2003 Ford Taurus Fuel system Problems

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???

NHTSA ID

11475206

Incident

Jul 21, 2022

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

NHTSA ID

10937292

Incident

Dec 23, 2016

Mileage

168,000 mi

THERE IS A SERIOUS GAS LEAK ON MY FORD TAURUS. THE MECHANIC LIFTED THE VEHICLE AND THE GAS WAS JUST DRIPPING OUT OF THE GAS TANK. I WAS INFORMED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE IT IS A FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

10928910

Incident

Nov 11, 2016

FUEL FILTER RETAINING CLIPS (WHITE PLASTIC/NYLON) ARE NOT AVAILABLE. MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF FUEL FILTER AND INSTRUCTIONS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF R-CLIPS/HAIRPIN CLIPS. FORD DOES NOT SELL PROPER RETAINING CLIP. THIS CAN/WILL RESULT IN A DANGEROUS MASSIVE FUEL LEAK WHEN THE PARTS SEPARATE.

NHTSA ID

10865520

Incident

May 14, 2016

Mileage

127,000 mi

I STARTED CONSTANTLY SMELLING GAS OUTSIDE THE CAR THEN IT STARTED SMELLING IN CABIN THEN I LOCATED AND REPLACED FUEL FILTER THEN REALIZED TANK APPEARED TO BE LEAKING AROUND SEAMS.

NHTSA ID

10767610

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

136,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10716291

Incident

May 7, 2015

Mileage

68,000 mi

MY 2003 FORD TAURUS ACCELERATES BY ITSELF TO 35-45 MPH WITHOUT HAVING TO TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR (NOTE: THE CAR WILL ALSO ACCELERATE UPHILL WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WORKS, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ITSELF IS NOT ENGAGING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10620952

Incident

Aug 8, 2014

Mileage

143,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN LONG ROAD, GOT UP TO 40 MPH, CAR STAYED ON THAT SPEED AS IF IT WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. I EVEN SLOWED DOWN TO 30, CAR STAYED ON THIRTY. HAD FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IT SURGES FORWARD. I READ HORROR STORIES OF OTHER YEAR TAURUS' DOING SAME THING, CAUSING CRASHES. MY 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. EVERY OTHER CAR AROUND THIS YEARS DATE WAS RECALLED, BUT NOT THE 2003. I CHANGED MY HOSES, SO IT'S NOT THAT. THE CAR IS LITERALLY STAYING IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE EVEN WHEN IT'S OFF. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, I CAN HEAR A TICKING SOUND ONCE OR TWICE, NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS, IT'S SCARY THOUGH. BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS I WANT A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR OF TAURUS REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607643

Incident

Jun 16, 2014

Mileage

147,777 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD TAURUS SINCE NEW. AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING ACCELERATION WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS. NO CODES SHOWED UP. EVERY MECHANIC HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION. BASICALLY TRIAL AND ERROR, NONE OF WHICH WORKS. I HAVE HAD THE CRUISE CHECKED, CHANGED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THE IDLE AIR VALVE. IT STILL DOES THIS AT 111,000. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY WIFE'S SAFETY SINCE IT IS HER CAR. I READ THAT FORD HAS NOT RECOGNIZED THIS AS A PROBLEM, BUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR ONLINE COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386608

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE 2003 FORD TAURUS WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR APPLYING BRAKES WILL SURGE AND LUNGE FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE IT SURGES WITH PEOPLE WALKING IN FRONT OF IT AND CARS IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE CAR THEN FEELS LIKE IT IS HIT FROM THE REAR END AND SMELLS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO CATCH ON FIRE. VERY SCARY SITUATION, MY CHILDREN ARE VERY SCARED AND WE ALREADY HAVE AN EVACUATION PLAN IF THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE. IT IS DEFINTELY NOT SAFE. A SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE 2006 FORD FREESTYLE. IT ALSO GOES DEAD WHILE BACKING UP. EVEN WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED TO THE FLOOR, IT SURGES AND MOVES FORWARD. THE ENGINGE JERKING IS A VERY HARD JOLT. WE HOPE THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365408

Incident

Nov 11, 2010

Mileage

198,000 mi

GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED...GAS LEAKING...TANK FULL OF HOLES.. HEAT SHIELD ALSO REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265435

Incident

Mar 20, 2005

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON 08/05/2008 AND THE CAR WOULD NOT THROTTLE DOWN. WHEN I CAME TO A STOPLIGHT THE CAR WAS JERKING FORWARD AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE. HAD I NOT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE BEGAN TO "REDLINE" IN RPMS UNTIL I SHUT IT DOWN. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE, IT APPEARED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE SIMPLY "FELL OFF". *TR

