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:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
92,426 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.
Calipers front right F reb caliper remove and inspect and overhaul caliper front one side. Brakes were grinding again which required that inspection which I find out that the same area in the brake system needs replaced. Recomd, tie rod inner remove and replace tie rod end one side inner, ball joints lower front left remove and replace F ball joint one side, 2 brake hoses front. Brake rotors front both needed replaced. Suggested tires due to mileage also rubber valve stem. System failure- required. Recd, brake fluid exchange with ABS, and bleed brakes. Ceramic disc brake pads PD598 both front. 03/02/2013 mil 151213. 3rd repair shop, replaced all four tires with warranty brakes and pads along with discs needed replaced for the 4th time. Transmission flush due to leaking fluid. Qt dex 3 proline. Brake drums and shoes replaced. Replaced brake fluid, tie rod end one side inner along with replace of the shaft seal remove and install F axle shaft assembly one side. Tran's seal cr. Cv axle replacement. Ball joint replacement along with wheel cylinder rear both, brake service with rear brake drum. Engine light off/ runs poor diagnostic, replacement of PCV valve assembly, replaced upper and lower intake manifold gasket remove and replaced PCV valve along with tune up package. Relearn engine idle, rear brakes basic pc pkg, dorman rear right wheel and left cylinders. During these 3-4 repair shops cannot fix the cruise control to get the car to stop driving it self when above 30mph along with acceleration, back tail light right side shorts out continually. It is very difficult and very unsafe to control a vehicle that has had more than three or four repair shops try their hardest to fix a problem that apparently has some of these problems. I am with the belief that the brake system along the electrical system within the 2003 Ford Taurus ses DOHC is unsafe for street use in the U.S. due to our standards here of motor safety. When put into gear the transmission jumps loud.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph in reverse, a loud bang was heard as the vehicle began shaking violently. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated the front driver's side spring was fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
Coil springs had snapped and ripped open inside of a brand new tire on the drivers side.our daughter noticed a flat tire so she went to change it and took to a local garage and they said they never saw anything like this. So we thought maybe the tires were on recall. I checked on the web and found that a lot of '03 Ford Taurus owners are having the same issues with the coils snapping but there is no recall on the '03's. but there was on '01-'02 Taurus, apparently same problem but Ford will not stand behind product.yet today I see a recall on the speed control cable for '03 Taurus due to deadly accidents. Another item I need to get fixed.thought we bought a reliable vehicle for a college kid that puts on tons of miles. So disappointed in Ford but thankful this was not a tragedy.
Minnesota: Front drivers side coil spring broke and punctured tire while traveling at approx. 15 mph. Replaced both front coil spring, strut assemblies. Cost: $1183.20 included alignment + new tire install + balancing. About 4 months later right rear coil spring broke. $cost not known at this time.
As I was pulling away from the curb to go to work my car just suddenly stopped as if I had slammed on brakes and made a very loud noise. Then the front drivers side tire went flat. I tried to back up back to the curb but it wouldn't move. A neighbor came to change the tire but couldn't get it off. Then a piece of the coil spring fell onto the road and he discovered that the rest of the spring is in the side of the tire. There is no rust on the spring. I have owned the car for 5 years and it never gave me any indication that the spring was going to break such as bouncing, etc. What if I had been barreling down the interstate" now I'm scared to drive it even if I manage to afford to get it fixed! I've read hundreds of complaints for this same issue. Maybe there is a product problem?"
- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
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Front spring broke and uncoiled, stabbing front tire. Vehicle was parked so no strain on spring. If moving tire sidewall would have ripped open. No containment at all.
Backing out of driveway heard loud noise like something hitting metal and a pop. Upon removing tire noticed jagged edge of coil sticking down and broken piece laying on ground. Also large gash on inside of tire wall.
