2003 Ford Taurus complaints

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2003 FORD TAURUS. CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR REVERSE AFTER PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE. ON-COMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP OR SWERVE TO AVOID MY STOPPED CAR. THIS HAPPENED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OR PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. I FOUND 68 OTHER DOCUMENTED CASES IDENTICAL TO THIS INCIDENT. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE HAS TOWED 68 CASES HIMSELF AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND WAS ASSIGNED CASE#[XXX] BUT WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RE-CALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A "LIFE-THREATENING" SITUATION. PLEASE READ THE OTHER INCIDENT REPORTS AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/TAURUS/2003/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILED.SHTM POLICE WERE ON SITE BUT DON'T KNOW IF A REPORT WAS GENERATED. THEY PUSHED CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, STOPPED AT RED LIGHT, WHEN I ACCELERATED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION...NO POWER. THERE WAS NO WARNING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL FOR TOW TRUCK. THANK GOD I WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ALSO, CONSIDERING THE TRANSMISSION JUST GOES OUT AND HOW IMPATIENT DRIVERS ARE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT RAINED, WATER MADE ITS WAY INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND FLOODED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. FURTHERMORE, THE DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK. THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND, INTERIOR LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ILLUMINATED AND THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT ENGAGE AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,586.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED HE STARTED THE ENGINE AND ACCELERATED APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT BEFORE HEARING AN UNUSUALLY LOUD BANG. WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE HE FOUND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT TIRES WERE FLAT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE FOUND THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,228.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED DESPITE IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON OR OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL AND WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALER, WAS INFORMED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

2003 FORD TAURUS WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN FRONT DRIVERSIDE SPRING SNAP AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *TR

MY WIFE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IN OUR 2003 FORD TAURUS, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. I REPLACED THE STRUT, SPRING AND TIRE. I CHECKED WITH FORD TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. THE SPRING RECALL ONLY COVERED 2002 TAURUS. I STILL HAVE THE SPRING, STRUT AND MAYBE THE TIRE. I REPORTED THIS WITH FORD, EVEN GAVE THEM THE SERIAL # OFF THE SPRING AND STRUT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, MY 2003 FORD TAURUS STARTS TO REV AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I TRY PUTTING IT GEAR WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. NOT EVEN A LITTLE JERK. GET IT TOWED TO A SHOP, THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TRANNY JUST STOPPED WITH NO WARNING. I TRIED GOOGLING THE DEFECT AND I FOUND A WEB SITE CALLED WWW.TOPIX.COM AND I FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD TAURUS. THE ONE THING FOR SURE IS, IS THAT I WILL NEVER, EVER BUY A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN. I WOULDN'T EVEN TAKE ONE IF I WON IT IN A DRAWING. THIS IS MY 3RD ONE AND EACH OF THEM HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS. 3 TIMES, SHAME ON ME. I BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND STOP MAKING SHODDY PRODUCTS. I HAD A TEMPO, THE ENGINE WENT AT 88,000. I HAD A FORD WINDSTAR, THE TRANNY WENT. GOT IT REBUILT 3 TIMES IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD AND FINALLY JUST JUNKED IT. AND THEN WHEN I ALREADY TOLD MYSELF THAT I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD, I GET A GOOD DEAL ON A TAURUS. WHAT A MISTAKE. I KNOW THAT I'M RAMBLING ON, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT FORD COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I'VE GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY. THAT THE TAURUS IS JUNK. *TR

DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, BROKEN SPRING RIPPED THE SIDE OF THE TIRE. STABILIZER BAR ALSO BROKEN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TAURUS SES AND WAS FOLLOWING A TRUCK GOING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK AND WAS GOING LIKE LESS THAN 5MPH SINCE THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WAS GOING SO SLOW AND WHEN I WENT TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER PASSING THE TRACKS THE CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE WHEN I TRIED TO PRESS ON IT MORE. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST STOPPED AT FIRST THAN STARTED MOVING AGAIN SO I PULLED OVER OFF THE MAIN ROAD. THE NEXT THING I KNOW THE CAR JUST STOPPED AND WOULD NOT MOVE WHATSOEVER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD BY PRESSING ON THE GAS AND IT DIDN'T BUDGE. THE CAR DIDN'T EVEN MOVE AT ALL NOR IN REVERSE. EVERYTHING ELSE WAS RUNNING FINE AND THERE WAS NO TECHNICAL LIGHTS ON IN THE CAR. EVENTUALLY I HAD IT TOWED BACK HOME AND FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT THE NEXT DAY RESULTING THAT I HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. I'VE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS COMMON APPARENTLY FOR 2003 TAURUS CARS TO BE DEFECTS FOR TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS HIGHLY A HAZARD ON THE ROAD WHERE A CAR JUST STOPS OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN WHO KNOWS YOU CAN BE CROSSING A LIGHT, RAILROAD TRACK OR IN MID-TRAFFIC WHERE ACCIDENTS CAN OCCUR! *TR

