CAR NOT MOVING. HAD TO CALL AAA TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME AND THEN HAD THE FORD DEALERSHIP COME PICK IT UP. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO WITH MY CHOICES BEING 1- FIX IT AT MY OWN EXPENSE OR 2- BUY A NEW CAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TO THE COST OF $3066.24. THIS IS USUALLY WHEN YOUR JUST BREAKING IN THE ENGINE ON A CAR NOT REPLACING A TRANSMISSION AND AT MY COST. NOW FAST FORWARD 7 YRS DEC 12 2012 WITH 18800 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE LI EXPRESSWAY I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SPEEDS UP TP 75 MPH WITHOUT WARNING I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT COULD FEEL THE ENGINE FIGHTING ME ALL THE WAY. THE CARS RPM NEEDLE STARTS TO RISE TO 5500 TO 6000 RPMS THIS HAPPENED ALL THE WAY HOME NOW ITS AT THE REPAIR SHOP I CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST. NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A FORD. *TR

WATER GATHERING ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD, TOLD BY FORD THAT THE COWLING WAS SIMPLY "PLUGGED UP" BY PINENEEDLES AND SUCH. TURNS OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG THESE VEHICLES, IN SOME CAUSING BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS (UNCONTROLLABLE FOGGING OF WINDOWS). CARPET IS HEAVILY DAMAGED DUE TO THIS FLAW.

BLOWER FAN SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. I SUSPECTED THAT IT WOULD EITHER BE THE BLOWER SWITCH ITSELF OR THE RELAY. I REPLACED BOTH AND QUICKLY DETERMINED THAT THOSE TWO COMPONENTS WERE FINE. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM, I SUSPECT THAT MY PROBLEM IS ASSOCIATED WITH TSB 031506. LIKE THE OTHER PLAINTIFFS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD OFFER TO REPAIR THIS COSTLY GLOBAL ISSUE WITH THEIR 2003 TAURUS MODELS. *JB

CONSUMER DISCOVERED WATER LEAKING INTO VEHICLE. *TS *JB

STARTER BURNED OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF FAULTY LOCATION OF THE OIL FILTER RIGHT ABOVE THE STARTER CAUSING OIL TO BE LEAKED INTO THE STARTER AND CAUSING FAILURE. *NM

CONSUMER 2003 FORD TAURUS FAN BLOWER BECAME INOPERABLE AFTER 50,000 MILES. *TS *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT COULD BE AN INDICATION THAT A NEW BATTERY IS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED; HOWEVER, HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH SHE HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 03-05-08 *BF

MULTIPLE FAILURES OF RESISTOR # F6DZ-19A706-AA DUE TO WATER DAMAGE ULTIMATELY LEADING TO FAILURE OF HEATING / COOLING FAN MOTOR CAUSED BY WATER DAMAGE. A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM OF WATER LEAKAGE INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TSB # 04-15-3. *NM

BLOWER MOTOR FOR HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM NO LONGER FUNCTIONING, WET FLOOR IN PASSENGER SIDE, MUSTY ODOR. OEM HAS FIX UNDER TSB BUT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE 3/36 WARRANTY THEY REFUSE TO COVER REPAIRS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. UPON INSPECTION BY A LOCAL MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE BLOWER MOTOR. WATER COULD GATHER IN THE AREA WHERE THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS LOCATED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR AND INSTALLED A SPECIAL KIT TO WATERPROOF THE AREA. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CABLE DISCONNECTED. HE WAS MOVING THE SELECTOR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE WHEN THE CABLE DISCONNECTED ON THE SWITCH AT THE TRANSMISSION. ON THE COLUMN IT SAID REVERSE AND IT WAS ACTUALLY IN DRIVE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND THE CABLE HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED AT THE PARK NEUTRAL DRIVE SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. HE TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF.*AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

BLOWER MOTOR FAILED BECAUSE OF AN "ACT OF GOD" (DEALER'S DESCRIPTION). THE VEHICLE HAS A COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTEE TO 75,000 MILES AND THE MOTOR FAILED AT JUST OVER 51,000 MILES. COST $350 TO REPLACE AND ONLY WARRANTEED FOR A YEAR EVEN THOUGH THIS IS MOST LIKELY A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE CAR. *NM

