Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 46 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 46, in the owner's own words
Vehicle was involved in a collision with major front end damage and no airbags deployed. The brakes have been soft or spongy. I have not seen any leaks for the brake issue. I have bled the brakes several times the master was replaced by the original owner.
SINCE OWNING THIS AUTO FROM 2004 FORWARD, I'VE BEEN IN A FEW FRONT-END INCIDENTS AND THE AIR BAG NEVER ACTIVATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. AS A RESULT, THAT VEHICLE MOVED BACKWARDS DUE TO THE IMPACT AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND FACILITY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT, THE TIBIA, AND FEMUR. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/10/17*LJ *TR
COMPLAINT AIR BAGS CONTACT OWNS 2003 FORD TAURUS SEL WITH 40,000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING ALONE AT EST. 35 MPH VEHICLE CONTACT LOOKED DOWN MOMENTARILY AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED THE DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT. THE EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT HAD A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THAT SAID AIRBAG NOT ON. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. CONTACT RECEIVED INJURY TO THUMB AND ABDOMEN FROM CONTACT WITH STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL DOWN THE VISOR AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,979.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD AT A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOT WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,050. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ UPDATED 08/17/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED RAPIDLY INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE INTO A GRASS FIELD OVER A DIP IN THE FIELD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND LAND UPSIDE DOWN. WHILE FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND IN THE OUTSIDE LANE OF A 4 LANE HWY. VEHICLE CHANGED LANES ABRUPTLY AND WENT LEFT OF THE CENTER OF ROADWAY ENTERING INTO THE NOURTHBOUND LANES OF TRAFFIC, CONTINUING IN A SOUTHBOUND DIRECTION, THE VEHICLE DEPARTED THE EAST SIDE AND COLLIDED WITH THE END PORTION OF A GUARDRAIL. THE INSIDE PORTION OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUGHT THE OUTSIDE OF GAURDRAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO STRADDLE THE TOP OF THE RAIL UNTIL THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR CAUGHT ON A POST OF THE RAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS UNTIL THE LEFT SIDE TIRES DUG INTO THE GROUND AND FLIPPED THE CAR COMPLETELY OVER WHERE IT CONTINUED TO TRAVEL SOUTH, ROLLING OVER AGAIN, COLLIDING WITH A WOOD POST THEN FINALLY COMING TO REST ON IT'S TIRES FACING NORTHWEST. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ANY POINT OF THE COLLISION. GEARSHIFT WAS BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND OVERDRIVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A MEDIAN WALL. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. ..UPDATED 10/06/14 *BF UPDATED 3/11/2015*JS
AN ON COMING CAR LOST CONTROL AND SWERVED INTO MY DAUGHTERS LANE OF TRAFFIC. MY DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND T-BONED THE OTHER CAR. UPON IMPACT, THE OTHER CAR WAS SPLIT IN 2. MY DAUGHTERS AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHY HER AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WHEN I CALL THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEY TOLD ME BECAUSE "NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO THE MATTER." THANKFULLY EVERYONE WALKED AWAY. MY DAUGHTER HAS A CONCUSSION AND BRUISED RIBS FROM THE ACCIDENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY THEY WOULD CONSIDER LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE IS IF I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM OUR INSURANCE COMPANY (OUR INSURANCE TOTALED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE DAMAGE) AND THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. *TR
THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN SENDING CODE 2-4 UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND THEN AFTER A FEW TIMES OF BLINKING THIS CODE, IT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. THIS APPARENTLY RENDERS THE AIRBAGS NON-OPERABLE & ACCORDING TO ONLINE POSTS, THIS IS CAUSED BY CORROSION IN A COMPONENT. *TR
I WAS TAKING MY BROTHER TO THE HOSPITAL. HE WAS HAVING A BREATHING PROBLEM. I SAW THE SIGN FOR QUITMAN EXIT AND VEERED IN THAT DIRECTION. IT WAS TO SOON, I WENT OFF AN EMBANKMENT AND BESIDES HITTING SOME TREES, DEBRIS, LANDED IN A POND. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT HEAD ON. MY BROTHER WAS HURT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A MINOR SEIZURE CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED TWO RUPTURED DISCS IN HER BACK AND SEVERE CHEST PAIN. THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT AS BEING DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 05/21/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. UPDATED 06/22/12
