2003 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS (MILEAGE WAS 73,200) 8 AM THE MORNING OF MARCH 8, 2011 AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS FINISHED W/MY CAR, I DROVE TO WORK, LESS THAN 5 MILES AWAY. I PARKED MY CAR AT MY OFFICE AND IT SAT IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL 5 PM THAT DAY WHEN I DROVE MY CAR HOME. THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 8, 2011 WE HAD A THUNDERSTORM PASS OVER W/1-2 INCHES OF RAIN. WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME I NOTICED A SPOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MAT BUT DIDN'T CHECK IT UNTIL I ARRIVED HOME. WHEN I OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT, I COULD SEE THE CARPET WAS SOAKING WET. I IMMEDIATELY USED SEVERAL TOWELS TO SOAK UP THE WATER. THE MORNING OF MARCH 9, 2011, I DROVE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE OIL CHANGE. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO LOOK AT MY CAR, SHOWING HIM THE DAMP PASSENGER SIDE CARPET. I ASKED HIM IF SOMEONE BUMPED SOMETHING UNDER MY HOOD WHEN THEY CHANGED MY OIL THE DAY BEFORE. I ASKED HIM IF THEY KNOCKED SOMETHING LOOSE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LEAK ON THE FLOOR. HE SAID 'NO' BUT ASKED ME TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MORNING MARCH 10, 2011. I DID RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY LOOKED AT MY CAR AND TOLD ME I HAD A COWL LEAK AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $400 TO FIX. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED BUT I'VE NOTICED FROM READING ABOUT OTHER 2003 FORD TAURUS OWNERS, THEY'VE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.. IS THERE NOT SOME WAY FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS? *TR

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2003 FORD TAURUS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS SEC WAGON WITH A LEAKY WINDSHIELD. WATER GOT INTO MY A/C BLOWER FAN HOUSING AND SHORTED OUT THE A/C BLOWER FAN, CAUSED THE BLOWER FAN TO FAIL, THE AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE RESISTER SWITCH AND THE 40 AMP FUSE IN THE SAME SYSTEM DUE TO WATER ENTERING INTO THE CAR FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND COWL DESIGN FLAW. THE RESULT IS A LOSS OF DEFROSTER AND ANTI-FOG CAPABILITY RESULTING IN A SEVERE LOSS OF VISIBILITY DUE TO A LOSS OF SAID CAPABILITY AND/OR FUNCTIONALITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED SIMUTANEOUSLY. THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN OFF FOR APPROXIMATLEY FIVE TO TEN SECONDS BEFORE RE-ILLUMINATING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

2003 FORD TAURUS DRIVING ALONG AND ENGINE RUNS BUT IT FEEL LIKE I AM IN NEUTRAL TRANSMISSION GONE. 2 TIME IN 2 1/2 YEARS AND FORD FIXED IT THE FIRST TIME. *TR

PURCHASED 2003 FORD TAURUS WITH 49K MILES 8 MONTHS AGO. BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR HAVE FAILED TWICE. WATER IS COMING INTO THE BLOWER HOUSING THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE. RECENT FAILURE AT 60K HAPPENED IN COLD WEATHER WHILE ON THE ROAD, CAUSING FAN TO STOP WORKING AND WINDSHIELD RAPIDLY FOGGED OVER, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. FAILURE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. *TR

THE CAR IS MY DAUGHTERS. I MAINTAIN AND SERVICE THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. A WEEK AGO BOTH FRONT SPRINGS FAILED AT ONCE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CUT THE INSIDES OF BOTH FRONT TIRES CAUSING THEM TO BLOW OUT. FORTUNATELY THE TIRES FAILED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT WHILE SHE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY COMMUTING TO OR FROM WORK. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS FAILURE. THE PERSON SAID THAT THE 'OASIS' SYSTEM DID NOT SHOW ANY RECALLS ON THE SPECIFIC VIN. I THEN ARRANGED FOR THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC (WHO PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR OVER 15 YEARS), SINCE THE FORD DEALER IS EXCESSIVELY EXPENSIVE. HE SAID THAT THE BROKEN SPRINGS (BOTH) TWISTED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CUT BOTH THE FRONT TIRES ON THE INSIDE SIDE WALL. HE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A SWAY BAR LINK (BROKEN IN THE SPRING FAILURE), AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS BLOWN OUT WHEN THE BROKEN SPRINGS ALLOWED ALL THE CARS WEIGHT TO BOTTOM OUT ON THE STRUTS. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE TIRE SHOP GETTING TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES (THE BLOWN OUT ONES HAD 70% TREAD REMAINING) AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC HAD IT HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED OR ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA. I'M AWARE THAT THE FAILURE OF SPRINGS ON FORD'S TAURUS/SABLE, ESCORT/TRACER, AND OTHER FORD MODELS IS NOT UNCOMMON AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS. THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF FAILURE, WHERE THE TIRES ARE CUT AND BLOWOUT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED ASAP. I HAVE NOTIFIED FOMOCO AS WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND TO HAVE THE SUB FRAME REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE DOING SO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

