Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
CAR ACCELERATED ITSELF AFTER RELEASING GAS PEDAL ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE RPM HIT ABOUT 4000. IT WAS VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR BY BRAKE. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD PROBLEM. A PLASTIC PART ON THE CABLE WAS BROKEN AND CAUSED THE THROTTLE BODY TO STUCK. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PICTURE FOR REFERENCE.
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 THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE APPLIED WITH FORCE TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ENSURE THAT, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT DID NOT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V266000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE POLICE OFFICER AND THE FIREMEN SAID IT WAS A ELECTRIC FIRE. MY CAR WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT BUILDING AT 8:30 P.M. AND THAT BETWEEN 3 AND 4 A.M. A CAR THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND I WAS NOT EVEN DRIVING IT WAS JUST SITTING THERE PARK.
DANGEROUS SITUATION TRANSMISSION COMPLETE FAILURE IN INTERSECTION WHILE TURNING LEFT. STOPPED AWAITING ON-COMING TRAFFIC AT CITY STREET SITUATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY! MANY COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILLED HOWEVER AFTER SPEAKING WITH FORD THE REFUSE TO FIX IT
WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 68 MPH ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING BEGAN TO QUICKLY LOOSE SPEED AND THE ABILITY TO KEEP PACE WITH SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND THE VEHICLE LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND FUNCTION IN A SAFE MANNER. I QUICKLY AND UNKNOWINGLY DROPPED BELOW THE SAFE DRIVING SPEED FOR THE HIGHWAY AND POSED A SAFETY RISK TO MYSELF AND OF THE DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME. IN THE COURSE OF RAPID DECELERATION I WAS ALMOST STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF MY LOSS OF SPEED, AS I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND AS TO NOT FURTHER ENDANGER THOSE AROUND ME; I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND RELIED ON EVASIVE DRIVING TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SAFETY OF THE SHOULDER. ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY, MOTOR RESPONDED BUT NONE OF THE GEARS (REVERSE, OVERDRIVE, 1ST, OR 2ND) WOULD ENGAGE. THE CAR HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS, SERVICE LIGHTS, OR CHECK ENGINE SIGNALS ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THERE ARE NO FLUID LEAKS OR OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF ANY BROKEN COMPONENTS. THIS SUDDEN MALFUNCTION HAS RENDERED MY VEHICLE BARELY FUNCTIONAL AND NOT SAFELY MANEUVERABLE.
TAKATA RECALL: CAR STOPS NOT ACCURATELY AND MAKES SOUND WHENEVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, FEELING SOME SUSPENSION ISSUES AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION ISSUE, CAR IS FULLY MAINTAIN AND HAVE UNDER CAR FAX REPORT SYSTEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD AT A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOT WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,050. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ UPDATED 08/17/16.*JB
AFTER THE DRIVING MY CAR ON APRIL 22 (A FRIDAY), I PARKED THE CAR FOR THE EVENING. ON APRIL 23, 2016 (A SATURDAY MORNING), I CAME OUTSIDE TO FIND MY 6-MO.-OLD LEFT FRONT TIRE FLAT AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. A FRIEND TOOK OFF THE TIRE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STRUT SPRING WAS BROKEN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC ON APRIL 25, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STRUT SPRING WAS INDEED BROKEN, AND I HAD IT REPLACED. RESEARCH AND TALKING WITH OTHERS BROUGHT TO LIGHT A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE ON VEHICLE YEARS 1998-2001, HOWEVER, OTHER DRIVERS WERE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NEWER MODELS OF THE SAME VEHICLES. THIS CLAIM IS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COST OF REPLACING ONLY THE BROKEN LEFT STRUT SPRING (A QUICK STRUT) AND THE TOW TO THE GARAGE.
FUEL FILTER RETAINING CLIPS (WHITE PLASTIC/NYLON) ARE NOT AVAILABLE. MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF FUEL FILTER AND INSTRUCTIONS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF R-CLIPS/HAIRPIN CLIPS. FORD DOES NOT SELL PROPER RETAINING CLIP. THIS CAN/WILL RESULT IN A DANGEROUS MASSIVE FUEL LEAK WHEN THE PARTS SEPARATE.