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT RESIDENCE. AT ABOUT 6 AM I UNLOCKED THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH MY KEYFOB. I ENTERED INTO VEHICLE. STARTED VEHICLE, SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. AS I MOVED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY A CAR LENGTH WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE RIGHT TURN OUT OF PARKING SPACE, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE@ REPAIR SHOP WAITING FOR NEW PARTS. *TR
HAVE DRIVEN A 2003 FORD TAURUS - NEW NEVER WRECKED. HAD A CAR WRECK - HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE DID DEPLOY BUT HAD NO PASSENGER. CAR WAS TOTALED BUT KEPT PICTURES OF THIS. NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE SO I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2003 FORD TAURUS WAS HIT BY A 1973 GMC TRUCK ON 3.04.09 AT ABOUT 35 MPH. MY DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED WITH ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IMPAIRED. MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE TAURUS' PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TR
DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT AWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH., THE CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE DRIVER COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. DRIVER AND PASSENGER DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE SUDDEN PULL. THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE GRAVEL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEN CONTINUED TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL. AT LEAST 2 ROLLOVERS. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I'M CONCERNED THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION OR COIL SPRINGS SUDDENLY BLOWING OUT A TIRE. I WILL BE CONTACTING A MECHANIC ON MONDAY AND SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION. CAR IS TOTALED. INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER VEHICLE, BUT FORTUNATELY COVERS MEDICAL AND LIABILITY. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER, AT THIS POINT, APPEAR TO HAVE WALKED AWAY RELATIVELY UNHARMED. *TR
HEAD ON COLLISION. BELTED DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT ADULT PASSENGERS SUFFERED SERIOUS AND PERMANENT INJURIES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND THE FRONT END CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AS WELL. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET AND ICY. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,543.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.
I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING A 2002 FORD TAURUS SE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 55 MPH. A CHAIN REACTION OF ACCIDENTS STARTED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. APPROXIMATE SPEED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WAS 50 MPH. THE ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. THE PROBLEM IS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. THE CHP OFFICE, BODY SHOP MANAGER, AND THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAVE ALL SAID THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, I.E. NOTHING WAS BROKEN, AND THEREFORE DIDN''T SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. SHORT OF BRUISING, SORENESS, AND A COUPLE OF SCRAPES I WAS FINE. I CONTACT FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND AND SPOUTED OUT A BUNCH OF LEGAL BANTER. I INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN SEEKING LITIGATION, I SIMPLY WANTED A TECH TO INFORM ME OF WHY MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHEN IT MOST DEFIANTLY SHOULD HAVE. THEY AGAIN AND AGAIN GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND, ONLY GIVING ME THE PADDED ANSWERS I AM SURE THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT ADVISES THEM TO. FEELING AS THOUGH I WILL GET NOWHERE WITH FORD AND NOT KNOWING HAT THE ''NEXT STEP'' IS, I AM CONTACTING YOUR ORGANIZATION. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT AND CAN GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION AS REQUESTED.
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
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A 2003 FORD SES TAURUS AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR WAS IN A DIRECT HIT IN FRONT AND TOTALED WITH 12,000 OF DAMAGE INCLUDING BLOCK CRACKED ON ENGINE. VIN # [XXX]. NOTE THIS CAR WE REQUESTED TO HAVE REPLACED UNDER THE LEMON LAW AND WENT ALL THE WAY AND COULDN'T GET ANY HELP FROM ANYONE TO GET ANYTHING DONE. PLEASE HELP US IN RESOLVE FOR OUR NEEDS RESOLVE BUT NOT TO LET ANOTHER PERSON GET HURT AND OR ABUSED AS SUCH. THERE WAS INJURIES IN THIS CASE AND I DO HAVE A FULL SENT OF PHOTOS TO FAX. SINCERELY ITS TIME TO STOP THIS TYPE OF IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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