SUB FRAME RUSTED OUT ON THIS 2003 FORD TAURUS. 91,000 MILES ON CAR. WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. *TR

HAVE A 2003 FORD TAURUS. I WENT TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN I HEARD A POP. AND MY LEFT FRONT TIRE FLAT. MY COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH PROCEEDED TO TEAR MY TIRE AND BROKE MY SWAY BAR IN THE PROCESS. THIS COULD OF CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I WAS ON THE ROAD DRIVING. I HAVE TO REPLACE ALL PARTS FOR BOTH SIDES AND TIRES. I HAVE READ SOME OF THE OTHER REPORTS ON THE SAME SUBJECT. AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS. I ALSO IN JANUARY HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR END SUSPENSION TOO. THE COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN TOO. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD TAURUS AND WAS DRIVING ON A NORMAL COMMUTE, WHILE DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUIT. I THEN HAD TO COAST THROUGH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ACROSS 4 LANES AND SIT IN THE EMERGENCY LANE FOR AN HOUR FOR RESCUE. THERE WAS NO WARNING NO SIGNS JUST QUIT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO AFRAID OF BEING IN AN ACCIDENT AS THAT DAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN THAT I HAVE LEARNED FORD IS AWARE OF AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX OR ATTEMPTED A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS THAT FAIL. IT COST NEARLY $2000 TO REPAIR, ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAS A BLUE BOOK VALUE OF $3500 CLEARLY THIS IS A TERRIBLE WAIST JUST TO GET THE CAR MOVING AGAIN. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT A LARGE COMPANY LIKE FORD CAN ALLOW SUCH PROBLEMS TO OCCUR IN THERE CARS, AT LEAST COMPANIES LIKE TOYOTA FIX THE PROBLEMS THEY FIND. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08018 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I WAS DRIVING I-75N, GOT OFF AT MY EXIT AND SWITCHED LANES AS THE LIGHT WAS TURNING FROM RED TO GREEN. JUST AS I GOT UNDER THE LIGHT, MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WAS IN GEAR, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY REV (AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL). I PUT ON MY HAZARDS, RESTARTED THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. CALLED 911 AND REPORTED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. A KIND (AND BRAVE) STRANGER WAS ABLE TO PUSH MY CAR SAFELY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I PARKED AND WAITED FOR A TOW-TRUCK AND FRIEND TO PICK ME UP. HAD IT TOWED TO PEPBOYS (THEY DON'T WORK ON TRANSMISSIONS) HAD IT TOWED TO AAMCO AND SUBSEQUENTLY COTTMAN TRANSMISSIONS WHERE IT SITS NOW. PARTS AND LABOR ARE ESTIMATED AT $2331. MANY, MANY OTHER SIMILAR ACCOUNTS FROM OTHER 2003 FORD TAURUS OWNERS. SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE FAILING TORQUE CONVERTERS. AND THE STICKLER IS, I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW RELIEVED I WAS HEARING THAT FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

WHILE WAITING AT STOPLIGHT, HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR WENT DOWN. WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO GAS STATION PARKING LOT ABOUT 50 FEET AWAY. UPON INSPECTION COULD SEE INSIDE SIDEWALL WAS TORN UP. CALLED FOR TOW. A SERIES OF BAD EVENTS HAD TAKEN PLACE, COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AT HIGH SPEED. SPRING HAD BROKEN AND TWISTED OUT TO SIDE SHREDDING TIRE. TORE OPEN PVC BOOT. SPRING ALSO DAMAGED AXLE. ALSO DESTROYED ANOTHER LARGE PLASTIC PART. ALL THESE PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACE AT GREAT EXPENSE. ALSO REPLACED SPRING AND STRUT ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR SAFETY S SAKE. FORD HAS RECALLED AND REPLACED OTHER MODEL YEAR SPRINGS, BUT NOT 2002 OR 2003. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY WITH FORDS PAST ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO ARBYS THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME WITH NO WARNING. MY CAR COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS TO GO INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE EMPLOYEES AT ARBYS ASSISTED ME WITH PUSHING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVE-THROUGH. THE CAR RUNS BUT CANNOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY RECONDITIONED TRANSMISSION WITH REMAN TORQUE CONVERTER. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $1,839.33. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND RUPTURED THE TIRE, CAUSING IT TO DEFLATE. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 04V332000 SUSPENSION FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH CAR STARTED SHAKING THEN LOUD BANG, PULLED OVER AND FOUND DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE FLAT HAD CAR TOWED TO SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND FLATTENED THE TIRE. *TR

