There are 50 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2003 Ford Taurusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CRADLE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
TODAY A COLD FRONT MOVED IN. I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE FROM MY GRANDPARENTS AND IT HAS SPENT ITS WHOLE LIFE IN THE GARAGE.NOW IT IS ALWAYS OUTSIDE. MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR THE DOOR LATCHES HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE DOORS NOT TO SHUT, AND ME HAVING TO HOLD THEM CLOSED AS I DRIVE. THEY EVENTUALLY START WORKING ( USUALLY AFTER 20-30 MINS OF DRIVING). I HAVE TRIED DE-ICER AND GREASE BUT NOTHING WORKS. MY MOMS 2005 FORD FREESTYLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE, EXCEPT IT WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF IT. I FIND IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THAT I HAVE TO HOLD MY DOORS CLOSED OR THEY FLY OPEN WHEN I DRIVE. *TR
HAD CAR IN SHOP FOR A/C PROBLEMS. MECHANIC (WHITEHILL AUTO AND BODY) THEY HAD ANOTHER 2003 FORD TAURUS WITH A FRAME (PART OF FRAME) THAT WAS BEING REPLACED BECAUSE OF RUSTING THROUGH. HE SAID THAT OUR FRAME WAS ALSO STARTING TO RUST. HE SAID THEY HAD CONTACTED FORD AND IT WAS NOT LISTED ON ANY RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE TIRE CHANGED AT A LOCAL MECHANIC, SHE NOTICED THAT THE SUB-FRAME HAD BECOME CORRODED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FLOORBOARDS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 11/19/13*LJ
THE VINYL COVER ON ALL FOUR OF THE DOORS HAVE COME LOOSE, ONE FALLING COMPLETELY OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN, WATER WOULD LEAK FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT TO THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED HE HAD TO REPLACE THE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE RESISTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT MANEUVER AND CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FRONT SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED, CAUSING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO DETACH FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 9/13/11 *CN UPDATED 09/28/11
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
WE HAD A SMALL HAIL STORM PEA SIZE HAIL AND CALLED GEICO TO LOOK AT THE ROOF, TRUNK AND HOOD OF THE CAR. THE ROOF HAD LARGE AREA'S OF PAINT MISSING AND BUBBLED WITH LARGE AREA'S OF RUST UNDER IT. THE ADJUSTER TOLD US THIS WAS A DEFECT THAT FORD WAS HAVE WITH CARS AND TRUCKS BETWEEN 2000 - 2006 AND DENIED THE CLAIM. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF RESEARCH AND BODY SHOPS TELLING ME THIS IS A FORD DEFECT, CALLING FORD AND THEM TELLING ME IT'S NOT THERE PROBLEM, LOOKING AT WEB-SITES WITH 100'S OF COMPLAINTS, LEMON LAWS, FACEBOOK PAGES AGAINST FORD, FRUSTRATION BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LOOSING THEIR CARS DUE TO RUST, AND FORD TELLING US OH WELL EVEN AFTER THE TSA REPORT FORD POSTED STATING THEY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT ADHERING TO THE ALUMINUM TO MAKE THE CAR WEIGH LESS AND A GOOD POSSIBLE FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE PANELS WITH STEAL AND GOOD PRIMER AND PAINTED, THE FORD 800 NUMBER STATED WE ARE SORRY BUT UNLESS WE GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS AND NHTSA SEES ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO DO A RECALL WE WON'T HELP. EVEN THE DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED COMPLAINTS OF PAINT PEELING OFF THE CAR LIKE AN ORANGE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK IN THE COWLING THAT CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO RUST; THEREFORE, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN THE FAN WAS NO LONGER BLOWING AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINED. BECAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE, THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM STOPPED FUNCTIONING. SHE WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT MOLD FORMING WHEN THERE WAS WATER ON THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,346. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER VENT ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLOOR WAS ALSO WET EACH TIME IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THREE DAYS AGO. THE VEHICLE WILL BE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
A WATER LEAK FROM THE FIREWALL WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CARPET BECAME SOAKED AFTER DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM. THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE THERE IS MOLD UNDER THE CARPET. *TR
I OWN A 03 FORD TAURUS SE, AND ON MY CAR, AND EVERY OTHER TAURUS I HAVE SEEN ON THE ROADS AROUND HERE, ALL HAVE THE SAME BODY DEFECT LEADING TO RUST ON BOTH REAR QUARTER-PANELS. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CARPET, PADDING AND FLOORBOARDS BECOME SOAKING WET EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND IT RAINS EVERY 3 DAYS IN THE CHICAGO AREA. WE HAVE TO WET VACUUM THE WATER OUT TO TRY AND KEEP THE CARPET & PADDING FROM MOLDING AND STINKING UP THE INTERIOR. THE DEALER THINKS THAT THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE ANY REPAIR FOR THIS EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. WE AND HAVE HEARD OF, AND THE DEALERS KNOW OF MULTITUDES OF FORD TAURUS OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A KNOWN CAUSE AND GOOD FIX TO THIS PROBLEM AND AS WIDE SPREAD OF A MAJOR PROBLEM THIS IS, ESPECIALLY FOR ALLERGY SUFFERERS LIKE MY WIFE, THERE SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM AND FIX THIS PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
2003 FORD TAURUS HAS WATER LEAKING IN TO BLOWER MOTOR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAKAGE IN THE DASHBOARD DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THE FLOOR WOULD BECOME WET AND THE BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING. SHE ONLY NOTICED THE FAILURE WHEN IT RAINED AND IT ONLY OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,724 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026