NHTSA ID

10237191

Incident

Aug 5, 2008

Mileage

89,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE CAR ON 2/11/08 AND THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THE DOOR PANEL BROKE OFF AND THE CAR WAS IDLING HIGH WHEN I DRIVE IT. THEY KNOCKED $1,000 OFF OF THE SALES PRICE AND TOOK OFF THE FORD WARRANTY FOR THIS EXCHANGE AND THEY WROTE OUT ANOTHER SALES CONTRACT. A MONTH LATER, THE STARTER WENT OUT AND I PAID $200.00 TO FIX IT (OUT OF MY POCKET). THEN, ON 4/7/08 WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN AND I CALLED RACEWAY FORD. THE CAR DEALER WHOM SOLD ME THE CAR TOLD ME THAT HE DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN HELP ME AND IF THEY DID FIX IT, HE SAID HE WOULDN'T KNOW WHEN IT'LL BE READY BECAUSE HE'S NOT A MECHANIC (IN A VERY SARCASTIC TONE). HE TOLD ME TO JUST CALL BACK WHEN THE MANAGER ARRIVE AT 3 P.M. TODAY. I HAD TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED THE SAME DAY SO I TOOK MY CAR TO GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE SHOP IN MORENO VALLEY AND PAID $688.00 (OUT OF MY POCKET) TO GET IT REPAIRED. AFTER MY CAR WAS REPAIRED, ON 4/7/08, I WENT TO RACEWAY FORD AND WAITED 15 MINUTES TO TALK TO THE SALES MANAGER, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS IN HIS OFFICE, ONLY 20FT AWAY FROM WHERE I WAS WAITING, HE SENT HIS ASSISTANT MANAGER TO COME OUT TO TALK TO ME BECAUSE THE ASSISTANT MANAGER SAID THE MANAGER WAS TOO BUSY TO HANDLE THE SITUATION AT THIS TIME. SO, I EXPLAINED ALL THE PROBLEMS I?VE HAD WITH THE VEHICLE, WHICH I PURCHASED FROM THEM. THE ASSISTANT MANAGER MADE COPIES OF MY REPAIR BILLS AND TOLD ME THAT HE PROMISE HE'LL TRY TO HELP ME AS BEST AS HE CAN AND HE'LL CALL ME BACK TOMORROW (ON 04/08/08). TODAY IS 4/10/08 AND I HAVEN?T HEARD FROM THE MANAGER OR THE ASSISTANT MANAGER IN REGARDS TO THIS DILEMMA. NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAS TRIED TO CONTACT ME. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IF THEY WOULD HAVE DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO ME, THIS PROBLEM WOULDN'T EVEN EXIST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224111

Incident

Feb 12, 2008

Mileage

73,348 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD TAURUS IT IS A FLEX FUEL VEHICLE. WE HAVE RECENTLY GOTTEN E85 GAS IN OUR AREA AND I USE IT PERIODICALLY. I HAVE BEEN HAVING "STARTING ISSUES" WITH IT; OVER THE PAST YEAR IT HAS HAD THE IACV REPLACED TWICE, THE FUEL PUMP, THE STARTER AND THE FUEL FILTER ALL REPLACED ONCE. THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED WITH IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. THE CAR EITHER WILL ACT LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO START (SPUTTER STARTING), OR IT WILL DIE RIGHT AFTER PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE. IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN USING THE E85 GASOLINE, BUT ALSO DOES IT WITH REGULAR GAS. FORD BASICALLY HAS TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY STARTING OR STALLING PROBLEMS RELATED TO ETHANOL FUEL AND HAVE GIVEN UP ON FIXING MY PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199114

Incident

Aug 3, 2007

Mileage

2 mi

ENGINE CONTINUALLY CUTS OUT, STALLS, FAILS TO ACCELERATE, ETC. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO THE CAM SENSOR ASSEMBLY WHICH FORD ADMITS IS FAULTY...AND YET I AM HAVING TO PAY OVER $500 IN ORDER TO FIX THIS!! *AK

NHTSA ID

10194209

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

10,200 mi

AFTER 8 HOURS OF DRIVING THE CAR BEGAN STALLING WHILE MOVING AT POSTED SPEEDS. AFTER STOPPING A FEW MINUTES ENGINE RAN FINE. RECURRED ABOUT FIVE TIMES ON TRIP. OBD-II CODE INDICATED FUEL RAIL PRESSURE PROBLEM. LATER FUEL PUMP PRESSURE CHECK INDICATED THE PUMP WAS WORKING NORMALLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10190117