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING COIL BROKE CAUSING A LARGE GASH IN THE TIRE AND INSTANT DEFLATION. HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE TIRE SEEMED TO EXPLODE WITH A LOUD SOUND AND DEBRIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT EARLIER MODELS OF THE FORD TAURUS HAVE BEEN RECALLED (BREAKING COIL SPRINGS RECALL NO. 04V332000) AND FIXED BUT THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN EXTENDED TO NEWER MODELS. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THE DANGER STILL EXISTS AND THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR

WITH NO WARNING OR PROBLEMS OF ANY KIND MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. MY CAR WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NOTHING I COULD DO. BUSES WERE COMING AT ME FROM THE LEFT, CARS FROM BEHIND AND IN FRONT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. HAD TO REPLACE WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION COSTING OVER 1500.00. WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD VEHICLE AGAIN UNLESS THIS IS MADE RIGHT BY THE COMPANY. WE HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THIS IS COMMON AMONGST FORD TAURUS'. WISH WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ONGOING PROBLEM BEFORE WE PURCHASED. WE ALSO WONDER WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. IS THIS THE PURPOSE OF RECALLS. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO COMPLAIN BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. NO WONDER PEOPLE ARE BUYING FROM TOYOTA. AT LEAST THEY OWN THEIR PROBLEMS AND OFFER A SOLUTION. *TR

2006 FORD TAURUS. STARTED DECELERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE STARTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND STAYS OFF SO PROBABLY NO DPC CODE. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. FORD SHOP SAID IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. IT HAS 107,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER, DEFROSTER OR ANY ONE OR COMBINATION OF THESE COMPONENTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE FAILURE WOULD NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH 63,000 MILES ON IT! *TR

VEHICLE: 2003 FORD TAURUS WAGON, 95,000 MILES, ALL IN MICHIGAN BY ORIGINAL OWNER. FRIDAY MORNING (FROST WARNING), APRIL 9, 2010. MOVED THE CAR 6 INCHES, WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, CORNER OF CAR DROPPED. FOLLOWING DAY, TOOK TIRE (16,000 MILES) TO PLACE OF PURCHASE, WHERE THEY HOISTED THE CAR AND DISCOVERED RUPTURED COIL SPRING HAD PUNCTURED TIRE. HAD IT RUPTURED TEN MILES LATER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON INTERSTATE 696 GOING 70 MPH IN RUSH HOUR, PUTTING ME, MY PASSENGER AND ADJACENT VEHICLES AT RISK OF DEADLY CRASH. 20 MILES AFTER REPAIR OF SUSPENSION, MY TEENAGE SON, BRAND NEW DRIVER, WAS DRIVING ON ANOTHER INTERSTATE; IT COULD HAVE BEEN HIM (AND ME) INJURED. I'M FURIOUS AT FORD AND AT NHTSA, AS NEITHER HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO REMEDY WELL ESTABLISHED, KNOW DEFECT. HOW MANY DEATHS WILL IT TAKE? DO SOMETHING NOW!! TOTAL COST OF TWO NEW SPRINGS WITH STRUTS, AND NEW TIRE: $850.00. PROPERTY DAMAGE: PUNCTURED TIRE, BROKEN SPRING. *TR

DRIVING TO WORK LOST POWER IN CAR. RPM WENT UP PULLED OVER I HAD NO DRIVE NO REVERSE NOTHING THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE NO WARNING NO LIGHTS, NO NOISE JUST STOPPED. I HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP THEY TOLD ME THE PUMP WAS OUT. I HAVE BEEN ONLY OWNER AND ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY CAR. IT HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