While driving the car noticed a clunking feeling in front end. After approx one mile saw smoke and smelled burning rubber. Turned around to get car home, and while sitting at stop light, front driver side tire exploded like a gun shot. Car was towed to Ford dealership and found "front left coil spring broke causing it to rub on tire causing burning rubber smell, smoke and tire to blow out". repair bill is approx $925. Owner is 83 year old woman, and this is a very costly expense. Recall 04V332000 does not extend to this VIN although it is clearly the same issue.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 3 mph, she heard a loud grinding noise and smoke emitted from the wheel well. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that both front struts and the front axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage and current mileage was 128,847.
Front coil spring broke and punctured tire. Front of car dropped. Very difficult to control and pull to side. I thought Ford had fixed this problem as the previous recall was for earlier years.
Just pulled out of my driveway, when car felt weird driving. Got out and noticed it was a flat tire in the front drivers side. Looked closer and realized my whole spring broke falling down the shaft and sliced my tire open. I now have to get it towed and fixed, I got to school and work full time and need a car. I did some research and there was a recall for the exact same problem on 98-01 Taurus. Im going to pursue filing a complaint with Ford to get a recall on models after 01 as well. This could have been very dangerous if it happened on the highway.
Drove car out of my driveway at low speed (less than 5 mph) when driver side front coil spring of my 2003 Ford Taurus broke and made approx. 8 inch tear in the tire. Tire deflated instantly, could have been a very dangerous situation if it happened on the highway.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while reversing, the front driver side strut coil spring failed and punctured the tire. The spare tire was installed and the vehicle was taken to a mechanic where the strut and coil spring was replaced. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 152,000. The VIN was not available.
Front drivers side spring broke & punctured tire. I am a single mother of three boys (9,5 & 6months) and had drove home on the highway going 65mph with all my boys in the car. I parked my car at home & went out later to retrieve some paperwork from my vehicle only to find out I had a flat tire. When the tire was removed to see what was wrong with it & hopefully just having the tire repaired, that is when we noticed that the spring had broke while the car was parked & punctured the tire. As you can imagine I was in shock, but was thankful that it had not happened while driving on the highway at 65mph shredding my tire & possibly causing a fatal accident. I have since researched on the internet only to find out that this has been an ongoing problem with a number of complaints that has been investigated and has still had no recall ! is it a matter of a certain number of deaths to occur before something is done ? it is a blessing that this has not happened yet & you would think that Ford would want to keep in mind the safety of the people who buy their cars, by having a recall on the defective springs before someone is killed. There is no warning when this happens & I feel that it is unacceptable for Ford to play with the lives of the people who buy their vehicles. I can tell you that this is a great financial set back for me & my 3 children & will think twice before ever buying a Ford vehicle again knowing that the outcome could have been unforgivable. You can replace a defective part, but you cannot replace a life......!
On January 5, 2011 my eldest daughter was driving our car in a residential area near our home. As she drove over a manhole she heard a noise and the bottom of the car scrape the pavement. She stopped to inspect, but not noticing anything unusual she continued on. A mile later she got a flat tire on the front left side. After calling for help she pulled into a parking lot. I helped change the tire, but I noticed that the car was riding low. When I went to get a new tire I was told that there was a greater problem. A broken spring! that is what had punctured the tire. The next day(s) we got the front end repaired and a new tire mounted. I understand that there was a recall of this problem on earlier Taurus models. Apparently the problem still exists for 2003 models! although you have closed your investigation (EA0818) please add this complaint to your file.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he heard a loud popping noise. The contact examined the vehicle and noticed that the front driver's tire was flat because a fractured coil spring pierced through the sidewall. The contact replaced the coil spring and noticed that the front passenger side coil spring was also fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
From a parked position in my driveway put the car in reverse. Heard a loud hiss and left side of vehicle dropped down. Upon further investigation found coil spring had failed and cut sidewall of tire. If this had happened at highway speed results could have been disastrous have had this happen on 2 Ford vehicles why hasn't Ford issued a recall for this issue very unsafe.
When driving down a public road the front driver spring broke before I could safely stop this in turn cut the tire, this is a long standing problem with Ford Taurus, prior recalls, yet not corrected in latter model years this could have resulted in a fatal accident at higher speeds.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Apopka, FL, USA