Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 75 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 75, in the owner's own words
I DROVE TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WAS THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WOULDN'T MOVE THE CAR IS ON A SIDE STREET IN THE CITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE FUEL CAP AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, IT LUNGED FORWARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS ENGAGED IN PARK; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE INCREASED TO HIGH AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (ROWE WESTBROOK, 91 MAIN STREET, WESTBROOK, ME 04092, (207) 854-2555) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
DRIVING ON A HIGH-SPEED HIGHWAY, WHEN WITHOUT WARNING (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER NOTIFICATION), THE TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING. I WAS LEFT UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OR EVEN MAINTAIN MY SPEED; AND I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP ON AN EXIT RAMP AS THE PORTION OF HIGHWAY THAT I WAS ON DID NOT HAVE SHOULDERS ON EITHER SIDE. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WAS JUST AS ILL-PREPARED FOR THIS SUDDEN DECELERATION, AND I WAS POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN STEER TO RELATIVE SAFETY. IT APPEARS THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER'S SPLINES ARE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED AND THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS SPECIFIC MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE ATTENDED TO, ESPECIALLY SO THAT THERE IS NO INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE IN THE FUTURE.
MY 2005 FORD TAURUS HAS A STRIPPED TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINE AFTER I INSPECTED IT CLOSELY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE. IT IS ALSO COMMON IN OTHER SIMILAR FORD MODELS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINE CAN STRIP OUT WITHOUT WARNING, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS. THIS CAN BE ESPECIALLY HAZARD IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A LIGHT TURNS RED, ON AT HIGH SPEED ON A HIGHWAY, WHICH WOULD RISK A HIGH-SPEED REAR END COLLISION. FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS COMMON DEFECT. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THIS SAME FAILURE ON THE INTERNET BY OTHER OWNERS.THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS AS I WAS IN AN INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEED ON A CITY STREET. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. VERY LUCKILY, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP CLEAR OF TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT.
I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF MAYBE 45 MILES AN HOUR AND I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS WHEN APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE REALLY FAST. I TAPPED THE GAS HARD AND IT STOPPED. SINCE THEN IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME. NOW THE CAR IS HESITANT AND JERKING. THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT RECENTLY CAME ON AND WENT AWAY BUT THE ACCELERATION IS GETTING WORSE EACH DAY.
TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THEN IT JUST WENT OUT. SO HAD IT FIXED AND IT COST ME OVER $ 2500. NOW A YEAR TO DATE 07/ 08/2017 IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND CAN NOT AFFORD IT AGAIN. OH OF COURSE WHEN YOU TAKE IT IN IT WON'T DO IT. IT HAPPENS WHEN MOVING IN THE CITY BETWEEN LIKE 1ST AND 2ND. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT LESS THAN 56,000 MILES.
UPON RETURNING TO THE TAURUS IN A PARKING LOT, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE. THE GEAR SHIFT MOVED AS FREELY AS IT NORMALLY DOES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED ACROSS TOWN. OUR MECHANIC TOLD ME TODAY THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS STRIPPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THAT METAL PARTICLES FROM THE STRIPPED OUT PIECES HAD TO BE CLEANED OUT. TOTAL COST WILL BE ABOUT $1800. MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH TAURUSES AND WINDSTARS OF THAT TIME, AND A LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE CONFIRMS IT. DISAPPOINTING THAT FORD WILL NOT RECALL FOR WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. MY INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 88K MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR TIMES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,847.
2005 FORD TAURUS WITH 53,000 MILES HAS A PROBLEM THAT THE ENGINE ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE ALSO REVS UP TO 4000RPM IN PARK ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE MUST BE TURNED OFF AND THE ACCELERATOR MUST BE PRESSED HARD TO "RESET" THE PROBLEM. BASED ON RESEARCH ONLINE AND PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AND ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL YEAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED INTERMITTENT HESITATION. ALSO, WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. MOST RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
TRANNY WENT OUT WHILE GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. CAR WENT DOWN TO 15 MPH. WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY OTHER VEHICLES. WAS NOT AWARE OF THE MANUFACTURE DEFECT AT THE TIME. FORD WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR WERE AFFECTED.
I SAW A RECALL NOTICE IN THE NEWS: 06N07 7807 FOR MY VEHICLE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PCM RECALIBRATING FOR THE FLEX FUEL. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES BY USPS AND HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE 1984. I HAD THE TAURUS INTO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS FOR SERVICE AND NO ONE MENTIONED THE RECALL. AS I AM RETIRED MILITARY MY VEHICLES ARE ALWAYS KEPT IN TOP CONDITION FOR TRAVEL AT ANYTIME. I WAS REFUSED SERVICE ON THE TAURUS ( TOW DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIP HAD COMPLETED WORK ON THE TAURUS, WITHOUT TAKING CARE OF THE RECALL) THE SERVICE REP STATED THAT THE TIME FOR REPAIR HAD PASSED. NO WONDER FORD MOTOR COMPANY STOCK IS DOWN IN THE TIME PASSED, (I HAVE SERVICE BILLS THAT SHOW THAT TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND I DO HAVE STARTING PROBLEMS WITH THE E85 FUEL. I AM WONDERING IF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LACK OF NOTICES FOR RECALL. I JUST WANT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND MAKE A CUSTOMER AND SHAREHOLDER HAPPY...UPDATED 08/27/15 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,904.
TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH. SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION GEARS DISENGAGE AND THERE IS NO MORE ACCELERATION. I COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ENGINE IS RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE WHEN SHIFTED IN ANY GEAR (FORWARD OR REVERSE). TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SUSPECT TORQUE CONVERTER AND/OR FULL TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
WAS HEADING HOME FROM FISHING TO HAVE EASTER DINNER WITH THE FAMILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE GOING TO PASS A TRUCK ON THE EXPRESS WAY TO THE LEFT LANE, WHEN I WENT TO GIVE IT GAS TO GO AROUND HIM, I GOT NOTHING LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, RPMS WENT UP AND I STARTED SLOWING DOWN .NO NOISE NO NOTHING SO I SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 2 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TO GET IT HOME. SINCE IT WAS EASTER SUNDAY I HAD NO WHERE TO TOW IT TOO. I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND LOOKS LIKE A TORQUE CONVERTER NOT 100 PERCENT SURE UNTIL I DIG INTO IT. BUT I DID BUY THIS CAR USED AND HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM IN 2 YEARS, GOT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW I WAS 1600 MILES OVER THE LIMIT SO NO WARRANTY. I'M DAM WELL NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THIS AND ILL BE CALLING THE FINANCE COMPANY TO COME GET IT STILL MAKING PAYMENTS, CAUSE IF IT GOING TO COST ME 1800 TO FIX IT, NO WAY CARS ONLY WORTH 2500. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MILE PER HOUR THE I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR CONTINUED IN A MANNER AS IF IT WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. I TAPPED THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND PUT MY FOOT BEHIND AND PULLED AND IT RELEASED. EARLIER MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND REPORTED THAT IT ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP SO SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT NEARLY MISSING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. *TR
VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THEN LOST ALL DRIVE AND REVERSE. NO WARNING OR NOISES DETECTED. POSSIBLE PROBLEM MIGHT BE STRIPED SPLINES IN TORQUE CONVERTER OF TRANSMISSION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ALL PUMP PRESSURE IS LOST AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL APPEAR TO BE IN NEUTRAL. FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING 35 MPH, WHEN THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE PEDAL GOT STUCK. THE ENGINE WAS AT ABOUT 4,000 RPM. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, SO SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, HOWEVER, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO BRAKE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND WE RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ACCELERATOR WIRING REPLACED. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND AS I BEGAN TO MOVE OFF TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO PICK UP SPED WITHOUT ME PUSHING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE SPED INCREASED ABRUPTLY AND SEEMED TO BE OVERPOWERING THE BRAKES. I MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE IT'S REVS. I STOMPED ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING CLOSE TO 60 MPH, NOW COASTING IN NEUTRAL, AND THE ENGINE REVS BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION HAD MY DAUGHTER, A NOVICE DRIVER OF SIX MONTHS, BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL. *TR
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH UPHILL, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED TO 20 MPH. THE SPEED INCREASED AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. A LOCAL MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2014, I WAS DRIVING ON US HWY 206 IN FLANDERS, NJ, WHEN MY CAR STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, BUT PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING. I QUICKLY MANEUVERED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE IN ANY GEAR, EVEN REVERSE, HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE AS IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I WAS TOWED HOME AND RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER FORD TAURUS OWNERS WHEN THE SPLINES ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAIL, RENDERING THE TRANSMISSION INOPERABLE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY UNRESPONSIVE WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I'M LUCKY I WASN'T HIT FROM BEHIND ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. ON JULY 8, 2014, FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE FORD TAURUS, AND OTHER MODELS, FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT MY YEAR WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. WHY? IN JANUARY 2012, FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTERS FOR 450K SUVS AND VANS. BUT THE TAURUS WASN'T, AGAIN, WHY? ARE THE LIVES OF TAURUS OWNERS WORTH ANY LESS THAN SUV/MINIVAN OWNERS? *TR
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED THAT I SEEMED TO KEEP PICKING UP SPEED EVEN AFTER I HAD TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I FIRST ATTEMPTED TO PUSH AND PULL ON THE GAS PEDAL THINKING IT WAS STUCK BUT NO SUCCESS, I THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE. I THEN PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP, STILL UNABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I SLOWED DOWN AS MUCH AS I COULD AND THREW THE CAR IN PARK, WITH THE ENGINE STILL ATTEMPTING TO GO! I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF AND HAD AAA COME OUT TO ASSESS THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR SO MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS!!! ITS BETTER TO BE PROACTIVE AND HAVE THE PART FIXED THAN TO NOT FIX THE ISSUE AND HAVE ACCIDENTS FROM THIS ISSUE! *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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