I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A GAS STATION AND CAME DOWN THE STEEP HILL TO MY HOUSE AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK INTO MY PARKING SPACE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED . I THOUGHT MY TIRES WERE JUST SPINNING DUE TO SOME ICE . WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO TRY TO FIND ANOTHER SPACE I DISCOVERED THE ONLY GEARS I HAD WERE PARK AND NEUTRAL. THE CAR THEN COASTED TO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND STOPPED, I THEN HAD TO GET MY NEIGHBOR TO HELP PUSH THE CAR AROUND THE CORNER AND INTO A PARKING SPOT. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL THE TRANSMISSION NEVER SLIPPED AND THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS . NOTHING AT ALL JUST TOTAL FAILURE. I'M JUST GLAD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR ALONG THE HIGHWAY ON OUR WAY TO CUB SCOUTS.

WHEN MY CAR IS PARKED IN THE RAIN, WATER WILL LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ON APPROXIMATELY FEBRUARY 1, 2011, IT SHORTED OUT THE BLOWER MOTOR THAT COOLS/HEATS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AFTER SITTING IN THE RAIN AT THE AIRPORT PARKING LOT. SINCE THEN, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF WATER IN THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. I HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME WATER LEAK IN 2006, BUT THE SHORT OF THE BLOWER DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THIS YEAR.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE TIRE, CAUSING IT TO DEFLATE SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V332000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,000. UPDATED 4/4/11 *CN UPDATED 04/28/11*JB

BACKING OUT OF GARAGE AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LEFT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. FOUND LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCHED A HOLE IN A NEW TIRE (LESS THAN A WEEK OLD). COULD NOT GET THE FLAT OFF BECAUSE THE SPRING WAS INSIDE THE TIRE SO COULD NOT PUT ON THE SPACESAVER SPARE HAD TO TOW. THIS IS A 2003 FORD TAURUS WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY OR POLICY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL. HE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE COIL SPRINGS HAD PUNCTURED THE TIRE CAUSING IT TO BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRINGS AND TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE COIL SPRINGS AND THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 03/17/11*LJ UPDATED 12/20/11 *CN

WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TAURUS WHEN I GOT A FLAT TIRE DRIVERS SIDE..CALLED AAA THEY PUT MY SPARE ON. I TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME A COIL BROKE AND RUPTURED THE TIRE..IT IS GOING TO COST $950..I WAS TOLD HOW LUCKY I WAS NOT TO HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT!!! ONLY HAVE 49,000 MILES ON MY TAURUS. *TR

1ST OCCURRENCE: DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ALL ELECTRICAL POWER LOST EXCEPT ANTITHEFT LIGHT ON DASH ON. TURN SIGNALS NOT FUNCTIONING, WAS LUCKY TO GET TO SHOULDER, NO HAZARDS WORKED WHILE ON SHOULDER. STRANDED FOR APPROX 1 HR WHEN ALL POWER CAME BACK AND CAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. 2ND OCCURRENCE; CAR WAS PARKED AT WORK, ANTITHEFT LIGHT ON AND ALL ELECTRICAL DEAD LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED. WILL BE TOWING TO FORD DEALERSHIP IF IT DOESN'T START TOMORROW. *LN

MY CAR HADN'T GIVEN ANY WARNING OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT WAS SERVICED REGULARLY, AND WE HAD BOUGHT IT NEW, SO WE KNEW ITS HISTORY. I TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY, ONTO MY STREET (UP A HILL) AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I MANAGED TO BACK IT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET, SO IT WOULD BE OUT OF TRAFFIC. CALLED THE TOW TRUCK. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WITH FORD TAURUS. THE TRANSMISSION ON 2003S HAS GIVEN OUT WITH NO WARNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE LEFT FRONT STRUT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. A MONTH BEFORE, THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 2 MPH, THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT EXCHANGED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY TO REPLACE THE TIRE WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COIL SPRING BROKE AND ADVISED HIM TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TWO FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND THE STRUT ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGEIAS 112,310. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 10/12/11

