2003 Ford Taurus Visibility Problems

Windshield

NHTSA ID

11459324

Incident

Mar 10, 2022

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER WILL NOT WORK; SPECIFICALLY THE VEHICLE STAYS "LOCKED" IN THE PARK SETTING. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND REQUIRES ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF OR ATTEMPT TO "RE-SET" THE BRAKE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES. ADDITIONALLY, AT TIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN LIT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLACED IN PART AND TURNED OFF WITH THE DRIVER LOCKING THE VEHICLE AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINING LIT HAS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO COMPLETELY DISCHARGE. TO OFFSET THIS I'VE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE FOR THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO PREVENT THE BATTERY FROM DISCHARGING. I DID HAVE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINE THE ISSUE AND THE MECHANIC NOTED THE VEHICLE RECALL FOR A 2003 FORD TAURUS FOR THIS FAULT. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A LOT IDENTIFIED AS IMPACTED BY THE VEHICLE RECALL. SPECIFICALLY THE VIN FROM MY 2003 FORD TAURUS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THIS FAULT FIRST OCCURRED WHEN I WAS STATIONED IN JAPAN (2004 - 2007) SOMETIME IN MAY OF 2004 WHEN THE BATTERY DISCHARGED TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY; I COULDN'T JUMP START THE VEHICLE WITH THE ORIGINAL BATTERY STILL IN THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS 3,000 MILES. AS OF TODAY (AUGUST 10, 2017) THE MILEAGE ON THE 2003 FORD TAURUS HAS REACHED 104,000. REQUEST NHTSA REVIEW THE RECORDS FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION OF THE LOT FOR MY VEHICLE FOR INCLUSION IN THIS RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, WISH NHTSA TO CONSIDER INCLUDING THE LOT OF MY VEHICLE FOR INCLUSION IN RECALL 03V087000 REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE CABIN AIR FILTER AND THE BRAKE COMPONENTS SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, SO THE RECALLS ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES ARE NOT APPLICABLE DUE TO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY.

NHTSA ID

11014102

Incident

May 15, 2004

LEAKING WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, BLOWER MOTOR QUIT WORKING FLOOR IS STARTING TO MOLD MULTIPLE WORK BAGS SATURATED WITH MOLDY WATER. TOLD TO REFERENCE EXISTING RECALL 03V087000 AND COMPLAINT 10184014

NHTSA ID

10970544

Incident

Mar 2, 2017

THE CAR WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND STOPPED. WHEN I PRESSED TO ACCEL THE TRANSMISSION DID'NT PULL OVER 15 FEET AND STOPPED PULLING. IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT HAD GON OUT. AND THEN I GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL ABOUT OTHER RECALLS BUT NOT ON THE TRANSMISSIONS. I WORKED FOR FORD FOR 27 YEARS AS AN ENGINEER AND BUILT TRANSMISSIONS UNDER RECALLS. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THESE PAOPLE! BUT THE 2004 HAS THAT RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10926580

Incident

Jan 10, 2015

Mileage

1,024,083 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BLOWER MOTOR EMITTED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RESISTER BLOWER MOTOR WAS GETTING DAMAGED WITH WATER FROM THE CROW AND UNDER THE AIR CABIN FILTER WHERE THE INSTALLATION OF THE CABIN AIR FILTER. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEED TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE INSTALLATION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID

10860395

Incident

Jul 8, 2014

Mileage

132,000 mi

MY 2003 TAURUSES WINDSHIELD LEAKS. I CHECKED THE RECALLS AND IT SHOWS A RECALL #03C03 FOR MY CAR, BUT WHEN I ENTER MY VIN#[XXX] AND IT SHOW ZERO FOR RECALLS. I'M NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF THE VEHICLE ,BUT THAT SHOULDN'T MATTER IN A THIS CASE. WHEN MY WIFE OR I ARE DRIVING THE CAR IN THE RAIN THE WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE CAR. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE COULD HELP ME WITH THIS CITATION. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10745616

