Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 147 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 147, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECLINED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
2003 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED FORWARD MOVEMENT, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 11/20/13
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. ...UPDATED 05/29/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 06/04/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE ROAD SHOULDER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC OR REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. UPDATED 1/30/2013 *JS
CPSC# I1240221A. 2003 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. *LN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE GEARS SLIPPED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC OF THE FAILURE WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT CONSTANTLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,650 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,600. UPDATED 08/29/12*LJ UPDATED 09/05/12
I AM DISABLED AND MY SON AND I HAD THE SAME TYPE OF CAR A 2003 FORD TAURUS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY SONS CAR JUST SUDDENLY HAD ITS TRANSMISSION STOP WORKING HE SAID THERE WAS NO SIGNS BEFORE IT HAPPENED, BUT I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION. WELL TODAY 03/31/12 MY 2003 TAURUS DID THE EXACT SAME THING AND THERE WAS NO WARNING IT JUST WAS LIKE IT WAS KICKED OUT OF GEAR. I DEPEND ON MY CAR BECAUSE OF MY PHYSICAL CONDITION. HOWEVER BEING LEFT STRANDED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY HELP WAS A BIG PROBLEM. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN ANY GEAR WHICH WAS SELECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW MANUFACTURER'S TRANSMISSION. ONE WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENTER A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REPLACED WITH ANOTHER MANUFACTURER'S TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 5/12/11 *CN
CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 70 WHEN THE CAR ALL-OF-THE-SUDDEN ACCELERATED OUT OF MY CONTROL TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RPM AND THEN SNAPPED AT ABOUT 90, RENDERING MY CAR COMPLETELY USELESS. I FOUND MYSELF COASTING W/ VERY LITTLE CONTROL, OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, 5 MILES FROM THE NEAREST EXIT. COST OVER $2000 OUT-OF-POCKET TO COMPLETELY REPLACE 200 TRANSMISSION-RELATED PARTS. *JS
I GOT THIS CAR IN 2009 AROUND ABOUT NOVEMBER. BY MARCH 2010, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME WITH NO WARNING. GOT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION NOW MARCH 2012 I JUST FOUND OUT TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT AGAIN AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REBUILT AGAIN. HOW LONG DO A TRANSMISSION SUPPOSE TO LAST IN A FORD TAURUS ANYWAY. I MEAN WILL I HAVE TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT EVERY TWO YEARS AS LONG AS I OWN THIS CAR? *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AND INPUT SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 03/28/12 *BF UPDATED 04/09/12
I PURCHASED A NEW FORD TAURUS SE IN 2003. AFTER ONLY 30,000. MILES ON THE ODOMETER MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO GOODYEAR AND A MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REFERRED ME TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. MY QUOTE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT WAS $3,000. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FALLS UNDER "CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE" AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO GET THIS SITUATION RECTIFIED. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AND REQUESTED THAT THE CAR BE REPLACED WITH A NEW TAURUS OR A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR OF ANY COLLATERAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE CAR SITTING IN MY GARAGE SINCE 2008, I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS NEARLY KILLED AS I TRIED TO NAVIGATE FROM THE FREEWAY TO THE SHOULDER. IN ESSENCE I PAID $1,000. PER MILE FOR THE LIFE OF THIS CAR. 2003 WAS ONE OF FORD'S WORST YEAR FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. TO HAVE SUCH A MAJOR COMPONENT FAIL AFTER OWNING THE CAR 5-YEARS AND JUST 30,000. MILES IS A TRAVESTY. IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OWNERS DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HOPE THAT WE CAN RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THIS TRAVESTY BY AN AMERICAN AUTO COMPANY'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND I DON'T KNOW HOW A COMPANY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS , TO ME, IS AN ILLEGAL ACT THAT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED! *TR UPDATED IVOQ 07/09/12 THE CONSUMER ALSO REPORTED TRANSMISSION FAILURES EXPERIENCED BY OTHER CONSUMERS. UPDATED IVOQ 07/23/12
THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING WITH NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TORQUE LINKAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I LOOKED THIS UP I LINE I SAW MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PULLED ONTO A STREET, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ITS GEARS. THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/28/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO SLIPPAGE OR LEAKS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,400. UPDATED 01/18/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GOING INTO ANY GEAR, EXCEPT PARK. UPDATED 01/27/12
