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CarComplaints.com Notes: Most people need a car that shifts gears & coil springs that don't shred tires. The Taurus fails in that respect.

The 2003 Ford Taurus has major issues with the transmission failing. Typically the 2003 Taurus transmission failure costs $2,000 to fix by about 90k-100k miles. Not good.

Adding insult to injury, the 1999-2003 Taurus also has a huge problem with coil springs breaking which can puncture or even shred tires while driving.

The US government spent THREE YEARS (2008-2011) investigating the 2002-2003 Taurus coil springs. Although Taurus/Sable from earlier years were recalled, ultimately the NHTSA did not force a recall. They determined that because there had been no deaths & very few bad crashes & injuries, the broken coil springs defect was no big deal & not a safety defect. Tell that to all the owners who had close calls...

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
21 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
25 / 1
Average Mileage:
62,235 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Ford Taurus seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2003 Ford Taurus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Jan 012006

Taurus

  • 14,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since owning this auto from 2004 forward, I've been in a few front-end incidents and the air bag never activated.

- V.V., CA, USA

problem #24

Apr 272017

Taurus

  • 145,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle in front crashed into the vehicle in front of them. As a result, that vehicle moved backwards due to the impact and crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to an impound facility. The insurance company determined that the vehicle was destroyed. It was unknown if the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #23

Dec 132016

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Ford Taurus. While driving 35 mph, the contact's vehicle crashed into the side of another vehicle the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, the tibia, and femur. Medical attention was required. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. Updated 05/10/17

- Falmouth, ME, USA

problem #22

Nov 292016

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Complaint air bags contact owns 2003 Ford Taurus sel with 40,000 miles at time of failure. While driving alone at est. 35 mph vehicle contact looked down momentarily and crashed into the rear of the preceding vehicle. The passenger side air bag deployed the drivers side did not. The empty passenger seat had a warning light illuminated that said airbag not on. A police report was filed. Contact received injury to thumb and abdomen from contact with steering wheel. The manufacturer will be notified.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #21

Aug 312016

Taurus

  • 187,979 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 10 mph, the contact attempted to pull down the visor and the vehicle crashed into the rear of the preceding vehicle. The passenger side air bag deployed, but the driver side air bag did not deploy. There was no warning indicator illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the failure would be investigated. The failure mileage was 187,979.

- Palmer, AK, USA

problem #20

Apr 252016

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,050 miles
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 updated 08/17/16.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #19

Aug 202015

Taurus

  • 177,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Canon City, CO, USA

problem #18

Dec 022011

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 103,716 miles
Vehicle was traveling southbound in the outside lane of a 4 lane hwy. Vehicle changed lanes abruptly and went left of the center of roadway entering into the nourthbound lanes of traffic, continuing in a southbound direction, the vehicle departed the East side and collided with the end portion of a guardrail. The inside portion of the right front tire caught the outside of gaurdrail causing the car to straddle the top of the rail until the undercarriage of the car caught on a post of the rail causing the car to slide sideways until the left side tires dug into the ground and flipped the car completely over where it continued to travel South, rolling over again, colliding with a wood post then finally coming to rest on it's tires facing northwest. No airbags deployed at any point of the collision. Gearshift was between neutral and overdrive.

- Macon, MO, USA

problem #17

Aug 242014

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Ford Taurus. While driving 65 mph, the contact crashed the vehicle into a median wall. The driver side air bag failed to deploy. There was one injury that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was completely destroyed and was towed to an impound lot. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000...updated 10/06/14 updated 3/11/2015

- Dunlap, IL, USA

problem #16

Mar 062014

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
An on coming car lost control and swerved into my daughters lane of traffic. My daughter was unable to stop in time and T-boned the other car. Upon impact, the other car was split in 2. my daughters airbags never deployed. All I want to know is why her airbags never deployed. When I call the Ford Motor Company they told me because "no one was seriously injured or killed they would not look into the matter." Thankfully everyone walked away. My daughter has a concussion and bruised ribs from the accident. Ford Motor Company told me the only way they would consider looking at the vehicle is if I bought the vehicle from our insurance company (our insurance totaled the vehicle because of the excessive damage) and then had the vehicle towed to an authorized Ford dealer.

- Eagle Lake, MN, USA

problem #15

Jul 292013

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 216,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The air bag has been sending code 2-4 upon starting the vehicle and then after a few times of blinking this code, it stays on constantly. This apparently renders the airbags non-operable & according to online posts, this is caused by corrosion in a component.

- Temperance, MI, USA

problem #14

Sep 172012

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 102,514 miles
I was taking my brother to the hospital. He was having a breathing problem. I saw the sign for quitman exit and veered in that direction. It was to soon, I went off an embankment and besides hitting some trees, debris, landed in a pond. The air bag did not deploy. I hit head on. My brother was hurt.

- Shubuta , MS, USA

problem #13

Sep 082012

Taurus

  • 111,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph he crashed into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed and the contact sustained several injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The failure and current mileage was 111,000.

- Soap Lake, WA, USA

problem #12

Oct 082008

Taurus

  • 54,366 miles
Driving on a straight away at about 55 mph., the car suddenly pulled to the left. The driver could not regain control of the vehicle, which resulted in a rollover accident. Driver and passenger did not hear anything prior to the sudden pull. The car spun around and hit the gravel on the side of the road then continued to roll down the hill. At least 2 rollovers. Air bags did not deploy. I'm concerned there might have been a problem with suspension or coil springs suddenly blowing out a tire. I will be contacting a mechanic on Monday and schedule an inspection. Car is totaled. Insurance does not cover vehicle, but fortunately covers medical and liability. Fortunately the driver and passenger, at this point, appear to have walked away relatively unharmed.

- Isanti, MN, USA

problem #11

Jan 222008

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,543 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. While driving 30 mph, the rear passenger side of the vehicle struck a guardrail. The vehicle spun around and the front end crashed into the guardrail as well. The road conditions were wet and icy. The air bags failed to deploy. The front passenger was wearing a seat belt, but sustained a whiplash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and the front end was damaged. The current and failure mileages were 6,543.

- Welch , WV, USA

problem #10

Jun 302005

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer stated that on two occasions he's been involved in head on collision in which the air bags did not deploy. The last accident occurred on 6-30-05 while his wife was driving at approximately 40-50 mph. She sustained injuries. Contacted a Ford representative, and he said consumer would have to have air bags tested at his own expense. To date he has not been notified if his car was totaled or not.

- Lakefield, MA, USA

problem #9

May 262005

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles
Consumer was in an accident where the other vehicle hit the passenger side, the whole front end of the car was smashed in. When the accident occurred the airbags did not deploy. Police report was filed.

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #8

May 052005

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2003, Ford, Taurus was hit on the front end. Upon impact, driver's side air bag did not deploy, but passenger's side air bag did deploy.

- Johnston City, IL, USA

problem #7

Jan 082005

Taurus

  • 13,500 miles
While driving 35 mph slid on a patch of ice and hit a truck. The air bag did not deploy. If there was ever an accident the electric fuel pump is suppose to shut the vehicle down. The passenger's air bag did deploy, however, it was smoking, and had a burning smell.

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #6

Dec 062004

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles
While driving 30-35 mph consumer's vehicle was involved in a crash which resulted in the vehicle rolling four times. The car seat strap snapped while latched. The chest locking clip was replaced with locking mechanism which acted as a backup restraint. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy......also, shoulder belt failed.

- Belmont, NC, USA

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