Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 1,223 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Ford Taurus. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 1,223 · page 1 of 49
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.
At times the vehicle accelerates by itself albeit I am not touching the gas pedal. While driving the vehicle at 45 mph, I take my foot off of the accelerator and the vehicle maintains the 45 mph speed or increases speed if I am driving down a hill or any downward gradient regardless of the angle of decent. When I try to stop the vehicle using the foot brake it continues to maintain speed and if I put the shift lever in neutral, while trying to stop, the RPM's increase from approximately 1500 rpm's to 3200 rpm's until the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and then, only after approximately five seconds do the RPM's begin to drop to 1000 rpm's. If I am driving the vehicle with cruise control and cancel the cruise control, the vehicle maintains the cruise control speed indefinitely, literally for miles thereafter. I wanted to give this vehicle to my daughter who has multiple sclerosis but it's too dangerous for her to drive with this acceleration problem. Do you have any recommendations for me???
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.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to actuate as needed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift out of park(P) into gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake light switch or wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V106000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
Windshield
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated the vehicle failed to release from the park position. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact stated the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign number 04V106000 (Exterior Lighting).
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.
MY INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE I'M DRIVING, AND WILL STAY ON 2-3 HOURS AFTER THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IF I RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN SPEED. WHEN I AM COMPLETELY STOPPED AT STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, I HAVE TO PRESSED ON THE BRAKES REALLY HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD
ON OCTOBER 23 2019, I RETAINED MAVIS DISCOUNT TIRE TO INSPECT MY NEW YORK STATE REGISTERED 2003 FORD TAURUS. MAVIS DISCOUNT TIRE PASSED THE VEHICLE, DETERMINING THE VEHICLES CONDITION COMPLIED WITH NY STATE SAFETY STANDARD OF ROADWORTHINESS. 12/12/2019, AFTER REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION AT GORILLA AUTO WORKS, I WAS INFORMED OF A SERIOUS STRUCTURAL SITUATION, CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY "SEVERELY DETERIORATED". ON JANUARY 20TH 2020, I AGAIN REFERRED THE VEHICLE TO CASKINETE FORD CARTHAGE NEW YORK FOR FURTHER EVALUATION, AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY STANDARDS, AS WAS INFORMED, THAT THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPAIRABLE, AT THE PRESENT CONDITION, DID NOT MEET NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS, CONTRARY TO THE ORIGINAL STATUS, AND INSPECTION , ISSUED 10/23/2019 MAVIS DISCOUNT TIRE ARSENAL ST. WATERTOWN NEW YORK. FURTHER EVALUATIONS, STUDY REVEALED, THAT FAILURE OF THIS CONDITION, UNDERWAY, AT US INTERSTATE AVERAGE SPEED OF TRAFFIC, POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT WOULD RESULT, EMINENT RISK OF LOSS OF LIFE. PER US AGENCY STANDARDS, I HAVE MADE ALL REASONABLE EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THIS COMPLAINT WITH RELEVANT STATE AGENCIES, DMV. ETC. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS INCLUDED RELEVANT NEW YORK STATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO INCLUDE NEW YORK STATE SENATE. *PLEASE NOTE THE, POSSIBLY INTENTIONAL OMISSION BY MAVIS STAFF, OF THE VEHICLES MILEAGE. OBTAINED BY OTHER RECORDS.
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN FTHE AIR WWNT OUT OF MY TIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE REAL. ONCE THE TIRE WAS REMOVED IT REVEALED A LARGE GASH IN THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE AS A RESULT BROKEN COIL.
FORD TAURUS 2003 CAR SAFETY PROBLEM WAS REPORTED ON JULY 01, 2007.FORD TAURUS 2003, MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER. ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING.
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. VEHICLE WAS THANKFULLY PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS A RECALL NO. 04V332000, FOR 1999-2001 MODELS - CURIOUS WHY IT STOPPED THERE? MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS ISSUE CONTINUED PAST 2001. PHOTOS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED.
MY BRAKE BOOSTER IS CAUSING OIL TO GET IN MY HOSE CAUSING MY CAR PROBLEMS LIKE MY ENGINE CUTTING OFF WHILE IN DRIVE AND MY CAR CAN BARELY STOP WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES I HAVE TO PRESS THEM LITERLY ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE GETS STUCK. WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO REV AT 2000 RPMS EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE CAR IS TRYING TO TAKE OFF WHEN WAITING AT A RED LIGHT OR IN MOTION.
SINCE OWNING THIS AUTO FROM 2004 FORWARD, I'VE BEEN IN A FEW FRONT-END INCIDENTS AND THE AIR BAG NEVER ACTIVATED.