BEGAN NOTICING VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL OF 2003 FORD TAURUS LX. TOOK CAR TO ORIGINAL FORD DEALER 3-4 TIMES AND THE TIRES WERE BALANCED, BUT THE VIBRATION PERSISTED. ON THE LAST VISIT TO THIS DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED NEW TIRES. SPENT $400 ON NEW TIRES AT AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER, BUT THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. WENT TO DIFFERENT FORD DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE NEW TIRES WERE "OUT OF ROUND". THEY BALANCED AND ROTATED TIRES, BUT THE VIBRATION STILL PERSISTS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH HER HOOD FLEW UP AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO A WRECKING YARD, AND SOMEONE WOULD PICK IT UP THE NEXT DAY. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS A USED CAR, AND TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, WHO HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE POLICE CAME AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN.*AK

I HAD NOTICED SOME WATER LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE IT'S SOURCE. APPARENTLY, A COWL (I MAY BE MISSPELLING) WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. THE $400 DOLLAR REPAIR IS HEFTY BUT I DON'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE. WITH A MICHIGAN WINTER RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, A BROKEN BLOWER WOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS MY WINDSHIELD DEFROST WON'T WORK. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH SOUNDS ABSURD FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. APPARENTLY, FORD HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND DEVELOPED A KIT WHICH SOLVES THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD NOT EXPECT THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH MAY COMPROMISE A PASSENGER'S SAFETY. *NM

CAR HAS A FAULTY WINDSHIELD INSTALLATION AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL NUMBER 03V087000. THERE IS EXCESS WIND NOISE AND SQUEAKS AND RATTLES AT SPEED, AND THE WINDOW LEAKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DURING HEAVY RAIN AND IN THE CAR WASH. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE, AS THEY CLAIM THE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR IN THEIR SYSTEM AS BEING ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RECALL. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WATER LEAKED BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE HOOD, WHICH SHORTED OUT THE FAN TO THE COMPRESSOR. DUE TO THE FAN SHORTAGE, THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE ALSO LEAKS BY THE PASSENGER FLOOR.

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS SES. IT IS LEAKING IN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LEAK SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT SAID THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT IT KEPT LEAKING. THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD IT FIXED WAS ON 3-31-04. THEN ON 5-27-04 SHE HAD IT FIXED AGAIN. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE COWL LEAK FROM MONDAY. ON 8-30-05 SHE HAD IT REPAIRED AGAIN. *AK

POWER TRAIM: TRANSMISSION WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDDLE

DT THE BALL JOINTS BECAME DEFECTIVE ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES HAD THEM REPLACED AUGUST 17, 2005. TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO DO THE WORK AND HAVE SEEN OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED FORD, AND FILED COMPLAINT. THERE WERE NO RECALLS S AT THIS TIME.*AK *JB

DT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN IN PARK. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY CHECKED IT, AND SAID WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM. THEY HAD TO HAVE AN ORDER TO FIX IT. DID NOT SAY FROM WHO OR WHY. HAD NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 12, 2005. *AK

REAR BRAKES WENT OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE WHEEL CYLINDERS. THE WHEEL CYLINDERS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES WERE LEAKING AND/OR COMPLETELY BROKEN. THIS CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO COMPLETELY GIVE OUT CAUSING NOT ONLY A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT A COMPLETE REBUILDING OF MY REAR BRAKES: DRUMS, SHOES, WHEEL CYLINDERS, ASSEMBLY KITS, SELF-ADJUSTING KITS, AND LINES. THIS COULD HAVE VERY WELL CAUSED THE MINOR ACCIDENT WHICH DAMAGED THE REAR BUMPER COVER OF THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE FACT THESE WHEEL CYLINDERS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THROUGH MY PERSONAL INVESTIGATION, WHEEL CYLINDERS USUALLY LAST 5-7 YRS ON AVERAGE. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 YRS OLD. *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG OF MY 2003 TAURUS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE ROAD AT 30 MPH WHEN IT DEPLOYED. I SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND RECOVERED AND PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. I THOUGHT THE CAR HAD BEEN HIT BY A LARGE ROCK ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. ON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE CAR. I WAS TAKING MY SON HOME FROM OUR VACATION HOME IN NH WHEN IT OCCURRED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL THE AIR BAG ELEMENTS BUT COULD NOT TELL ME WHY IT DEPLOYED. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE UNWILLING TO GUARANTEE THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *NM

DT: 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE PIECE THAT BROKE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE BEGINNING. THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. HER DAUGHTER HAS A CUT BEHIND HER NECK AND A HEMATOMA ON HER KNEE. SHE IS STILL HAVING PROBELMS WITH HER LEG. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE FELL OVER. *JB

