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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...

9.1

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
46,400 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (10 reports)
  2. replace vacuum line & manifold gaskets (1 reports)
2003 Ford Taurus engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Ford Taurus Owner Comments

problem #11

Feb 072011

Taurus SES 3.2L V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 101,259 miles

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

The check engine light was on in the car continually and running very rough. My mechanic kept finding vacuum leaks in the car and replacing them. Then we found oil in the spark plugs and the exhaust manifold caskets and intake manifold caskets had to replaced. This problem took months to figure out. I was able to take care of that and one day later the transmission went out.

- Kari P., Tehachapi, CA, US

problem #10

Oct 052011

Taurus SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

Have had lots of problems lately, now this. Don't want to even call the mechanic again!! Anyone have an idea? The car also rumbles at long stops, and has no umpff when accelerating onto the freeway.

- slc, Mpls, MN, US

problem #9

Mar 212011

Taurus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

HELLO , MY CAR IS A 2003 FORD TAURUS , THE ENGINE IT TURN ON. BUT IT START WITH SOMETHING THAT I DONT REALLY KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN BECAUSE FEEL LIKE IN ANY MOMENT IT WILL STOP CHANGE OF SPEED AND GOING BACK AND FOWARD MOVE WHEN I TURN ON THE AC IT WORTHS SO SINCE I HAVE NO MONEY TO FIX IT I DECIDE NOT TO TURN THE AC ON IT BEEN SO HARD SINCE I LIVE IN MIAMI AND HERE THE TEMPERATURE IS REALLY HOT BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE , THIS IS OUR FAMILY CAR IT JUST BEEN TWO YEAR SINCE I BOUGH IT AND IT LOOKED FINE AND NOW THIS I REALLY HOPE FORD TAKE ALL THIS COMPLAIN SIRIESLLY THINKING ABOUT THAT ALL PEOPLE THAT BUY THEIR CAR ARE FAMILY AND TRADITION GOES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION AND PASS ON MY TWO KID 7 AND 2 PLEASE FORD DONT GIVE A BAD IMPRESSION TO YOUR MAY FUTURE BUYERS WHO USED TO THINKS THAT FORD WAS THE BEST BRAND NOW THEY ARE NO SO SURE I USED TO SAY THAT FORD IT THE BEST CARS FOR HARD WORKING PEOPLE DURABLE BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT MY DAD USED TO SAY AND WHEN HE PASS I NEED IT A CAR SO THINKING WAS HE USE TO SAY I GOT THIS CAR AND IT SOOOOOO SAD THAT I GOT SOOO DESPMENT.

- sadmorning, Miami, FL, US

problem #8

Sep 132010

Taurus SES 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

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

this clicking began about 2 weeks ago. sometimes it is really loud and sometimes you don't hear it at all. my ford dealer says nothing is wrong and drive it..the check engine light stays on and has stayed on for about a month. each time i take it to be fixed, they tell me that the computer is so sensitive that there is nothing really wrong and drive it..SOMETHING is wrong or it wouldn't be making this sound and the check engine light would not be wrong...who do I go to now???? It grips me that no one is telling me what is wrong!..

- Jenny M., South Hill, VA, US

problem #7

Jan 092007

(reported on)

Taurus 4D Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,786 miles

Work order states:

C/S SES LIGHT IS ON. CHECK AND ADVISE... LIGHT ON... P1120/P1120/PASS BASIC#15K607---MTIME TO REPLACE SWITCH WDS TEST. PIN POINT TEST. PID MONITOR TEST & REPLACED TP CONNECTOR & RETEST...

Location: Red McCombs, San Antonio, TX Advisor: Victor Lacourse

Notes: I won my lemon law case with FORD. After the rep said I would no longer have problems here I am with more problems. On top of that I have a $100 deductible for every problem that I have wrong. Even though it's the same freaking light it can be a different code. I took my car in almost consecutive days and was charged a $100 for each day. WTF!!! The manager stated that there are over 40 codes for the transmission light. I asked if I had different code for every day of the week, would you charge me a $100? And his response was YES.