I'M ADDING MY COMPLAINT TO AN OPEN INVESTIGATION #EA08018. MY 2003 TAURUS SUFFERED A BROKEN COIL SPRING TODAY WHICH PUNCTURED MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND APPARENTLY DAMAGED UPPER AND LOWER MOUNTS IN THE PROCESS. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR (INCLUDING ADDRESSING THE YET TO BE BROKEN OPPOSITE SIDE), IS 1800 DOLLARS. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AS I WAS TRAVELING A SLOW RATE OF SPEED. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING ON BUSY STREET, WAS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO ALMOST OFF OF ROADWAY. TWO PEOPLE CAME TO AID AND PUSHED THE CAR COMPLETELY OUT OF ROADWAY. CAR HAS JUST 62,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE FOR THE VEHICLE TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE SIMILAR TO THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER) RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MINOR DRIVING CAR, WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS SIGNS OF TROUBLE,NO WARNING LIGHTS, ETC., AFTER TURNING CORNER, CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. COULD NOT ENGAGE CAR IN GEAR AFTER THAT. HAD TO GET HELP PUSHING INTO NEARBY PARK AND HAVE IT TOWED IN FOR REPAIR. THANKFULLY, NOONE WAS HURT, AND PARK WAS NEARBY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE THE OUTCOME. THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE PREVIOUSLY THAT INDICATED ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING BROKE SUDDENLY, CAUSING FRONT CORNER OF VEHICLE TO DROP, VEHICLE PULLED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT, AND BROKEN SPRING PIERCED TIRE ON 2003 FORD TAURUS. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS KILLED, POTENTIALLY VERY DEADLY QUALITY DEFECT WITH THESE VEHICLES. FORD ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM WITH 1999-2001 TAURUS COIL SPRINGS, BUT WILL NOT REPAIR LATER MODELS, EVEN THOUGH THEY APPARENTLY HAVEN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT JUST UNDER 95,000 MILES WITH NO WARNING. *TR

ON JANUARY 5, 2011 MY ELDEST DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR CAR IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA NEAR OUR HOME. AS SHE DROVE OVER A MANHOLE SHE HEARD A NOISE AND THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR SCRAPE THE PAVEMENT. SHE STOPPED TO INSPECT, BUT NOT NOTICING ANYTHING UNUSUAL SHE CONTINUED ON. A MILE LATER SHE GOT A FLAT TIRE ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE. AFTER CALLING FOR HELP SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I HELPED CHANGE THE TIRE, BUT I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS RIDING LOW. WHEN I WENT TO GET A NEW TIRE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A GREATER PROBLEM. A BROKEN SPRING! THAT IS WHAT HAD PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE NEXT DAY(S) WE GOT THE FRONT END REPAIRED AND A NEW TIRE MOUNTED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS PROBLEM ON EARLIER TAURUS MODELS. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS FOR 2003 MODELS! ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE CLOSED YOUR INVESTIGATION (EA0818) PLEASE ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO YOUR FILE. *TR

WHILE EXITING MY DRIVEWAY THE LEFT FRONT SPRING COIL LET GO PUNCTURING THE TIRE AND RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY FOR REPLACEMENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT ON SOME OTHER OF ITS VEHICLES, BUT I WAS INFORMED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO ADMIT THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT, WHEN SOMEONE HAS A SERIOUS CRASH OR DIES?

FRONT SPRINGS BREAKING ON 2003 TAURUS. LOUD BOOM IN FRONT OF CAR. RESULT IS A BROKEN SPRING DAMAGING FRONT TIRE ALSO. CAR WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE WHEN IT HAPPENED. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE AS IT COULD NOT BE MOVED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES BECAME FLAT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED CAUSING THE TIRES TO FLATTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS AND STABILIZER LINKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,100. UPDATED 10/27/11*LJ UPDATED 12/06/2011 *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOUNT THE SIDEWALK. THE COIL SPRING CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO BURST AS WELL. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT COIL SPRING MALFUNCTIONING COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

2003 FORD TAURUS, PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE AND DAMAGED TIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CUT A SECTION OF THE COIL SPRING OUT IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING ALSO BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TWO FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,632.

2ND BROKEN COIL , 1ST PASSENGER REAR, NOW FRONT DRIVER SPRINGS. ON EACH OCCURRENCE FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED TIRE - SIMILAR TO COMPLAINT EA08-018. 2003 FORD TAURUS - 102,864 MILES. DATE OF LATEST OCCURRENCE. JANUARY 2011. *TR

NO EVENT(S) LEADING TO FAILURE, ONLY STANDARD DRIVING CONDITIONS. FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. MOVING THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE SHARP END OF THE SPRING TO CUT THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE 180 AROUND. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR AND INDICATED 3-4 DAYS TO GET REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AND COMPLETE REPAIRS. HAD WORK DONE BY LOCAL MECHANIC IN ONE DAY FOR ~ $1200 TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT STRUTS AND SPRINGS WITH (BETTER) AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENTS. *TR