BLOWER FAN FAILURE TO OPERATE AND WHEN IT DID WORK, IT MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. FINALLY COMPLETE FAILURE. SYSTEM EVALUATLION, FUSES, CIRCUIT BREAKERS, HARNESSES ALL GOOD. REMOVED FAN MOTOR HOUSING AND FAN MOTOR. BOTH SHOWED EVIDENCE OF WATER COLLECTING IN THE HOUSING AND MOTOR ITSELF. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I PURCHASED A FAN MOTOR , INSTALLED AND REASSEMBLED EVERYTHING. MY QUESTION, IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN? *TR

ON 3/31/10 I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD TAURUS SOUTHBOUND ON I-5 IN THE SACRAMENTO, CA AREA AT ABOUT 7:20 PM. JUST NORTH OF RICHARDS BOULEVARD MY AUTO BEGAN SLOWING DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO DASHBOARD EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS. AS I DEPRESSED MY ACCELERATOR MY RPM INDICATOR WOULD INCREASE BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO LOSE SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE FREEWAY AND MY AUTO COASTED TO A STOP ON A SIDE STREET. I THEN PLACED MY CAR IN REVERSE, DRIVE, 1 AND 2 AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT ADVANCE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. CAR WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP ON 4/1/10. ON 4/3/10 A CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THEY NEED TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM FURTHER. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 59,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAD PURCHASED IT USED IN 2007 WITH APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH COULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $2500.00 TO FIX. I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR $8,900.00! I'VE OWNED A 1989 MAZDA 323 AND A 1998 TOYOTA COROLLA WHICH EACH HAD OVER 110,000 MILES ON THEM AND I NEVER ENCOUNTERED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE - WHICH BLEW OUT MY FRONT TIRE. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE AND THEN HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. HE REPLACED COIL SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES AND AS A RESULT OF BROKEN COIL SPRING IT BROKE ANOTHER PART WHICH COST AN ADDITIONA $69.00.

I HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF MY LOCAL YMCA AND WAS DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN ROAD WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY RPMS WENT UP AND MY SPEED WENT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP BUT LOSS ALL CONTROL OF THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE MY VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BROKEN DOWN. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE ON MY CAR AT THE TIME IS 70,900 MILES. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED OVER 58 TIMES ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/TAURUS/2003/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILED.SHTML

WE WERE AT A SCHOOL EVENT AND AT THE END OF THE DAY GOT IN OUR 2003 FORD TAURUS AND PUT IN GEAR TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT HEARD A LOUD BANG. GOT OUT AND NOTICED FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. GOT THE JACK AND SPARE TIRE OUT OF TRUNK, LIFTED CAR, LOOSENED LUGS AND TRIED TO PULL OFF TIRE - WOULDN'T COME OFF. REACHED BEHIND TIRE AND FOUNT THE SUSPENSION SPRING WAS STICKING IN THE BACK OF THE TIRE. REACHED IN FURTHER AND PULLED OUT A SECTION OF THE SPRING THAT WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF AND TOSSED IT ON THE GROUND. PUT TIRE BACK ON AND HAD A FLAT BED TRUCK COME TO TOW TO THEIR REPAIR SHOP. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THIS REPAIR BILL. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS - STARTED CAR MORNING OF 2 18 10 HEARD A LOUD NOISE CAR SAGGED TO THE LEFT GOT OUT OF CAR AND SAW THAT LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT THERE WAS A BLOW OUT AND THERE WAS A BIG PIECE OF COIL SPRING THAT WAS BROKEN LYING NEXT TO IT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR WAS 89,700 MILES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC PUT IN WHOLE NEW SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT. THE COST WAS $856.00. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL FOR THE 2003 FORD TAURUS TO REPLACE ALL 4 SPRINGS FRONT AND REAR. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HAVE MY $856.00 REFUNDED TO ME SINCE I UNDERSTAND THIS SAME TYPE OF OCCURRENCE HAS OCCURRED TO HUNDREDS OF 2003 FORD TAURUS OWNERS. MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION # IS [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE PASSENGER TIRE. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT FOUND THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE STABILIZER BAR WAS ALSO FRACTURED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

