2003 FORD TAURUS Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

DRIVING TO WORK LOST POWER IN CAR. RPM WENT UP PULLED OVER I HAD NO DRIVE NO REVERSE NOTHING THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE NO WARNING NO LIGHTS, NO NOISE JUST STOPPED. I HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP THEY TOLD ME THE PUMP WAS OUT. I HAVE BEEN ONLY OWNER AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR. IT HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

I HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF MY LOCAL YMCA AND WAS DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN ROAD WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY RPMS WENT UP AND MY SPEED WENT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP BUT LOSS ALL CONTROL OF THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE MY VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BROKEN DOWN. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE ON MY CAR AT THE TIME IS 70,900 MILES. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED OVER 58 TIMES ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/TAURUS/2003/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILED.SHTML

2 TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN 2005 AT 68,000 MILE AND THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 121,000 MILES. HAD TO PAY TO HAVE FIXED AND WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THEY ARE SORRY BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN HELP ME WITH. IS IT TRADITIONAL FOR A TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT EVERY 60,000 + MILES? I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES A HOUR WHEN THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT AND THE CAR REVVED UP AND WOULDN'T GO NO WHERE AND ALMOST GO REARENDED BECAUSE THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ON HIGHWAY AND NO WHERE'S TO PULL OVER. I ALSO HAD MY GRANDSON AND DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND WE ALL WERE SCARED THAT WE WHERE GOING TO GET HIT. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55MPH WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS AND HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS LX -WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CEASED TO FUNCTION. THIS CAR HAD 40,500 MILES ON IT. I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY ACCIDENT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR ANYWHERE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINES WERE TOTALLY WORN OUT. THIS AT JUST OVER 40,000 MILES! MY CAR IS IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND SAFETY CHECK EVERY 3,000 MILES AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE DETECTED. HOWEVER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR PUBLICITY REGARDING THIS. THIS WAS A $1300 FIX. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY, WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. ALL GEAR SETTINGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PARK, RESPONDED IN THE SAME MANNER AS NEUTRAL. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY TYPE. THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY FAILED. ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON OR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE FOR THIS VEHICLE. A CURSORY SEARCH OF INTERNET AUTO MESSAGE BOARDS REVEALED AT LEAST SEVERAL HUNDRED FAILURES OF THE SAME TYPE IN 2003 FORD TAURUS AUTOMOBILES. *TR

JUNE 12, 2009 DRIVE TIME 7300 E. HAMPTON AVE. MESA, AZ 85209 TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN: MY NAME IS ANDREA M. LOVE. MAY 14, 2009 WAS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I PURCHASED MY FIRST NEW CAR, A 2003 FORD TAURUS SES FROM DRIVE TIME AT 11247 E. COLONIAL DRIVE, ORLANDO, FL 32817. THE COLOR IS A BEAUTIFUL DARK CHERRY RED, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LOOKS MAGNIFICENT; IT'S ROOMY FOR MY FAMILY AND BEST OF ALL IT'S MY FIRST NEW CAR. I'VE SEEN THE MANY ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION AND THOUGHT TO MYSELF EVERYONE CAN'T GET APPROVED LIKE THEY SAY. I WENT ONLINE AND FILLED OUT THE APPLICATION AND TO MY SURPRISE THE NEXT DAY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL AND A TELEPHONE CALL THAT I WAS APPROVED AND NEEDED TO COME INTO THE OFFICE TO SPEAK WITH A SALES PERSON. I CALLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY AND ALL MY...

I WAS DRIVING THE SATURDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING 2007, WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WENT TO PULL AWAY AND MAKE A TURN THEN CAR STOPPED MOVING. I WAS ON A TWO LANE ROAD, WITH CARS COMING BEHIND ME. I STARTED CAR BACK UP AND PUT INTO GEAR, WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TOWED TO WORK (SUBARU, LINCOLN, MERCURY OF BEECHMONT). OUR TECH LOOKED AT ON MONDAY AND TOLD NEEDED A TRANSMISSION. FORD L/M WOULD NOT HELP WITH ANY COVER OF THE REPAIR. THE CAR HAD 83,412 MILES AT THAT TIME. I HAD TO PUT A USED TRANSMISSION IN, WHICH IS BAD AND PUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN AND THAT ONE IS BAD BUT DRIVABLE.... I FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM THEY SHOULD FIX IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. I DID CALL FORD CO AND THE REP WAS NOT PLEASANT AND REALLY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ME INFORMATION, THEY...

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 52774 MILES. HAD IT SERVICED TWICE IN THIS SHORT OF MILAGE. HAD TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AT A COST OF 1,897.69. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, AFTER MIDNIGHT IN 30 DEGREE WEATHER, MILES FROM HOME. THIRD SUCH OCCURRENCE WITH SAME PRODUCT. PROBLEM WILL NOT BE FIXED IN THE NEAR FUTURE DUE TO BEING UNEMPLOYED. *TR

DROVE MY CAR HOME FROM WORK , WENT OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND STARTED SO IT WOULD BE WARMED UP .. I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL. WE WENT OUT GOT IN THE CAR, I PUT IN DRIVE IT WOULD NOT MOVE.. PUT IN REVERSE .. NOTHING. I HAD TO CALL SOMEONE TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL, HAD MY CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALER. THEY REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD ME THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS BAD .. GOING TO BE AT LEAST 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT ...I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IT RAN OUT 10,000 MILES PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. I HAD NO SIGNS OR WARNINGS ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. *TR