- Jesse M., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #6

Jan 092007

(reported on)

Taurus 4D Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,462 miles

Work States:

CUST STATES CK ENGINE LIGHT ON TRANS LIGHT ON E29 INTERNAL HERNESS DIAGRAM WAS CHRDEH CUST CONSRON TO REMOVE COER MAIN CONTROL AND VALVE BODY TO REMOVE INTERNAL HARNESS AND RETEST INTERNAL HARNESS

Location: Northside Ford, San Antonio, TX

- Jesse M., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #5

Jan 092007

(reported on)

Taurus 4D Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,927 miles

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

Work order will do the talking:

E29 C/S Check engine lite is on. Leaking injectors.

Retried codes P1132 Bank 1 rich and P1152 Bank 2. Monitored PID Data 02 21 and OS 11. Both rich. performed injector leakdown test #3 and 6 not holding pressure. R/I upper intake and R/R 3 and 6 injector. retest leakdown and clear codes.

Location: Northside Ford, San Antonio, TX

Service Advisor: William Andrews

More clearing codes and giving it right back to me.

- Jesse M., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #4

Jan 092007

(reported on)

Taurus 4D Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,455 miles

Work order will do the talking:

Cust states ch eng light is on. Transaxle light on

Hears something grinding while driving. See Oasis History

NGS Test no problem found clear codes & Road Test

Location: Northside Ford, San Antonio, TX

Notes: More clearing codes and giving it right back to me.

- Jesse M., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #3

Jan 092007

(reported on)

Taurus 4D Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,532 miles

I'll let my work order do the talking:

Check engine light is on Has very little power on accel. do wds test, pinpoint test. ov to evap and trans sensors. replaced fuse, open, wiggle test looms, ok at this time retest, 12v to sensor, road test. no short found at this time.

Location: North Park Lincoln Mercury, San Antonio, TX

Note: Noticed what they did - cleared codes and gave the car back to me. This will eventually become a lemon law case. Continue reading my adventure with FORD.

- Jesse M., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #2

Jan 092007

(reported on)

Taurus 4D Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,304 miles

Work Order States:

E29 C/S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON MIL ON KOEO. R P1124 KOEC P1120 DATALOGGER TP -69V TOO LOW AND FLOATS TO .75 AT TIMES. PINPOINT TEST TP CKT WIRES AND CONNECTIONS - OK REPLACED TP SENSOR & RETEST - OK FINAL TEST PASSED

Location: Northside Ford, San Antonio, TX Consultant: Gray Hyde

- Jesse M., San Antonio, TX, US

problem #1

Jan 092007

(reported on)

Taurus 4D Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,452 miles

Work Order States:

C/S SES LIGHT IS ON. CHECK AND ADVISE ESP WTY 100.00 DD TP SENSOR WDS TEST. PIN POINT TEST PID MONITOR TEST & REPLACED TP SENSOR & RETEST

C/S HAS A RATTLE UNDER HOOD AT IDLE. CHECK AND ADVISE ESP WTY 32-12A362 SYNCHRONIZER NOISY INSPECT ISOLATE NOISE TO CAM. SECRO. REPLACE SECRO AND SENSOR. AND REINSPECT

C/S DRIVER DOOR LOCK WILL NOT GO DOWN WITH REMOTE. CHECK AND ADVISE ESP WTY CC-32 R&R DRIVERS DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR/218A43

Location: Red McCombs, San Antonio, TX Advisor: Victor Lacourse

Notes: I won my lemon law case with FORD. After the rep said I would no longer have problems here I am with more problems. On top of that I have a $100 deductible for every problem that I have wrong. Even though it's the same freaking light it can be a different code. I took my car in almost consecutive days and was charged a $100 for each day. WTF!!! The manager stated that there are over 40 codes for the transmission light. I asked if I had different code for every day of the week, would you charge me a $100? And his response was YES.

- Jesse M., San Antonio, TX, US

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