2003 FORD TAURUS FRONT SUSPENSION COIL FRACTURE, RESULTING IN A ADJACENT TIRE RAPIDLY LOSING AIR. *TR

MY WIFE AND I GOT IN THE CAR TO GO HOME, I STARTED THE CAR AND WENT TO LEAVE WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND CAR DROPPED SEVERAL INCHES. THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN AND ONE OF THE PIECES PUNCTURED THE TIRE CAUSING IT TO DEFLATE IMMEDIATELY. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, HAD IT HAPPENED THEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER VIA E-MAIL AND BOTH BASICALLY SAID SORRY FOR YOUR LUCK. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND I ACTUALLY KNOW SOMEONE PERSONALLY THAT HAD THE SAME THING OCCUR WITH HIS 2002 FORD TAURUS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING REPAIRED NOW, I AM REPLACING BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION AND WILL TRY TO KEEP THE BROKEN SPRING BUT THERE MAY BE A CORE DEPOSIT INVOLVED. THIS DEFECT IN MY OPINION IS POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS AND WIDESPREAD AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY SOMEONE. UNFORTUNATELY UNTIL AN ENTIRE FAMILY GETS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY PROBABLY NOTHING WILL BE DONE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD TAURUS AND EVERY TIME IT'S SETTING OUT IN A MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN THE RIGHT FRONT FLOORBOARD GETS SATURATED WITH WATER. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE BLOWER RESISTOR TWICE AND THE BLOWER MOTOR ONCE AND THE MOTOR IN IT NOW IS GOING OUT. WHY ISN'T FORD BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AND COSTS AFFILIATED WITH THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE COSTS INCURRED ON THOSE OF US UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE PURCHASED ONE OF THEM? DUE TO THIS ISSUE I NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 03/08/10 WHEN MY WINDSHIELD FOGGED DURING A RAINSTORM AND I LOST ALMOST ALL VISIBILITY. IF I HADN'T KNOWN THE AREA VERY WELL PLUS 25 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DRIVING I VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. NHTSA NEEDS TO ACT ON THIS ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I CAN BE CONTACTED AT [XXX], IN MESA, ARIZONA. MY CAR IS USUALLY UNDER COVER AND IT FLOODED WITH WATER ALSO IN FEB. 2009 &FEB. 2010, WHEN IT WAS STANDING OUT IN THE RAIN, NOT BEING OPERATED BUT JUST OUT IN THE RAIN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN THE "REVERSE" POSITION. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLATTENED TO THE RIM SURFACE AND THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 9/13/10 *CN UPDATED 09/15/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE TIRE BECAME FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT IT WAS A FAULTY COIL SPRING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS LUCKY AND THAT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH A FAULTY COIL SPRING. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SUSPENSION FAILURE AND THAT THE COIL SPRING DAMAGED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT ASKED HAS THE DEALER IF HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE AND HE STATED THAT HE HAD JUST NOT TO A VEHICLE THAT WAS SO YOUNG. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT HER DEFECTS ARE IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY ADDITIONAL FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

2003 FORD TAURUS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING EXPLODED, 2003 FORD TAURUS. CAR WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC LANE. FRONT TIRE RUBBED ON WHEEL WELL. INABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS. $900 TO REPAIR. I READ OF ISSUES WITH 2003 AND 2001 MODELS. FORD RECALLED 2001 MODELS AND APPARENTLY FORD DIDN'T FIX THIS PROBLEM IN TIME. WHERE IS THE 2003 RECALL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT HE COULD FILE A COMPLAINT THROUGH NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER THEN OFFERED THE CONTACT COUPONS VIA EMAIL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,025. UPDATED 3/30/2010 UPDATED 06/01/10.*JB

2003 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON WITH 25000 MILES. THE FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED. IT HAPPENED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FRONT TIRE WAS RUINED AND A STABILIZER ARM WAS ALSO RUINED. MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW EXPERIENCED THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. *TR

ON FEBRUARY 5, 2010 MY 2003 FORD TAURUS CAUGHT FIRE AT 1:00 P.M. PARKED UNDER OUR CAR PORCH AND THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR AND NO ONE HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 5 HOURS ON SATURDAY MORNING. THE SHREVEPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALL TO KEEP THE HOUSE FROM BURNING DOWN WITH THE CAR. THE CITY FIRE MARSHALL SAID THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. I TOLD HIM NO ONE USES THE CRUISE CONTROL IN THAT CAR BECAUSE WE JUST GO IN TOWN AND THERE IS A RED LIGHT AT EVERY CORNER. HE STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN TO MANY OTHER FIRES JUST LIKE THIS ONE AND IT WAS ALWAYS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. MY HUSBAND IS EMOTIONALLY DISABLED AND I NEARLY HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN JUST THE SIGHT THAT OUR INVESTMENT WAS BURNING UP AND THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO. I HAVE CALL THE FIRE MARSHALL FOR A WRITTEN COPY OF HIS REPORT. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND THEIR IS SOME MINOR DAMAGES AND LOTS OF SMOKE DAMAGE TO DONE TO THE HOUSE. *TR