Incident

Mar 10, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

ENGINE STARTS MISFIRING AND LOSES POWER COMPLETELY AND SHUTS OFF. YOU CAN TURN IGNITION OFF AND RESTART ENGINE AND THE ENGINE RUNS GOOD FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE FUEL RAIL SENSOR CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM, BUT I'VE INSTALLED TWO SENSORS IN FOUR MONTHS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10155917

Incident

Apr 23, 2006

Mileage

99,999 mi

ENGINE EXPERIENCES A VERY SHORT HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. ON ONE OCCASSION ENGINE STALLED IN INTERSECTION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP ON TWO INSTANCES AND PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.

NHTSA ID

10119406

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

38,500 mi

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS THE RESULT OF A CRACKED FUEL FILLER NECK. MY REPAIR INVOICE STATES THAT "FILLER NECKS ARE USUALLY CRACKED WHEN FUEL FILL NOZZLES ARE INSERTED IMPROPERLY OR NEGIGENTLY." I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY WHERE IT IS ILLEGAL TO PUMP YOUR OWN GASOLINE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN FILLED AT THE SAME GAS STATION AT EVERY FILL-UP. THERE IS NOTHING TO SUGGEST THAT THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT DID ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY AT THE LAST FUELING OF THE VEHICLE, BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE FORD SERVICE ADVISORS THAT THIS DAMAGE HAD TO OCCUR AT MY LAST FILL-UP. THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THE NOZZLE WAS FORCED INTO THE FILLER NECK, NOR WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SUGGESTED ANY UNUSUAL FORCE OR TORQUE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE NOZZLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE HAS SEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THESE PARTS AND FORD TAKES THE POSITION THAT UNLESS THE CRACK IS ALONG THE SEAM OF THE PLASTIC CASTING THAT IT IS THE RESULT OF DAMAGE, NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT REPAIRABLE UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT A COMPONENT THIS CRITICAL SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE FORCE OF A GASOLINE PUMP NOZZLE BEING INSERTED INTO IT, AND SHOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND THE UPPER LIMIT OF FORCES THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO IT WITH THAT NOZZLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116442

Incident

Apr 5, 2005

Mileage

28,695 mi

2003 FORD TAURUS HAS PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, ENGINE BACKFIRING, HOOD LATCH IS BROKEN, AND SEAT BRACKET FELL OFF. *MR THE TIRES WERE CONTINUOUSLY GOING FLAT. SIX FLATS OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ON A TRIP, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND WOULD JERK IN TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE WOULD BACK FIRE INTERMITTENTLY AND STALLED ON ONE OCCASION, THE SEAT BRACKET WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BUT FAILED AGAIN (THE SEAT BRACKET WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED FROM THE START), THE ENGINE ALSO DISPLAYED KNOCKING AND HAD TAKEN ABOUT 9 VISITS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A VALVE WAS STICKING OUT. THE A/C DID NOT COOL, THE CONSUMER SMELLED COOLANT WHICH LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES AND RIMS WERE A PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS ABOUT 18 VISITS/TWO REAR TIRES REMAINED A PROBLEM DUE TO SEVERE INFLATION PROBLEMS AND THE TIRES WOULD NEED TO BE INFLATED SEVERAL TIMES DAILY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *SC THE GAS MILEAGE WAS POOR. TIRE LOOSING AIR PRESSURE FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE. *TC THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 2-25-06 AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 03/29/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10089425

Incident

Apr 15, 2004

DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO GIVE THE CONSUMER AN APPOINTMENT TO PERFORM AIR FILTER PAPER/FIRE RECALL 04V105000 REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10072044

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 04V105000 REGARDING AIR FILTER PAPER WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068700

Incident

Apr 22, 2004

THREE AUTHORIZED FORD REPAIR FACILITIES MADE 5 ATTEMPTS TO FIX OR REPAIR AN INACCURATE FUEL GUAGE ON A 2003 TAURUS SE SEDAN WITH NO LUCK. ALL NEW PARTS WERE REPLACED FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER TO NO AVAIL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATES THERE IS NO CURRENT FIX, BUT THEY WERE WORKING ON ONE. THIS WAS AS OF 06/18/03.

NHTSA ID

10070760

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

1,591 mi

THE FUEL LINE RUBBED ON THE BODY OF THE CAR WHICH CAUSED THE PAINT TO COME OFF. *JB THE FUEL LINE PRESSURE REGULATOR RUBBED ON THE RIGHT STRUT HOUSING AND CREATED SPARKS. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10020364