2003 FORD TAURUS Power Train Problems
169 NHTSA complaints on file
Power Train Issues in the 2003 FORD TAURUS
169 power train complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 FORD TAURUS. Of these, 2 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
169
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Power Train Complaints
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that when taking the vehicle out of the park(P) after starting the vehicle, which required the brake pedal to be depressed, the contact could not depress the shifter button out of the park. The contact stated that the shift button would not depress. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact turned the vehicle off and turned the vehicle back on but had to pump the brake pedal to shift the vehicle out of the park. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V106000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLOWING DOWN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WHILE SWITCHING GEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL DEALER FORSOM LAKE FORD(12755 FOLSOM BLVD, FORSOM LAKE CA.) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT POSTED SPEEDS WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOW WITH THE ACCELERATOR STILL PRESSED, ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. I REALIZED THE CAR WAS RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. I WAITED THREE HOURS FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO SHOW UP AND THEN HAD IT TOWED 80 MILES TO MY HOUSE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINES WOULD FAIL WITH NO WARNING. I ALSO DID SOME TEST TO CONFIRM IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. DOES IT TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED FIRST? FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED.
HAD TO REPLACE MY TORQUE CONVERTER FOR $1,300 WHICH IS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING THERE IS ONLY 87,000 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS! WOULDN'T LEAVE PARK, HAD IT TOWED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT SPOKE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LIKELY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
THROTTLE STUCK WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL GOING INTO A TURN NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I RELEASED THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV, FORCING THE USE OF BRAKES TO GAIN CONTROL. PLACED TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE REVVED BEFORE TURNING IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF POSITION. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP BROKE AND PREVENTED THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO NEUTRAL POSITION. *TR
WHILE GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY ON THE DRIVE HOME FROM WORK (AT 6:40PM ON DEC 1ST, 2016) THE TRANSMISSION NO LONGER ENGAGED. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO A FIELD AND PARK WHILE AVOIDING ON-GOING TRAFFIC. I LOST ALL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GEARS (RD21), AND IT IS LIKE BEING IN PERPETUAL NEUTRAL. THE SPLINES OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER ARE STRIPPED. FORD MADE THEM TOO SMALL, SO THEY STRIP. THE CAR HAS 126,000 MILES ON IT, AND IS ONLY USED TO GO TO AND FROM WORK. THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM, YET FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.
THE CAR WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND STOPPED. WHEN I PRESSED TO ACCEL THE TRANSMISSION DID'NT PULL OVER 15 FEET AND STOPPED PULLING. IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT HAD GON OUT. AND THEN I GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL ABOUT OTHER RECALLS BUT NOT ON THE TRANSMISSIONS. I WORKED FOR FORD FOR 27 YEARS AS AN ENGINEER AND BUILT TRANSMISSIONS UNDER RECALLS. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THESE PAOPLE! BUT THE 2004 HAS THAT RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF A STOP LAMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 283,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE GEAR FAILED TO SWITCH INTO THE DRIVE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
DANGEROUS SITUATION TRANSMISSION COMPLETE FAILURE IN INTERSECTION WHILE TURNING LEFT. STOPPED AWAITING ON-COMING TRAFFIC AT CITY STREET SITUATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY! MANY COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILLED HOWEVER AFTER SPEAKING WITH FORD THE REFUSE TO FIX IT
WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 68 MPH ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING BEGAN TO QUICKLY LOOSE SPEED AND THE ABILITY TO KEEP PACE WITH SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND THE VEHICLE LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND FUNCTION IN A SAFE MANNER. I QUICKLY AND UNKNOWINGLY DROPPED BELOW THE SAFE DRIVING SPEED FOR THE HIGHWAY AND POSED A SAFETY RISK TO MYSELF AND OF THE DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME. IN THE COURSE OF RAPID DECELERATION I WAS ALMOST STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF MY LOSS OF SPEED, AS I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND AS TO NOT FURTHER ENDANGER THOSE AROUND ME; I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND RELIED ON EVASIVE DRIVING TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SAFETY OF THE SHOULDER. ONCE OFF...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER MAY HAVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,400.
TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER - STRIPPED SPLINES. JUST 49,334 MILES. THIS CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. DEFINITELY A PROVEN BAD PART THAT FORD SHOULD COVER. THE CAR QUIT MOVING AT MY WORKPLACE PARKING LOT. IM GRATEFUL IT WASN'T IN AN INTERSECTION. HAD TO REPLACE CONVERTER.
THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS IT INCREASED IN ENGINE RPMS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
I HAVE AN ISSUES.
WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY ROAD, MY TRANSMISSION QUIT. I HAD NOTHING BUT NEUTRAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT IT WAS GOING TO FAIL, IT WENT FROM WORKING PERFECTLY TO HAVING NO GEARS (FORWARD OR REVERSE). LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE SPOT TO PARK AND WAIT FOR A TOW. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, BUT FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESUME ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BECOME INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. MA 10/15/2015
DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 45MPH WHEN VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING, SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT REENGAGE. CAR ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED TRANSMISSION. CAR TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AND IT WAS STATED BY REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, OR WARNINGS.
MY CAR RANDOMLY STOPPED MOVING WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WAS A MAJOR SCENE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY 5 CARS HAD TO VEER OFF TO THE SIDE TO AVOID A ACCIDENT THESE TRANSMISSIONS/TORQUE CONVERTERS NEED TO BE RECALLED THEY WERE RECALLED IN THE FORD WINSTAR WITH THE SAME TRANNY PARTS BUT NOT THE FORD TAURUS 2003 I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT OUT AND THIS IS A MORE THAN COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR OF TAURUSES THIS IS REDICILIOUS COME ON FORD RECALL THESE TRANNYS!!! I CANT AFFORD $1500
ON THE DATE ABOVE AND THEN AGAIN ON FEB,2015 THE TRANSAXLE QUIT WORKING, IT WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. HAD IT ROLLBACKED TO MY HOUSE BOTH TIMES AT A COST OF $50 PER TOW. THE COST TO REPAIR AND OR REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE WAS :2011: $1,400; 2015: $1,700. THE CAR AT THE 2ND. REWORK/EXCHANGE (THE TRANS SHOP REPLACED RATHER THAN REBUILD MINE) HAD ONLY 125,000 MILES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSAXLES IN THESE GENERATION FORD TAURUSES WERE PRONE TO TRANSAXLE FAILURE, AS WERE THE FORD WINDSTARS AS BOTH VEHICLES USED THE SAME TRANSAXLE. UPON STUDYING UP ON THESE PROBLEMS IT SEEMS FORD MOTOR CO. RECALLED THE WINDSTAR AND CALLED IT A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. WHY DID THEY NOT RECALL THE TAURUSES ALSO, ANSWER: AMOUNT OF VEHICLES PRODUCED OF EACH MODEL AND THEIR FEET WERE NOT "HELD TO THE FIRE" BY YA'LL AND OUR GOV.. NOW TO GET...
I WAS DEPARTING FROM PARKING LOT AND THE CAR SUDDENLY HAD SOME NOISE IN THE HOOD THEN LOST ALL THE POWER. AFTER STARTING ENGINE AGAIN, I CAN SHIFT THE GEAR INTO D OR R, ENGINE WORKS OK BUT THE CAR WON'T MOVE AT ALL. BEFORE IT HAPPENED, THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE, NO DELAYED ENGAGEMENT, NO SLIPS, NO JOLTS, SMOOTH GEAR-CHANGING...THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WITH NO WARNING SIGNS AT ALL. THE CAR IS REGULARLY AND WELL MAINTAINED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WHEN IT HAPPENED. LATER IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE STRIPPED TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINES. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORD EARLY 2000'S VEHICLES, THE SPLINES ARE ONLY 0.16" THICK BY FORD'S DEFECT DESIGNS, WHICH CAN BE EASILY STRIPPED.