WITH THE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, STARTED THE CAR, PLACED IT IN REVERSE, THE FRONT LEFT STRUT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. COMPLETE STRUT ASSEMBLY AND TIRE NEED TO BE REPLACED. POTENTIALLY DEADLY CRASH IF IT HAPPENED ON A FREEWAY. GOOGLE SEARCH (2003 FORD TAURUS FRONT SUSPENSION COMPLAINTS) REVEALS MANY HAVE HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE FOR PRIOR YEAR VEHICLES. MAKES YOU WONDER IF FORD EVER FIXED THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE 2003 MODEL YEAR, OR LIKE MANY OTHER RECALLS THE RECALL WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER THROUGH THE 2003 MODEL YEAR. RESEARCH SHOWS THE MANUFACTURER'S TRY TO ACHIEVE THIS TO MINIMIZE THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AS FEWER CARS WILL BE IN SERVICE WHEN THE RECALL IS EXTENDED. IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA08018 NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : N/A MAKE / MODELS : MODEL/BUILD YEARS: FORD / TAURUS 2002-2003 MERCURY / SABLE 2002-2003 MANUFACTURER : FORD MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENT : SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED : AUGUST 28, 2008 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED : OPEN WHY DO MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN? *TR

ON MY WIFE'S 2003 FORD TAURUS, THE FRONT SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED MULTIPLE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. FIRST OF ALL THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT DUE TO THE SPRING BREAKING AND SECONDLY, A SWAY LINK WAS DAMAGED TO THE POINT OF REPAIR ALONG WITH ANOTHER PART THAT I NEED TO ASK THE MECHANIC THE NAME OF. THIS SAME MODEL CAR HAD A RECALL IN THE YEARS OF 1999 AND 2001 FOR JUST THIS REASON. THE MECHANIC SEES THIS CONSTANTLY FROM THIS MODEL CAR. THE RECALL WAS FOR A "BOOT" TO BE APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE SPRING FROM PENETRATING THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND DOWN THE ALLEY, THEREFORE NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS AND REFERRED ME TO YOU. THE CAR HAS 43,473 MILES ON IT. OF COURSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS IS UNCALLED FOR. I CAN UNDERSTAND THE SPRING BREAKING ON AN AUTOMOBILE, BUT TO COMPLETELY SHRED THE TIRE AND CAUSE ALL OF THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT ADDRESSING A CONCERN THAT HAD OCCURRED ON AN EARLIER MODEL AND CORRECTING IT. THEY NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED TO MY VEHICLE AND THEY SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ON THIS CAR. I SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONCERN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, HE HEARD A CRUNCHING NOISE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE NOISE HEIGHTENED. HE SAW THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THERE WAS A SHARP EDGE THAT PUNCTURED THE TIRE WHICH CAUSED IT TO BECOME FLAT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. HE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

MY TAURUS'S BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING IN DECEMBER 2009. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE IS A WATER LEAK OR BLOWN A/C HEATER BLOWER MOTOR. I THINK THE LEAK DUMPED WATER ONTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD ALSO CAUSED MY AC BLOWER MOTOR TO SHORT OUT, NEEDING A REPLACEMENT. AFTER BROWSING THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHER FORD TAURUS OWNERS HAD THE SAME OR A SIMILAR PROBLEM, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE 2003 FORD TAURUS. *TR

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF MY HOME, THE FRONT LEFT STRUT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. COMPLETE STRUT ASSEMBLY AND TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

SPRING FRACTURE 2003 FORD TAURUS

2003 TAURUS 25K MILES. AS THE CAR WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF GARAGE A POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. DURING THE REMOVAL OF THE FLAT LEFT FRONT TIRE WE FOUND THAT THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AT THE BOTTOM FIRST COIL AND ROTATED INTO THE TIRE SIDEWALL DESTROYING THE TIRE. LOOKING AT THE BROKEN SPRING IT LOOKS LIKE THE CRACK STARTED AT A RUSTED AREA AND FRACTURED ACROSS THE COIL. IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS FORD SAFETY RECALL 04S17. I CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THIS APPLIED TO THIS CAR AND THEY SAID NO. IN ORDER TO FIX THIS THE STRUT, SPRING, SWAY BAR LINK, AND TIRE NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE RIGHT SIDE SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE IT BRAKES AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *TR