THE INTERIOR GAUGE LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT. SOME REMAIN ON BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE THE SPEED, GASOLINE LEVEL, ETC. DUE TO THE BLOWN LIGHTS. THIS PRESENTS A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AS YOU CANNOT SEE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TR

TUE 28DEC2010 OUTSIDE TEMP = 21F I ENTERED DRIVER'S SEAT & IMMEDIATELY HEARD LOUD "BONG!" SOUND OF LF COIL SPRING BREAKING. I AM FAMILIAR W/ FORD RECALL# 04V332000 (NHTSA REFERENCE #04V332000) AND HAVE BEEN WAITING SIMILAR RECALL FOR NEWER MODELS DURING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08018, ONGOING FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW. I TRIED TO DRIVE OFF SLOWLY TO AVOID TIRE DAMAGE BUT COULD NOT, AS WITHIN THE FIRST TIRE ROTATION THE BROKEN SPRING SLASHED THE ENTIRE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE LF TIRE. REPAIRS WILL COST $300 FOR STRUT/SPRING REPLACEMENT + $60 TOW + $150 FOR TIRE, TOTAL = $510, AND I EXPECT RF TO BREAK IDENTICALLY AT ANY MOMENT. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THE INVESTIGATION OF A SAFETY HAZARD IDENTICAL TO VEHICLES TWO YEARS OLDER HAS TAKEN TWO YEARS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS SES (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND THE ENTIRE STRUT ASSEMBLY AND THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,523.

ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AS I WAS BACKING MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE FRONT STRUTS AND COIL SPRINGS WHICH COST ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. TODAY, AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE ONCE AGAIN, THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. AGAIN, I WILL NEED TO SPEND SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS, THIS TIME TO REPLACE THE REAR STRUTS AND COIL SPRINGS IN ORDER TO ASSURE MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY USED TO DRIVE A FEW MILES EVERY DAY ON SMOOTH, PAVED ROADS SO THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THESE PARTS DUE TO THEIR BREAKING. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT THE PARTS BROKE AS I WAS EXITING MY GARAGE, AND NOT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50 MPH. I BELIEVE THIS ONGOING ISSUE IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I HOPE SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL COMPENSATION CAN BE AGREED UPON TO COVER THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL POP. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS FRACTURED AND HAD PUNCTURED AND DEFLATED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE TIRE AS WELL AS THE FRONT COIL SPRING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

MY 2003 FORD TAURUS WAS SIMPLY SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A HUGE POP. WE LOOKED TO SEE THE TIRE HAD GONE FLAT! WHEN I TOOK THE TIRE WE DISCOVERED THE FLAT WAS A RESULT FROM THE COIL SPRING BREAKING AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE. SO NOW NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE SPRING, BUT ALSO A NEW TIRE. OBVIOUSLY FORD HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE WITH THE 2001 CUT OFF MODEL ON A RECALL AND THEY NEED TO MAKE RIGHT WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL FORD OWNER. THEY SHOULD BE AS LOYAL TO THEIR CUSTOMERS!!! *TR

ON 12/20/2010 LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON STATE HIGHWAY. INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST 2 MILES AFTER DEPARTURE FROM HOME. THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLAT TIRE. THE SHOULDER WAS NARROW AND THE ROAD WAS SNOW COVERED. WHEN PULLING OFF THE ROAD THE CAR GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW. UPON RETRIEVAL FROM THE DITCH AND SUBSEQUENT TOW TO THE TIRE STORE WE DISCOVERED THE BROKEN SPRING ISSUE. WE HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE SPRING/STRUT PROBLEM AS THE TIRE STORE DOES NOT PERFORM THAT TYPE OF REPAIR. WE ARE PLANNING TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND STRUTS AS WELL AS REAR SPRINGS TO HAVE SOME PEACE OF MIND. WE PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES AND WILL HAVE IT TOWED TO THE FULL-SERVICE REPAIR SHOP ON 12/21/2010. THE TIRE STORE COULD NOT MOUNT THE NEW TIRE ON THE LEFT FRONT BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN SPRING. THE TIRE STORE MOUNTED THE "MINI" SPARE THAT COULD CLEAR THE BROKEN SPRING. WE FEEL FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE US FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES! *TR

ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING ASSEMBLY BROKE. THIS SLICED MY TIRE SIDEWALL AND CAUSED MY CAR FRONT END TO DROP TO THE GROUND. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THE BAD THING IS THAT IT IS MINNESOTA AND WINTER. I THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY BAD. *TR