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 35 MY DAUGHTER COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT NO POWER. IN TRAFFIC, SHE HAD TO COAST TO PULL OVER. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND THE CAR IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AND ARE REPLACING THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER IGNITING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/14/15*LJ UPDATED 7/20/15*CN UPDATED 7/29/15*CN UPDATED 9/21/2017*CN
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH ONE OF OUR GRANDKIDS IN THE BACK SEAT. SHE PULLED OFF A MAIN ROAD TO A SIDE STREET, SHE WENT ABOUT 50 YARDS AND THE CAR STOPPED GOING FORWARD. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE, BUT THERE WAS NO DRIVE FROM THE TRANSMISSION NO MATER WHICH GEAR SHE PUT IT INTO. EVIDENTLY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INDICATION SUCH AS LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID, A TROUBLE LIGHT INDICATION AND NO SOUND.THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF IT HAD FAILED IN THE INTERSECTION THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT.I AM EXTREMELY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD'S HANDLING OF THIS FAILURE OF THERE PRODUCT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE BUT INCREASED IN RPM'S. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
ON 1-23-2015 A FRIEND WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A 4 LAND DIVIDED HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION QUIT PULLING. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO MOVE IN ANY GEAR. HE WENT ON TO A JOB INTERVIEW AND CALLED ME AND I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. I CHECKED AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR CAR, AS THE TORQUE CONVERTER GOES OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR
ON THE ABOVE DATE THE TRANSAXLE IN THIS CAR QUIT WORKING. THE TORQUE CONVERTER BROKE A GEAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS PREVALENT IN THE 2003 FORD TAURUS AND THE 2003 WINDSTAR VANS. FORD RECALLED THE WINDSTARS BUT NOT THE TAURUS'. I HAD IT ,THE TRANSAXLE,REBUILT AND PUT ONLY 3000 TO 3200 MILES FROM THE DATE OF THIS REPAIR. ABOUT 5 WEEKS AGO THE SAME THING HAPPENED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. NOW IN REGARDS TO THE LIGHTING, THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REPLACING THOSE DAMNED "YELLOWED" OUT HEADLIGHT LENS ON JUST ABOUT 99% OF THE CARS THAT HAVE THEM. THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR RECALL DUE TO THE HAZARD THEY CAN CAUSE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD THE COST TO REPLACE THIS DANGEROUS UNSAFE FEATURES ON ALMOST ALL VEHICLES PRODUCED BY ALL AUTO MANUFACTURERS...
TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING, IT WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
I WAS COMING HOME THE CAR JUST LOST.POWER AND THANK GOODNESS. THERE. WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO.PULL IN MIDDLE LANE AND THE CAR WOULD.NOT.MOVE IT WENT INTO DRIVE ALL GEARS BUT NOTHING I WAS TERRIFIED AND ONCE I GATHER MYSELF I CALLED FOR HELP.SND I HAD CAR TOWED TO FORD & THEY ARE SAYING I NEED NEW TRANSMISSIONS. ARE YOU.KIDDING ME NO WARNING NO NOISE NOTHING JUST STOPPED.WHILE DRIVING I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE FORD 2003 TAURUS AND WAS IN SHOCK AGAIN HOW.MANY HAVE SAME.PROBLEM THIS CAR.BELONGS TO MY DAD WHO IS 89 YEARS.OLD.THANK GOODNESS HE WAS.NOT DRIVING. HE OR I COULD BE KILLED.HOW MANY MORE HAVE TO DIE OR GET HURT BY SOMETHING FORD IS AWARW OF. PLEASE DP SOMETHING. THE FORD PLACE WANTS OVER $2800 FOR S TRANSMISSIONS ! THIS.IS CRAZY I LOVE FORD.BUT NOT WHEN THEY PUT LIVES IN DANGER THANK YOU...
WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM SHOPPING ON A HIGHWAY WENT TO PUSH THE GAS AND MY CAR HAD STOPPED AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AFTER BEING STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY FOR AN HOUR TOW TRUCK HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO A GARAGE THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. GOING BACK TO ALMOST A YEAR HAVING THIS CAR WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WE DIDN'T HEAR NOTHING LIKE OUR TRANSMISSION GOING. JUST TO GET THIS FIXED WILL BE 2,000 OR MORE. AFTER A FEW MECHANIC WE NEW LOOKED THEY HAVE SAID THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OR OUR CAR AND THAT WE SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR
I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH UP A HILL ON A SHARP TURN. COMPLETELY LOST POWER UNABLE TO GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST BACKWARD ACROSS THE ROAD INTO A DRIVEWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED A HUGE ACCIDENT WITH A CAR COMING AROUND THE CORNER. I HAD TO GO ACROSS SO CARS COMING BEHIND ME WOULDN'T HIT ME. IF I WASN'T ON A HILL I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A REAL ACCIDENT FOR SURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AND I WILL NOW BE USING ALL OF MY CHRISTMAS MONEY TO GET ANOTHER USED TRANSMISSION. AFTER DOING HOURS OF RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER REPORTS OF OWNERS OF 2003 TAURUSES WITH THE EXACT SAME DESCRIPTIONS. I AM BLOWN AWAY WITH THE LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS CARS TRANSMISSION YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS ALMOST COST ME...
FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER, THE SHIFTER CHANGES, BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE REVERSE OR DRIVE OPTION. IT REMAINS STATIONARY. *TR
THE SHIFTER CHANGES TO REVERSE, DRIVE, NEUTRAL, BUT THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE GEARS. THE VEHICLE REMAINS STATIONARY. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE RPM'S INCREASED DRAMATICALLY WHILE THE SPEED DECREASED. THE ENGINE POWER WAS NOT BEING TRANSMITTED TO THE WHEELS. I NEEDED TO CROSS TRAFFIC AND GET OFF OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY, THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND MY CROSS WAS UNEVENTFUL. HAD THIS HAPPENED EARLIER, I WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE OPERATED ABSOLUTELY NORMALLY, UP TO THAT LAST SECOND. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AFTER MAKING A U-TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,002.
SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. CAR WOULD REV WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN BUT NO ACCELERATION. PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SLIPPING OF GEARS, NO FLUID LEAKING NO SOUNDS OR JERKY FEELINGS. CALLED FORD AND GOT A CASE NUMBER, BUT THEY ARE NO HELP. CONTACTED [XXX] , CONSUMER ADVOCATE AND HE ADVISED ME TO CONTACT FORD. FOUND 299 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND SAME PROBLEMS ON AUTOSAFETY.ORG. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I SAID I WOULD HELP WITH COST BUT FEEL FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ARE THEY WAITING FOR A FATALITY? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP IN TOWN. WHEN I WENT TO TALK TO THE MECHANIC HE SAID HE ALREADY KNEW WHAT IT WAS. HE SAID THAT HE HAD A MULTITUDE OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT ALLOWS THE TORQUE CONVERTOR TO "STRIP" WITHOUT ANY WARNING. AFTER TAKING THE TRANSMISSION APART HE CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTOR AND WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPLACE IT INCLUDING LABOR SO I HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTOR REPLACED. ALL WAS GOING WELL WITH THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTOR UNTIL AUGUST 30, 2014 WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SO ONCE AGAIN I WILL...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED UP AN INCLINE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,322.
THE 2003 TAURUS WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A SECONDARY ROAD ON 7/7/14 WHEN IT QUITE MOVING FORWARD AS IT WAS IN DRIVE, UPON ACCELERATION AND THE CAR WAS STEERED TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROADWAY AND DRIFTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OFF A BUSY ROADWAY . ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT IN THAT ROADWAY IT WAS STILL OBSTRUCTING THE ALTERNATE ROAD RIGHT LANE TRAVELED BY DUMP TRUCKS , UNTIL TOWED 2 HOURS LATER , VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT OR OTHERWISE GO INTO ANY GEAR , THE CAR IS IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE, PARKED SINCE THAT DAY,AS OBVIOUSLY THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NEEDS REPAIR OR REBUILDING. I CAN NOT AFFORD A TRANSMISSION REPAIR RIGHT NOW COSTING $3000. *TR
WENT TO CROSS A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION IN OUR CITY (AND INTERSECTION WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE FATALITIES), AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO. ENGINE WAS RUNNING; TRANSMISSION ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSIEST ROAD IN DESOTO COUNTY. MY FRIENDS AND I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PUSH IT ACROSS THE ROAD TO A SAFE PLACE. IT APPEARS THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS WANT CLOSE TO $1800.00 TO REPLACE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AFFECTING OTHERS. WHY HASN'T FORD PLACED A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND FIX IT? I AM SURPRISED SOMEONE HAS NOT BEEN KILLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FILTER AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PUMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULE TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN CAR WOULD NOT GO. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS IN REVERSE,OVERDRIVE ,DRIVE OR 1ST GEAR ACTS JUST LIKE IT IS NEUTRAL. NO WARNING OF ANY ISSUES. *TR
STOPPED AT STOP SIGN AND CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE OR GO INTO ANY GEAR. TROUBLE SHOT PROBLEM AS BEING THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN MY RPM'S DROPPED (AS IF CAR WAS GOING TO STALL), THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER AND THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AS I WAS IN A AREA WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC I HAD TO EASE MY WAY OVER TO BE ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO POWER. THE SHIFTER ON THE COLUMN JUST GOES UP AND DOWN AND DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. EVERYONE THAT I HAVE CONSULTED SEEMS TO THINK THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SINCE DONE RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. HAD I KNOWN THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED IT. ON ONE WEBSITE ALONE THERE WERE 293 CASES REPORTED OF THE SAME...