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

75,599 mi

THE FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE IS WET AND HEATER BLOWER ONLY BLOWS ON SETTING 4. MECHANIC SAID WATER SHORTED OUT BLOWER MOTOR. DID SOME SEARCHING AND FOUND I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING; REFERENCE RECALL NUMBER 03V087000 AND OTHER COMPLAINT 10184014. THIS WILL SHOW A CONTINUING TREND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653135

Incident

Oct 16, 2014

Mileage

150,069 mi

MY BATTERY DISCHARGE LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE ABS LIGHT, THE BRAKE LIGHT AND OTHERS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND NEITHER HE NOR I CAN FIND THE BATTERY DRAIN. THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW ANYTHING. AT TIMES IF ITS RAINING THE WIPERS GO AS DOES THE HEAT OR AIR BLOWER. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE ENGINE STOPPING OR THE BRAKES NOT WORKING AND I HAVE HAD MY WIPERS NOT WORK IN A RAIN STORM . ANY ADVICE? *JS

NHTSA ID

10585490

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR HAS STOPPED WORKING IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD IT REPLACED ONCE AND IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. FORD HAS ISSUES A BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IF THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557667

Incident

Dec 17, 2012

Mileage

95,213 mi

AC/HEATER BLOWER ONLY OPERATES ON HIGH - SPEEDS 1,2,3, NO AIR BLOWING. BLOWER RESISTOR PART (F6DZ-19A706-AA) HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN SIX YEARS. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A DEFECT/KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD BE ADDRESSING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511995

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

56,000 mi

FAILURE OF BLOWER MOTOR. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WATER LEAKING INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR COMPARTMENT AND SHORTING-OUT THE BLOWER MOTOR/RESISTOR IS CHRONIC IN THE 2003 FORD TAURUS, EVIDENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR PASSENGER SIDE-FRONT, AND NECESSITATES REPLACEMENT OF THE BLOWER MOTOR AND/OR BALLAST RESISTOR FROM WATER DAMAGE, AT OWNER EXPENSE! A RECALL IS IN ORDER TO COMPEL FORD TO ADDRESS THIS DESIGN ISSUE, AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10472741

Incident

Jul 11, 2012

Mileage

31,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WITH THE DEFROSTER ACTIVATED WHEN SHE SMELLED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HAD BECOME DISCOLORED. THE DEFROSTER WAS TURNED OFF AND THE ODOR DIMINISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10455707

Incident

Apr 17, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS EXPERIENCED FAILURES. AS A RESULT, HOT AIR WOULD NOT BLOW FROM THE VENTS AND THE WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE DEFROSTED. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY AND DRAINED THE BATTERY PREMATURELY. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPUTER AND CORRECTED THE INTERIOR LIGHT FAILURE. THE BLOWER MOTOR FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,555 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 85,754. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/06/12

NHTSA ID

10445499

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

82,555 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING WATER LEAKS AND INCREASED WIND NOISE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V087000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,200.

NHTSA ID

10440096

Incident

Dec 1, 2011

Mileage

114,000 mi

WATER LEAK ON PASSENGER FLOOR,SHORTED BLOWER MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10438762

Incident

Nov 23, 2011

Mileage

119,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10433780

Incident

Oct 24, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

A WATER LEAK WHICH DUMPED WATER ONTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD ALSO CAUSED MY AC BLOWER MOTOR TO SHORT OUT. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO RECALL 03V087000 BUT I KNOW IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS COMPLAINT #10184014. *TR

NHTSA ID

10432316

Incident

Oct 21, 2011

A WATER LEAK, POSSIBLY FROM A FAULTY SEAL, ONTO THE PASSENGER INTERIOR FLOOR BOARD ALSO CAUSED MY AC/HEATER BLOWER MOTOR TO SHORT OUT. MY HEATER SWITCH WILL ONLY WORK IN THE MAXIMUM POSITION. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT IS DUE TO A HEATER MOTOR RESISTOR, WHICH HAS CAUSED SIMILAR PROBLEMS FOR OTHER TAURUS OWNERS. I COULD NOT GET FORD TO ACT EVEN THOUGH A RELATED RECALL EXISTED UNDER 03V087000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430636