I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, MY CAR STARTED BUCKING, AND SOON LOST POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND RESTART IT. *KB
I STOPPED AT A SIGNAL LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR AND THANKFULLY JUST CLEARED THE BUSY INTERSECTION. I WAS IN THE OUTSIDE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I DRIFTED TO THE CURB. THE MOTOR STILL RUNNING. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN IN GEAR. PRESSED THE GAS. NOTHING HAPPENED. I COULD TELL BY THE SOUND THE CAR WAS NOT GOING INTO GEAR. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. PUT INTO GEAR, PRESSED GAS NOTHING HAPPENED. IT JUST SAT THERE. I HAD NO PROBLEMS OR PRIOR SYMPTOMS WITH THIS CAR. NO WARNING SIGNS! THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN SOME VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. AFTER TALKING TO A LOCAL MECHANIC HE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM I HAD WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD TAURUS ESP. THE 2003 MODEL. HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL TORQUE CONVERTERS ON FORD TAURUS' LATELY. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED A LOUD NOISE EMITTED NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED IN HALF. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COIL SPRING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THIS FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A SECOND PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PREPARING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE AND WILL BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP. THE DEALER STATED THE REPAIR COST WAS $3000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR THE FAILURE, AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
2003 FORD TAURUS SES, AUTOMATIC-TRANSMISSION. WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HAD JUST MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE ENGINE STARTED TO OVER-REV AND THERE WAS NO POWER BEING TRNASMITTED TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE RUNS FINE BUT NO MATTER WHAT GEAR IS SELECTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS NO POWER BEING TRANSMITTED TO THE WHEELS. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK AS HAD THIS HAPPEND WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR CROSSING AN INTERSECTION COULD EASLIY HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJUIRES OR DEATH. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM WITH FORD TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TT
DROVE HOME FROM WORK...NO PROBLEMS...WENT OUT ON 8/25/2011..STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT...EVERYTHING WAS FINE...WENT ABOUT 50 FEET...TRANSMISSION DIS-ENGAGED AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD...GOT TOWED HOME . TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FINE BUT WONT ENGAGE . *TR
DRIVING ALONG ON MY WAY TO WORK, ON MAJOR HIGHWAY (RT. 95, EWING, NJ) SLIGHTLY OVER 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE STARTS RACING. NO BANG, CLANG OR BOOM SOUNDS. I REDUCED PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL TO STOP RACING ENGINE. TRIED TO PRESS AGAIN TO RESUME SPEED, BUT NO REACTION BUT RACING ENGINE AGAIN. PULLED OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER THROUGH 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC IN MORNING RUSH HOUR AND STOPPED. TRIED CAR IN ALL GEARS (INCLUDING REVERSE), ONLY REACTION WAS LIKE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, NO GEARS WORKED. CALLED FOR A TOW. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE (TORQUE CONVERTER BROKE AND A PUMP?) IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS WITH 102K MILES. I WAS LUCKY I HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO MANEUVER MY WAY ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO THE SHOULDER. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD TAURUS SES TO WORK ON 8/4/11 AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STOPPED GOING! MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS +/- 126,000 MILES ON IT. IT STILL WAS RUNNING, JUST NONE OF THE GEARS WORKED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I GO TO WORK AT 7:00AM AND TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT! I WAS ALSO LUCKY TO COAST TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THIS ALL HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE LEADING UP TO THIS! I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, HOPEFULLY FORD WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! I WILL AT LEAST CALL THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO GET THEIR OPINION, BUT WILL PROBABLY TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AS I AM PRETTY SURE THE PRICE WILL BE BETTER! IT SOUNDS LIKE FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND MAKE THIS RIGHT! *TR
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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