I FOUND WATER IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FLOOR BOARD AFTER A RAIN STORM IN THE SUMMER OF 2005. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING AFTER MOST HEAVY RAINS. AFTER SEVERAL OCCURRENCES THE BLOWER MOTOR OF THE HEAT / AC WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS CHANGED. I HAVE HAD THIS COMPLETED TWICE NOW. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED ONCE (THEY FOUND EVIDENCE OF WATER IN THE MOTOR). THERE IS ALSO A MUSTY SMELL WHEN I RUN THE HEATER SO I ASSUME THERE IS SOME MOLD GROWING IN THERE NOW. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE FORD DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $300 TO FIX. THROUGH MY INTERNET SEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A LEAKY COWL PROBLEM ON TAURUS'S AND NOT UNIQUE TO MY CAR. *TR

DT:CONSUMER STATED THAT ON TWO OCCASIONS HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LAST ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 6-30-05 WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES. CONTACTED A FORD REPRESENTATIVE, AND HE SAID CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AIR BAGS TESTED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. TO DATE HE HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED IF HIS CAR WAS TOTALED OR NOT. *AK

RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD AFTER A HEAVY RAIN. A DAY LATER, MY AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING AND I COULD HEAR A GURGLING SOUND COMING FROM THE SYSTEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO INSTALL A "RAINHAT" KIT OVER THE CABIN FILTER TO PREVENT WATER FROM LEAKING INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR BY WAY OF THE CABIN FILTER. WELL, THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHY WASN'T THERE ANYTHING THERE BEFORE? I WENT HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT FORD ISSUED THE FOLLOWING TSB REGARDING THE ISSUE: 14 OF 53: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:BLOWER BULLETIN DATE: AUG 2004WATER IN THE BLOWER CASE OR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, AN INOPERATIVE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER MOTOR, A MOTOR THAT OPERATES ON HIGH SPEED ONLY, AND/OR A BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILURE. VEHICLES BUILT 5/1/2001 TO 12/15/2003. *TT REPAIR WAS $500. HE'S MY CONCERN. FORD MUST HAVE KNOWN THERE WAS DESIGN FLAW IF THEY (A) POSTED A TSB AND (B) DEVELOPED A "RAINHAT" KIT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. BASICALLY ANY OWNER THAT HAS A CAR BUILT BETWEEN THOSE TIMES WILL BE DOOMED TO PAY THIS REPAIR IF THEY WEREN'T LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS FAIL BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I THINK THAT'S ABSURD! I'VE TALKED WITH OTHER OWNERS AND THEY WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE LEAK BEFORE THEIR BLOWERS WENT OUT. THE DEALERSHIPS CHARGED THEM UPWARDS OF $100 TO INSTALL THE "RAINHAT" KIT. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE GLADLY PAID $100 FOR THE KIT RATHER THAN $500. MY DEALERSHIP EVEN ADMITTED THAT THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN, BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT COST UNTIL FORD ISSUES A RECALL. AGAIN, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S RIGHT FOR THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A PRODUCT DESIGN FLAW. THE SAFETY CONCERN HERE IS OF COURSE THE WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER NOT BEING ABLE TO OPERATE.

DT: 2003 FORD TAURUS. VEHICLE STALLED ON JUNE 13, 2005 AND ALL THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED FOR JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES SINCE THEN. THE CAR WILL NEVER COMPLETELY DIE, IT JUST MAD ETHE CONSUMER FELL THAT HE HAAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WHEN IT DID DIE IT WILL RESTART, AND THE CAR WAS BACK TO NORMAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V330000 CONCERNING POWER ADJUSTABLE SEAT.. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. ALSO, THE POWER TRUNK LID LOCK. MALFUNCTIONED. THE TRUNK WILL LOCK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK

CAR SHIMMIES AND SHAKES ON BRAKING EVEN WITH NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. CAR HAS DONE THIS SINCE ABOUT 20,000 MILES. NO ACCIDENTS AND JUST NORMAL USE OF CAR. HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. UPON CHECKING FOR OTHERS WITH ISSUES, I DISCOVERED SEVERAL OTHERS AT EPINIONS.COM AND DECIDED TO CONTACT FORD DIRECTLY, THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. I THEN DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO CONTACT THE NHTSA. *TR