CAR ACCELERATES AND/OR MAINTAINS HIGH RPMS. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS TIMES.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONSUMER INJURED HIS NECK. UPDATED 06/14/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMPSTARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM FAILED; HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE DUE TO NO FAILURE CODES. THE ALTERNATOR AND STARTER WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
PUT VEHICLE IN SHOP VEHICLE HAD ROUGH IDLE, MISFIRING ON #2 CYLINDER. SHOP REMOVED AND REPLACED SPARK PLUG, AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER, AND IGNITION COIL. GOT VEHICLE FROM SHOP. VEHICLE IDLE TOO HIGH-SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN. TOOK BACK TO SHOP SHOP REMOVED AND REPLACED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE GOT VEHICLE OUT OF SHOP. VEHICLE STILL IDLE TOO HIGH AND STILL SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN. WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT, WHEN THE BREAKS ARE RELEASED, CAR JUMPS FORWARD. WHEN BACKING UP OUT OF GARAGE, CAR BACK-UP TOO FAST; MUST HOLD BREAKS AT ALL TIMES.
WHEN BACKING UP FROM BEING PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE CAR DROPPED. THE CAUSE WAS A BROKEN COIL SPRING WHICH PUNCTURED MY NEW TIRE. 74K MILES. I AM UPSET THAT THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR 15 YEARS WITH FORD TAURUS' VINTAGE 2000 THROUGH 2005 AND CONCLUDED ITS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN "NO SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS". PREVIOUSLY I HAD THREE SPRING FAILURES ON ANOTHER (2001) TAURUS. I HAD A FRONT SPRING BREAK AND HAD BOTH FRONT SPRINGS REPLACED. ONE OF THE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS BROKE TWO YEARS LATER. BOTH FAILURES CAUSED TIRE FAILURES. SHORTLY BEFORE GETTING RID OF THE 2001TAURUS, I NOTICED A REAR SPRING HAD FAILED, BUT DID NOT DAMAGE THE TIRE. I DO EXPECT A FEW "SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS" TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S TOO BAD SOME OF US WILL HAVE TO SACRIFICE OUR LIVES OR LIMBS FOR THE GOOD OF THE REST OF US. IF SUCH A DREADFUL THING HAPPENS, I FEEL NHTSA MAY BE EQUALLY LIABLE WITH FORD FOR WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUITS FOR NOT REQUIRING FORD TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. IN THEIR INVESTIGATION, NHTSA ALSO MENTIONS THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS TOPIC. THAT IS BECAUSE CONSUMERS DO NOT KNOW ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. I ADVISE THE NHTSA TO REQUEST THE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM FORD ALONG WITH PARTS SUPPLIERS SUCH AS ADVANCE AND AUTOZONE. I WOULD ESTIMATE MILLIONS OF SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR JUST THE 20
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS BEING SIGNALED BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED THE CONTACT OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED IN 2004 FOR THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000. UPDATED 05/10/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER MAY HAVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,400.
ON ABOUT 15 JAN 2016, THE DRIVER'SIDE SIDE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE. WHEN IT BROKE IT PUNCTURED THROUGH DRIVER'SIDE SIDE FRONT TIRE. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME THE COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND NO FURTHER DAMAGE OR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, JUST THE BROKEN COIL SPRING AND PUNCTUREDRIVES TIRE. FROM MY RESEARCH THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON EARLIER MODEL YEARS OF THE FORD TAURUS BUT NOT FOR THE 2003 MODEL YEAR AND AFTER TALKING TO FORD CUSTOMER CARE THERE ARE NO EXISTING RECALLS FOR THIS SUSPENSION ISSUE.
WE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP,AND SLIDE ON DRY PAVEMENT,AND WET CONDITIONS . THE CAR HAD NEW BRAKES, ROTORS, TIRES, BUT STILL WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING, UNFORTUNATELY MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR TODAY,AND HIT ANOTHER CAR. I JUST REPLACED THE TIRES AGAIN A FEW MONTHS GO, THINKING THE TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM. I HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS MYSELF, AND I THINK THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR STOPPING. THANK GOD NOBODY WAS HURT, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AN HOUR, AND SHE WAS ON A CITY STREET, CONDITIONS WERE WET , BUT SHE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP.
DRIVING 6AM TODAY BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEY TURNED BACK ON 5 SECOND LATER BUT THAT IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS. ALSO DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND ON RANDOM TIMES FOR THE LAST YEAR EVEN THIS MORNING BUT DIFFERENT TIME THEN HEADLIGHT ISSUE.
TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER - STRIPPED SPLINES. JUST 49,334 MILES. THIS CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. DEFINITELY A PROVEN BAD PART THAT FORD SHOULD COVER. THE CAR QUIT MOVING AT MY WORKPLACE PARKING LOT. IM GRATEFUL IT WASN'T IN AN INTERSECTION. HAD TO REPLACE CONVERTER.
MY VEHICLE WITH [XXX]. I CAN NOT SHIFT MY CAR FROM PARK, OR IF I PRESS ON THE BRAKE A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND GET THE BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON, THEY SAY ON. EVEN WHEN FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE. MY VEHICLE IN NOT APART OF A RECALL, IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN AN ATLANTA PLANT. I AM BEING OUT OF MONEY AND TIME WITH REPAIRS THAT I HAVE HAD DONE, AND ITS NOT SOLVING THE ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS IT INCREASED IN ENGINE RPMS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
I HAVE AN ISSUES.
I HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE ISSUES ON THIS CAR I WANT REFUND MONEY FOR THIS WAS $1,900 REFUND BACK TO ME...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF *JS
STARTER KEPT GOING OUT
WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY ROAD, MY TRANSMISSION QUIT. I HAD NOTHING BUT NEUTRAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT IT WAS GOING TO FAIL, IT WENT FROM WORKING PERFECTLY TO HAVING NO GEARS (FORWARD OR REVERSE). LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE SPOT TO PARK AND WAIT FOR A TOW. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON IT.
FOR THE FIRST 6 YEARS THIS CAR WAS GARAGED, AS SOON AS IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE, EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER, A VERY BAD WATER LEAK APPEARED. I CONSTANTLY GET WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS LEAK FRIED MY BLOWER MOTOR, RESULTING IN NO HEAT. THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE LEAK IS STILL PRESENT. ONCE AGAIN, I FIND MYSELF WITH NO HEAT. THE BLOWER MOTOR WORKS, BUT IS NOT GETTING ANY POWER TO IT. THE RESISTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND ALL FUSES AND RELAYS ARE FINE. DRIVING IN CONNECTICUT WITH NO HEAT IN THE WINTER IS A DIFFICULT TASK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, BUT FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
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.
WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL.. WENT TO PRESS THE GAS ALL IT DID WAS RPMS WENT UP I WENT NO WHERE.. HAD TO SIT SIDE OF ROAD FOR HOURS FORD HAS OVER MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS AND NO HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED
I STARTED CONSTANTLY SMELLING GAS OUTSIDE THE CAR THEN IT STARTED SMELLING IN CABIN THEN I LOCATED AND REPLACED FUEL FILTER THEN REALIZED TANK APPEARED TO BE LEAKING AROUND SEAMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESUME ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
RIDING DOWN ROUTE 539 AT 5:00 PM WHEN THE THEFT ALARM CAME ON AND CAR CUT OFF AND JERKED AND RESTARTED AT THE TIME THE TRUCK ALMOST HIT ME IN THE REAR END WHICH I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED I MADE TO THE SHOPPING CENTER AND HAD IT TAKEN TO MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP WERE IT STILL IS. MY REPAIRMAN IS RUNNING ALL KINDS OF TEST TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND CORRECT IT. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE CAR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED AND CAR DEALER SHOULD ALSO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SELLING A CAR THAT IS UNSAFE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BECOME INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. MA 10/15/2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE IT WAS TURNED OFF AND TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER SERVICE CAMPAIGN DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
VEHICLE STALLS AT TRAFFIC LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES. STRANGE SOUNDS FROM ENGINE.
DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 45MPH WHEN VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING, SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT REENGAGE. CAR ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED TRANSMISSION. CAR TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AND IT WAS STATED BY REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, OR WARNINGS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED RAPIDLY INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE INTO A GRASS FIELD OVER A DIP IN THE FIELD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND LAND UPSIDE DOWN. WHILE FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LAMP BECAME INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,479.
