2003 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,223 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,057 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 169 of 1,223 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 291 | 23.8% |
| Braking behavior | 134 | 11.0% |
| Engine operation | 58 | 4.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 48 | 3.9% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 169 |
| Suspension:Front | 147 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 136 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor | 86 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 82 |
| Structure | 79 |
| Suspension | 77 |
| Electrical System | 75 |
Power Train: 169; Suspension:Front: 147; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 136; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor: 86; Vehicle Speed Control: 82; Structure: 79; Suspension: 77; Electrical System: 75
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 74 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 149 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 252 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 253 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 261 |
| 150,000 and above | 68 |
Under 25,000: 74; 25,000 to 49,999: 149; 50,000 to 74,999: 252; 75,000 to 99,999: 253; 100,000 to 149,999: 261; 150,000 and above: 68
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (261). 166 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 48 |
| 2005 | 55 |
| 2006 | 64 |
| 2007 | 101 |
| 2008 | 142 |
| 2009 | 129 |
| 2010 | 168 |
| 2011 | 129 |
| 2012 | 130 |
| 2013 | 69 |
| 2014 | 45 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2003: 27; 2004: 48; 2005: 55; 2006: 64; 2007: 101; 2008: 142; 2009: 129; 2010: 168; 2011: 129; 2012: 130; 2013: 69; 2014: 45; 2015: 45; 2016: 32; 2017: 12; 2018: 8; 2019: 8; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 291 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 134 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 58 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10019643 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
SHIFTING FROM OVERDRIVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WENT INTO FREE-WHEELING MODE. MR *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082033 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE JERKED BACK AND FORTH AND PRODUCED A " ROARING" SOUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012064 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016015 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS AUTOMATICALLY KICKED IN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078626 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080001 · 2004-06-28 (June 28, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100861 · 2004-12-01 (December 1, 2004)
I HAVE A CONCERN OF REGARDING A SAFETY ISSUE ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO LODGE A COMPLAINT, BUT WOULD DIRECT ME TO THE RIGHT SOURCE IF NOT.*AK SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2004, I CHANGED OIL ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS. LIKE MANY VEHICLES I HAVE CHANGED OIL ON, I WAS NOT VERY PLEASED WITH THE LOCATION OF THE OIL FILTER. IT IS LOCATED BENEATH THE MANIFOLD (EXTREME HEAT) AND ABOVE THE SOLENOID FOR THE STARTER. IT WAS THE SOLENOID THAT I WAS SUSPICIOUS ABOUT AND THAT SUSPICION CAME TRUE SUNDAY EVENING. WHEN YO…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110477 · 2005-02-13 (February 13, 2005)
AT ABOUT 8000 MILES I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TAURUS WHEN I NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL SMELL. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE AIR CONDITIONING OFF TO LISTEN TO MY VEHICLE. THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS CONTINUALLY TURNING OVER WHILE RUNNING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND REMOVED THE KEYS, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I PULLED MY BABY FROM THE VEHICLE AND RAN. SMOKE WAS POURING FROM HOOD. THE MECHANIC SAID THE SOLENOID SHORTED INTERNALLY CAUSING STARTER TO ENGAGE. WE HAVE SINCE HAD MANY STARTING PROBLEMS. RIGHT NOW MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE 11TH DAY …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,182 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029833 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
FIRESTONE CONTINENTAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FIRESTONE TIRES ARE ROUNDED OUT. THIS IS CAUSING VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041765 · 2003-10-14 (October 14, 2003)
FROM THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL IN IDLE. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT IT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL BECAUSE I HAVE 24 OHV ENGINE. I HAD A 1999 TAURUS AND I DIDNT HAVE THE VIBRATION. I ASKED FOR ANOTHER CAR AND THEY SAID I COULD ONLY BUY ANOTHER ONE NOT "JUST GET ANOTHER ONE". I THINK THIS IS A LEMON. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107057 · 2005-01-10 (January 10, 2005)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137175 · 2005-09-21 (September 21, 2005)
DT: ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO THE ENGINE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING WITH A LOSS OF POWER. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING, NO PREVIOUS STALLING. ONCE THE ENGINE DIED, A PERIOD OF ABOUT TEN MINUTES WOULD PASS, AND THEN A RESTART WOULD BE POSSIBLE. SOMETIMES IT WOULD TAKE NUMEROUS TIMES TO RESTART. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER, WHERE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD STILL DIE. THE CONSUMER DI…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137175 at NHTSA ↗