MY BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE STARTS AND I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. THE LIGHT STAYS ON TILL I TURN CAR OFF. REPLACED BATTERY, REPLACED STARTER, HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND WAS TOLD ITS NUMBERS WERE GOOD BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHY THE BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THE WIRES ARE MELTING BECAUSE OF THEIR POSITION ON AND AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. THERE IS ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT SITS ACROSS ON TOP OF THE ALTERNATOR AND APPEARS TO BE MELTING AS THE UNIT GETS HOT. WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. FORD HAS CHANGED THE POSITIONING OF THEIR ALTERNATOR WIRES ON LATER MODELS. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE OR CAN AFFECT OTHER CONNECTED COMPONENTS. THE BATTERY LIGHT REFUSES TO TURN OFF.
MY CAR SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR MAT WAS NOT ON THE PEDDLE.
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.
A STRANGE GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE AREA WHICH WAS VERY NOTICABLE TRYING TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY, SO PULLED BACK IN AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG. I NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER SMELL AND THAT THE WHEEL CLEARANCE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS ON PASSENGER VERSE DRIVER FRONT TIRE. DROVE UP ONTO RAMPS TO LOOK FROM BENEATH AND COULD CLEARLY SEE THE END OF THE COIL POKING INTO THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRE WITH A WORN MARK ALL THE WAY AROUND WHERE IT WAS PUSHING INTO THE RUBBER. AFTER CAREFULLY BACKING OFF RAMPS, IT WAS JACKED UP AND PLACED ON JACK STANDS, AT WHICH TIME IT WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE THE COIL SPRING WAS SNAPPED IN TWO. IT IS A MIRACLE THIS WAS FOUND BEFORE MY SISTER DROVE 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY SHE WAS ABOUT TO. THIS WOULD'VE CERTAINLY CAUSED A BLOWOUT AND POTENTIALLY A FIRE, AND AT THOSE SPEEDS COULD'VE CERTAINLY BEEN DEADLY.
I PURCHASED THE CAR 11/17/2018 FROM EARLS CREDIT AUTO SALES IN PORTSMOUTH ON AIRLINE BLVD ; IT RODE WELL UNTIL 11/30/2018 WHEN I DROVE TO THE BARBERSHOP IN THE GREENBRIER AREA OF CHESAPEAKE VA. I WENT TO PULL OUT THE PARKING LOT AND MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE REAL HEAVY AND SLOPPY SO I PARKED IT AND TURNT IT OFF , WHEN I TRIED TO START IT UP IT WOULD NOT START IT KEPT STALLING I CALLED THE DEALERSHIPS AUTO SHOP THEY TOOK THE CAR AND HELD IT AND CLAIM THEY WERE WORKING ON IT , I PICKED THE CAR UP WHEN IT WAS READY 12/04/2018. IT RODE FINE UNTIL 12/14/2018 I WENT TO THE BARBERSHOP AGAIN AND AS I WAS LEAVING BACKING OUT MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE HEAVILY AGAIN THAN BEFORE I COULD PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO PULL BACK IN TO THE PARKING SPOT THE CAR JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT WHILE A CAR WAS TO THE LEFT OF ME TRYING TO PULL OUT . I HAD TO GET OUT AND PUSH THE CAR IN THE SPOT AND HURRY AND RUSH TO PUSH ON THE BREAK AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. WHEN I GOT A TOW TO THE DEALERSHIPS AUTO SHOP I EXPLAINED THIS IS MY SECOND TIME HERE UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES , I ALSO CALLED THE DEALERSHIP PLEADING TO GIVE THE CAR BACK AND TO BE REFUNDED I BARLEY GOT TO ENJOY OR USE THE BEGUILE WITHOUT IT BEING A PROBLEM . I WAS TOLD THEY DON'T ALLOW REFUNDS AND THERE AUTO SHOP WILL FIX THE CAR , SO WHEN THEY SAID THE CAR WAS READY ON 12/15/2018 IT DROVE WELL BUT IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I WENT TO AUTO ZONE FOR A FREE TEST AND I GOT A PO430 CODE , I CALLED THE AUTO SHOP BEFORE THEY CLOSED BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME ON THE 14TH ALL WHAT WAS WRONG WAS A FUEL PUMP AND THEY REPLACED IT BUT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CATALYST SYSTEM I BEEN SMELLING A BURING SMELL COMING THROUGH MY VENTS FOR A WHILE BUT NEVER REALLY KNEW WHAT IT WAS . THE REP ON THE PHONE TOLD ME IT WAS FINE FOR ME TO STILL DRIVE THE CAR AND I ALSO I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR WORKED ON TILL 12/26/2018 . I NEED HELP!
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.
BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED, HAS ADJUSTABLE PEDALS, AND WHEN I BOUGHT A SWITCH FROM FORD, THE INSERT MENTIONED A RECALL 04S12, LOCAL FORD DEALER DENIED THE RECALL.
BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER CAR WAS SITTING FOR A MONTH WHILE I WAS ILL. CAR SHAKES VERY BADLY WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES. BRAKE FLUID IS NOT LOW. CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.
KEEP SHUTTING OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DURING IN THE CITY SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. DOESN'T START ALL THE TIME. THERE'S RATTLING AND CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE
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.
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