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
MY CAR RANDOMLY STOPPED MOVING WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WAS A MAJOR SCENE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY 5 CARS HAD TO VEER OFF TO THE SIDE TO AVOID A ACCIDENT THESE TRANSMISSIONS/TORQUE CONVERTERS NEED TO BE RECALLED THEY WERE RECALLED IN THE FORD WINSTAR WITH THE SAME TRANNY PARTS BUT NOT THE FORD TAURUS 2003 I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT OUT AND THIS IS A MORE THAN COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR OF TAURUSES THIS IS REDICILIOUS COME ON FORD RECALL THESE TRANNYS!!! I CANT AFFORD $1500
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A FREEWAY IN AZ, DOING APPROX 70 IN THE LEFT LANE MY VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING FORWARD AND THE RPM'S WENT FROM NORMAL TO REVVING. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND WENT INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND TOOK THE OFF RAMP AND COASTED INTO A STRIP MALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO ANYTHING BUT PARK. DRIVE OR REVERSE DIDN'T WORK. I LEFT THE CAR THERE. THAT EVENING I READ A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SAME THINK HAPPENING TO MANY FORD OWNERS. ALL THESES INCIDENTS WERE THE SAME, TORQUE CONVERTER, IT STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS MANUFACTURED WITH "TOO SMALL SPLINES" AND WERE AN INFERIOR FORD PART. IT ALSO STATED THAT A COMPANY NAMED DACCO HAD MADE A NEW UPDATED CONVERTER WITH LARGER SPLINES THAT WOULD HOLD UP BETTER AND THEY ARE SOLD AT AUTOZONE FOR $120. MY CAR IS NOW BEING LOOKED AT AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT (ANYWHERE FROM $2000 - $3000). THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN PLACED ON THE MANUFACTURER (FORD) FOR THE INFERIOR PART.
ON THE DATE ABOVE AND THEN AGAIN ON FEB,2015 THE TRANSAXLE QUIT WORKING, IT WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. HAD IT ROLLBACKED TO MY HOUSE BOTH TIMES AT A COST OF $50 PER TOW. THE COST TO REPAIR AND OR REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE WAS :2011: $1,400; 2015: $1,700. THE CAR AT THE 2ND. REWORK/EXCHANGE (THE TRANS SHOP REPLACED RATHER THAN REBUILD MINE) HAD ONLY 125,000 MILES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSAXLES IN THESE GENERATION FORD TAURUSES WERE PRONE TO TRANSAXLE FAILURE, AS WERE THE FORD WINDSTARS AS BOTH VEHICLES USED THE SAME TRANSAXLE. UPON STUDYING UP ON THESE PROBLEMS IT SEEMS FORD MOTOR CO. RECALLED THE WINDSTAR AND CALLED IT A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. WHY DID THEY NOT RECALL THE TAURUSES ALSO, ANSWER: AMOUNT OF VEHICLES PRODUCED OF EACH MODEL AND THEIR FEET WERE NOT "HELD TO THE FIRE" BY YA'LL AND OUR GOV.. NOW TO GET TO THE LIGHTING PROBLEM: THE MOST SAFETY HAZARDOUS ITEM WHICH HAS BEEN INSTALLED ON VEHICLES IN THE LAST 15-20 YEARS IS THOSE DAMNED "PLASTIC LENSED HEADLIGHTS" THAT WITHIN 3 YEARS WILL "FOG OVER" TO THE EXTENT THEY DO NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH LIGHT TO BE USEFULL AT NIGHT. OH THEY SAY YOU CAN CLEAN THEM, OF WHICH I HAVE TRIED ON MY TAURUS, TO NOT MUCH AVAIL. I BELIEVE THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE ORDERED THRU A RECALL FROM YOU TO REPLACE THEM AT NO COST TO US OWNERS. IF YOU WILL CHECK, YOU WILL SEE A REPLACEMENT OF THOSE "WUNDERFULL" INVENTION , KNOWN AS BULLCRAP, LENS WILL SET AN OWNER OF THE VEHICLES AROUND $500 TO $700 PER PAIR INSTALLED. AND MUST B
I WAS DEPARTING FROM PARKING LOT AND THE CAR SUDDENLY HAD SOME NOISE IN THE HOOD THEN LOST ALL THE POWER. AFTER STARTING ENGINE AGAIN, I CAN SHIFT THE GEAR INTO D OR R, ENGINE WORKS OK BUT THE CAR WON'T MOVE AT ALL. BEFORE IT HAPPENED, THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE, NO DELAYED ENGAGEMENT, NO SLIPS, NO JOLTS, SMOOTH GEAR-CHANGING...THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WITH NO WARNING SIGNS AT ALL. THE CAR IS REGULARLY AND WELL MAINTAINED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WHEN IT HAPPENED. LATER IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE STRIPPED TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINES. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORD EARLY 2000'S VEHICLES, THE SPLINES ARE ONLY 0.16" THICK BY FORD'S DEFECT DESIGNS, WHICH CAN BE EASILY STRIPPED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CRADLE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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