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE CAUSING THE SPRING TO CUT A HOLE IN THE TIRE MAKING THE TIRE FLAT AND THE CAR TO DROP DOWN MAKING IT EXTREMELY HARD TO HANDLE AND RENDERS IT NO LONGER DRIVABLE AND MUST BE TOWED IF IT DOESN'T CREATE A CRASH FIRST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND A STRONG RUBBER BURNING ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURES WERE CONTRIBUTED TO A BROKEN STRUT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WAS ALSO SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,300. *CN UPDATED 02/18/10.*JB

DUE TO A WATER LEAK PROBLEM, THE AC BLOWER MOTOR FAILED (SHORTED OUT) AND WAS UNABLE TO BLOW DEFROST AIR ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. WATER SOAKED THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL #03V087000. ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HAS FILED COMPLAINT #10184014. *TR

I HEARD A RUBBING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR THINKING IT WAS MY BRAKES, WHEN CHECKING THE BRAKES WHICH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I DISCOVERED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING WHICH BROKE. THANKS GOODNESS THAT I SEEN THIS PROBLEM AND THE SPRING DID NOT PUNCTURE THE TIRE IT IS ABOUT A 1/4 OF AN INCH FROM PUNCTURING THE TIRE. THE CAR HAS A 78,000 MILES ON IT 2003 FORD TAURUS. *TR

2003 FORD TAURUS FRONT SPRING FAILURE RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF FRONT TIRE. LEFT FRONT SPRING CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED IN DRIVEWAY WHILE DRIVER WAS ENTERING CAR, SPRING PUNCTURED LEFT FRONT TIRE RESULTING IN INSTANT DEFLATION. TEMPERATURE AT TIME OF FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25F. WITH 116,688 MILES, LAST PASSED NH STATE SAFETY INSPECTION IN JUNE 2009 WHICH INCLUDED CLOSE INSPECTION OF FRONT END DUE TO TIE ROD REPLACEMENT & SUBSEQUENT WHEEL ALIGNMENT. CAR OWNED AND OPERATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES OF RI, MA AND NH. CARFAX REPORT IN 2007 SHOWED GOOD MAINTENANCE HISTORY AND NO HISTORY OF ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. COST TO REPAIR WAS $750 INCLUDING SPRING REPLACEMENT, FRONT STABILIZER LINK REPLACEMENT, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, AND TIRE REPLACEMENT. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BUT CONTACT INFO TO REPAIRING SERVICE PERSON IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *TR

MID DECEMBER I NOTICED MY ALIGNMENT WAS TURNING TOWARDS THE RIGHT, ABOUT A WEEK MAYBE LESS, LATER I NOTICED MY CAR WAS STARTING TO WOBBLE. I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID MY BALL JOINTS WERE SERIOUSLY WORN AND BECAUSE OF THE WOBBLE THE INSIDE OF MY TIRES WERE WORN OUT. BALL JOINTS AND TIRES NOW NEED REPLACED. *TR

I SAT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY 2003 FORD TAURUS AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SPRING SHEARED AND SLASHED MY TIRE. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR AND REPLACE BOTH FRONT STRUTS, SPRINGS AND THE RUINED TIRE. I SAW THIS WAS COMMON IN 2001-2003 TAURUSES IN NORTHERN STATES BUT A RECALL HAS ONLY BEEN ISSUED ON THE 2001 MODELS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

MY BLOWER IN MY 2003 FORD TAURUS HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY FAILING FOR A MONTH OR SO. ON FRIDAY JAN. 8 IT QUIT AND WILL NOT GO. THE HEAT IS FINE AND TRICKLES OUT, BUT THE BLOWER WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. IT WAS FINE AT 8:30PM WHEN I PICKED A FRIEND UP AT THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS DEAD AT 10:30PM WHEN I PICKED UP MY GRANDDAUGHTER AT A FRIENDS HOUSE. IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAS BEEN WATER IN THE HOUSING THAT HAS SHORTED OUT THE MOTOR. I UNDERSTAND THAT FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BUT IS RELUCTANT TO DO A RECALL TO FIX IT. *TR