2003 Ford Taurus

Defect. Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.

Risk. A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS MALFUNCTIONING COULD RENDER THE STOP LAMPS INOPERABLE OR CAUSE THEM TO STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE CONFUSION TO A FOLLOWING DRIVER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Risk. IN ADDITION, IF THE SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING FAIL IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ACTUATE AND THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF "PARK" IF THEY FAIL IN THE CLOSED POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL REMAIN ON, WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE SPEED CONTROL TO BE ACTIVATED. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED STOP LAMP SWITCH AND WIRE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Defect. ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE AIR FILTER PAPER IN THESE VEHICLES CAN SMOLDER OR BURN.

Risk. THIS CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE TO THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND/OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELDS MAY POTENTIALLY EXHIBIT INCREASED WIND NOISE, WATER LEAKAGE, AND SQUEAKS AND RATTLES.

Risk. POTENTIAL LOSS OF WINDSHIELD RETENTION MAY ALSO REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WINDSHIELDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD/MERCURY AT 1-800-392-3673.

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.