CAR HAS/HAD BEEN DRIVING AND SHIFTING PERFECTLY,(NO SLIPPING, NO HESITATION, NOTHING). AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES, TURNING CAR OFF FOR ROUGHLY 10 MINUTES, RESTARTING AND DRIVING ABOUT 1 MILE TRANSMISSION ACTED AS IF IT WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER STOPPING, ATTEMPTED SHIFTING THROUGH ALL GEARS INCLUDING REVERSE, SAME RESULT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND FLUID LEVEL RIGHT AT FULL MARK, AND FLUID WAS AS CLEAN AS THE DAY IT WAS NEW,(NOT BURNT AT ALL). WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR TAURUS AND THAT THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS, (CUSTOMER PAY ONLY). CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE IT BROKE DOWN BECAUSE WE ARE WAITING TO SEE IF FORD MAY/WILL GET FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS OBVIOUS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR
STARTED MY 2003 FORD TAURUS TO GO TO WORK. MY CAR WAS PARKED ON A DOWNWARD SLOPED DRIVEWAY AS IT HAS BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AS I WENT TO PUT IT IN REVERSE IT ROLLED DOWN THE INCLINE. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE BUT EACH TIME IT ROLLED DOWN THE INCLINE. AFTER ALMOST HITTING MY BACKYARD FENCE I CUT THE CAR OFF AND CALLED IN LATE FOR WORK. I REALIZE ALL CARS HAVE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED OR WORKED ON BUT GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AMONG THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FORD SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT WITH PEOPLE WHO TRUSTED THE COMPANY ENOUGH TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE CAUSED NEAR ACCIDENTS. I COULD HAVE ENDED UP DESTROYING MY FENCE AND ENTERING THE CREEK THAT RUNS ALONG MY BACKYARD. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS A DEFECT IN...
Other 2003 FORD TAURUS Problem Areas
Suspensionfront
147 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
136 complaints
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemfanmotor
86 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
82 complaints
Structure
79 complaints
Suspension
77 complaints
Electrical System
75 complaints
Suspensionfrontspringscoil Springs
74 complaints
Visibility
52 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
36 complaints
Visibilitywindshield
33 complaints
Exterior Lighting
30 complaints
Air Bags
26 complaints
Engine
23 complaints
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
23 complaints
Unknown Or Other
23 complaints
Suspensionrear
22 complaints
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System
22 complaints
Service Brakes
21 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
18 complaints
Structurebody
17 complaints
Tires
16 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
12 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmissiontorque Converter
12 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
12 complaints
Steering
11 complaints
Exterior Lightingbrake Lightsswitch
9 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
9 complaints
Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash
8 complaints
Equipment
8 complaints
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core
8 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System
7 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemfan
6 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
6 complaints
Wheels
6 complaints
Structureframe And Members
5 complaints
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemwindshieldelectrical Heating Element
5 complaints
Visibilitywiper
5 complaints
Electrical Systemalternatorgeneratorregulator
4 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
4 complaints
Structurebodydoor
4 complaints
Electrical Systemstarter Assemblysolenoid
3 complaints
Fuel System Other
3 complaints
Latcheslockslinkages
3 complaints
Structureframe And Membersunderbody Shields
3 complaints
Suspensionrearspringscoil Springs
3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controllinkages
3 complaints
Air Bagsfrontaldriver Sideinflator Module
2 complaints
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
2 complaints
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
2 complaints
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
2 complaints
Electrical Systemignition
2 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionanti Theftcontrol Module
2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlights
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlightsconcealment Devices
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingtail Lights
2 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection System
2 complaints
Seats
2 complaints
Service Brakes Airantilock
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
2 complaints
Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint
2 complaints
Suspensionfrontstabilizer Bar
2 complaints
Suspensionrearsprings
2 complaints
Tirestreadbelt
2 complaints
Air Bagssidewindow
1 complaint
Electrical Systemsoftware
1 complaint
Electrical Systemstarter Assembly
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcrankcase Pcv
1 complaint
Equipment Adaptivemobility
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingback Up Lights
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingbrake Lights
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection Systemfuel Rail
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assemblyfiller Pipe And Cap
1 complaint
Fuel System Otherdelivery
1 complaint
Fuel System Otherstoragetank Assemblypressure Relief Devices
1 complaint
Interior Lighting
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkageshoodlatch
1 complaint
Power Trainaxle Assembly
1 complaint
Power Trainmanual Transmission
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfront
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfrontretractor
1 complaint
Seatsfront Assemblypower Adjust
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdisc
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscpads
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdrumwheel Cylinders
1 complaint
Steeringcolumn
1 complaint
Structurebodydoorhinge And Attachments
1 complaint
Structurebodyhood
1 complaint
Structurebodytrunk Lid
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontcontrol Armupper Ball Joint
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontmacpherson Strut
1 complaint
Tiresbead
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlcables
1 complaint
Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds
1 complaint
Wheelsrim
1 complaint