Incident

Oct 5, 2011

I OWN A 2003 FORD TAURUS THAT BEGAN HAVING WATER LEAKS THAT KEPT SHORTING OUT THE VEHICLES BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. THESE EVENTS OCCURRED BETWEEN 12/10/2010 TO 05/24/2011 DURING WHICH AT MY EXPENSE TWO RESISTORS WERE INSTALLED. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD THEY CONTINUED TO FAIL AS DID THE BLOWER MOTOR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD WATER DAMAGE THAT CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. A NEW BLOWER MOTOR PLUS NEW COWL INSULATION WAS IN STALLED AT A COST OF $468.42.THE TWO RESISTORS I PREVIOUSLY HAD INSTALLED COST $80.00 PARTS AND LABOR. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY AUTOMOTIVE MODEL AND FORD SHOULD HAD A RECALL AND FIXED THIS FACTORY DEFECT. I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD FALL UNDER FORD RECALL 03V087000 BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NO. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ANOTHER COMPLAINT IS ON FILE WITH YOU CONCERNING THIS MATTER (10184014). I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402651

Incident

May 24, 2011

Mileage

75,743 mi

2003 FORD TAURUS SEC WAGON WITH A LEAKY WINDSHIELD. WATER GOT INTO MY A/C BLOWER FAN HOUSING AND SHORTED OUT THE A/C BLOWER FAN, CAUSED THE BLOWER FAN TO FAIL, THE AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE RESISTER SWITCH AND THE 40 AMP FUSE IN THE SAME SYSTEM DUE TO WATER ENTERING INTO THE CAR FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND COWL DESIGN FLAW. THE RESULT IS A LOSS OF DEFROSTER AND ANTI-FOG CAPABILITY RESULTING IN A SEVERE LOSS OF VISIBILITY DUE TO A LOSS OF SAID CAPABILITY AND/OR FUNCTIONALITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395108

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE DEFROSTER BUT THE BLOWER FAN FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOORBOARD WOULD PERIODICALLY EXHIBIT WATER RETENTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN RAINY AND SNOWY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS WATER WITHIN THE BLOWER FAN MOTOR RELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

NHTSA ID

10384462

Incident

Mar 7, 2009

Mileage

28,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A THE BLOWER RESISTOR REPLACED YET THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER DISCOVERED WATER DAMAGE AROUND THE HEATER BLOWER. THE DEALER CREATED A SHIELD AROUND AND REPLACED THE HEATER BLOWER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,152.

NHTSA ID

10384160

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

49,152 mi

PURCHASED 2003 FORD TAURUS WITH 49K MILES 8 MONTHS AGO. BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR HAVE FAILED TWICE. WATER IS COMING INTO THE BLOWER HOUSING THROUGH THE AIR INTAKE. RECENT FAILURE AT 60K HAPPENED IN COLD WEATHER WHILE ON THE ROAD, CAUSING FAN TO STOP WORKING AND WINDSHIELD RAPIDLY FOGGED OVER, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. FAILURE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384027

Incident

Feb 20, 2011

Mileage

60,000 mi

HEAT/AC FAN BLOWS ONLY ON HIGH. REPLACED COWL PANEL AND INSTALLED RAIN HAT AND BLOWER RESISTOR 11/08; BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FOUND DEFECTIVE 7/10 AND REPLACED. HEAT/AC FAN BLOWS ONLY ON HIGH TODAY 12/10. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368475

Incident

Nov 20, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL 03V087000, VISIBILITY WINDSHIELD WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL. FORD ADVISED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS FILING A SAFETY COMPLAINT DUE TO THE WATER ENTERING INTO THE VEHICLE CAUSING CORROSION THAT SHORTS OUT THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 12/22/10*LJ

NHTSA ID

10353531

Incident

Mar 9, 2008

Mileage

47,000 mi