FORD TAURUS, HAS MANY PROBLEMS. MY FORD HAS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR ON THE HEATER/AC. TRANSMISSION REBUILD JOB CONSISTED OF NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AS WELL AS NEW CLUTCH BANDS, THE SPLINES WERE STRIPED. AS FAR AS THE BLOWER, THE MOTOR MADE A NOISE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN STOPPED. IF YA'LL WOULD RESEARCH THESE ISSUES YOU WILL FIND THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE A RECURRING ISSUES WITH THE 03 MODELS AND THE OTHERS WITH THIS TRANNY, AND BLOWER. HOPE YOU DO SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THE CONSUMER. *TR

CAR HAD A LARGE LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS NOT ANY TROUBLE WITH SHIFTING GEARS BUT A WHINE, AT TIMES. TRIED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THIS PAST MONDAY AT 10AM. THEY WERE CLOSED DUE TO STORM DAMAGE AND ELECTRICITY OUTAGES STARTING SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WAS REFERRED TO TRANSMISSION COMPANY. TOLD IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES (I'M AT LITTLE MORE THAN 58,000). THE PRESSURE INSIDE CHANGES AND COMPUTER MAKES CHANGES THAT THEN CAUSES THE FLUID TO RISE THROUGH THE VENT. I'M BEEN TOLD IT IS GOING TO BE $1,816.96 REPAIR AND THREE DAYS WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP IS REBUILDING THE EXISTING TRANSMISSION. TECHNICIAN STATED UNSURE WHY FORD HAS NOT HAD A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS HAS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AND THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT BUT FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *NJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,000. UPDATED 08/04/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. UPDATED 08/06/08

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN "PARK" AND UNAGBLE TO SHIFT TO ANY GEAR. CAR TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND CONNECTOR HARNESS WAS REPLACED, PART # 3F1Z-13480. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED AND AN ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED AS I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 115000 MILES ON IT, BUT HAS HAD ROUTINE SERVICE PERFORMED. ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT YET BEEN SERVICED, I DID CHECK THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL IS NORMAL AND NOT DISCOLORED OR EVIDENCE OF FOULED FLUID. *TR

AS ALL THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY 03 FORD TAURUS. NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS OR WHISTLES. APPROX. 54,000 MILES. SUCKS, THAT THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT. COST 2,700.00 PLUS TOWING. NEVER AGAIN! ONE WOULD THINK IN THIS DAY AND TIME WHEN THE ECONOMY IS SO CRAPPY, FORD WOULD WANT ALL THE BUSINESS THEY COULD GET....THEY KNOW THIS TRANS. IS A BAD ONE....MY NEXT CAR WAS GOING TO BE A CROWN VIC....BUT NOT NOW..... *TR

2003 TAURUS - TRANSMISSION FAILED; WENT TO ACCELERATE THROUGH BUSY INTERSECTION; NO POWER; HAD TO COAST THROUGH INTERSECTION TO GET TO SAFER PLACE. CAR TOWED; EST. 1300-1600- TO FIX PER FORD DEALER; FINAL COST $1933.50. NO WARNING; NO NOTHING; JUST WOULD NOT ACCELERATE; LAST YEAR IT WAS THE STRUT BLOWING THROUGH THE REAR END OF THE WAGON FOR $1500.00 FIX; THIS YEAR $1933.50 FOR TRANSMISSION; FORD SAYS OUT OF WARRANTY; TOO BAD; IT IS LIKE HAVING A HEART ATTACK AND THE DOCTOR CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY; WHAT AN EXPLANATION TO GET FROM A "REPUTABLE DEALER". THEY TOOK MY MONEY WHETHER I HAD A HEART ATTACK OR NOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD SLIPPED DOWN AND SHE HEARD A LOT OF WIND NOISE, RATTLING, AND WATER LEAKAGE. THE FLOOR BEGAN TO RUST, THE LIGHTS FLICKERED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V087000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 04-02-08 *BF THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN THE CONSUMER DRIVES OVER 35 MPH. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO DIM. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO A BAD ALTERNATOR. UPDATED

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

INTERSTATE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED ON 2003 TAURUS WITH 53,000 MILES. ALL GEARS REACTED LIKE NEUTRAL. TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, AND WAS DIAGNOSED T AS TORQUE CONVERTER AND GASKET FAILURES. REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT $1500. *AK

STOPPED AT RED LIGHT, WAS UNABLE TO MOVE CAR WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED AS MAJOR TRANSMISSION WORK NEEDED AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT FORD FOR ASSISTANCE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ADVISED I TAKE TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WOULD TRY TO WORK WITH ME ON "FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE". DULANEY LINCOLN MERCURY FORD DEALER REPLACED ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THEY ADVISED THE COST WAS $3100, FORD COVERED ALL BUT $1000 LABOR PORTION & TOW BILLS.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

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,...

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE CONSUMER NOTICED WATER LEAKING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE PASSENGERS FLOOR, FUMES AND OR ODORS FROM THE WATER LEAKAGE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STALL OUT WHILE IN MOTION, THE OVERDRIVE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE BLOWER MOTOR MADE NOISES AND WAS NOT BLOWING PROPERLY AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND. *SC *JB

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THIS STARTED AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DUPLICATED BEFORE THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 42000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

2003 FORD TAURUS SE - THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS STOPPED TWICE WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE QUESTIONED MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT IS MOST LIKELY AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION'S COMPUTER. BUT IF THEY CAN'T REINACT IT, THEY CAN'T FIX IT. WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE NOW "JUMPS" FORWARD RANDOMLY. THE RPM'S INCREASE WHEN WE ARE BREAKING AND OUR FOOT IS NOT ON THE "GAS" PEDAL.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE JERKED BACK AND FORTH AND PRODUCED A " ROARING" SOUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB