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...
1.7
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
98,238 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.
Came back from vacation (was not driving the car on vacation), backed up car in driveway and heard a loud snap. Looked and the tire was flat. Called a tow truck and when tow truck operator removed the tire to replace it, he found a broken front left coil spring, when we looked at the back side of the tire, it had numerous tears and punctures. We will need to replace the coil and the tire.
While backing out of driveway, heard a pop sound. Vehicle was immediately stopped and the right front coil spring had snapped into several pieces. Some damage to other components, tire appears to be undamaged. Repairs are pending. Vehicle was originally from the western New York state area.
2003 Ford Taurus front and back coil springs broke and the front punctured the tires which also had to be replaced. The front suspension coil problems happened on March 1, 2010 costing $1149.01 which included the two new tires we had to buy that got punctured by the coils. The back suspension problems happened on May 10, 2010 costing $142.75. I have read many times that this is a problem and feel that Ford should be held responsible for the costs of these repairs and it should be recalled.
Front and rear springs on 2003 Ford Taurus fractured. The front spring fractured while sitting in the driveway and wrapped itself around the brake lines and hit the tire. Had this happened while driving, the result would have been a catastrophic accident caused by total loss of control and braking. Both rear springs fractured on an unknown date but fractured at the bottom without total failure.
- Livonia, MI, USA
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When backing a 2003 Ford Taurus from its winter storage place in April of this year, a strange noise was heard coming from the left front of the vehicle and it took more power than it should have to back out. Upon stopping the car after a few feet to see if something was under the car, it was noticed the left front tire was completely flat. After completely backing out of the close quartered garage and a better inspection of the tire and its removal, it was discovered the whole inside sidewall of the tire was torn and the tire was in two pieces. It was later discovered the left front coil spring was broken and the broken portion's point was responsible for ripping the tire. Inquiries to the local Ford dealer confirmed Ford wouldn't do any sort of compensation for fixing this problem but did say he thought there was a recall some time ago but given the VIN this vehicle he said it was not covered. After a $700+ fix at an independent garage the car was on the road for approximately six weeks when the rightside coil spring broke and did the same thing only this time it was being driven by it's 79 year old owner who fortunately was all most stopped to make left turn when it broke and she was able to get off on the shoulder of the road and called assistance. This vehicle has not yet been fixed a second time and the parts are available. The Ford Motor Co. Has not been called yet for any kind of financial help or service on this second incident yet. I would like to find out a little more about their responsibility, if any, before calling to them or NY state level consumer protection agencies. It is my belief this is an old and known problem to Ford as many mechanics I have talked to know of many such identical incidents and it is not so uncommon that. There should be a permanent recall for something like this. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Right front spring broke and blew out right front tire. Luckily, my wife was not at highway speed when it happened. We had to replace the tire, and the front right spring and strut assembly.
Backing out of driveway in am, the driver's side coil spring broke and ruptured the tire. Vehicle lowered until frame was one inch from ground. Had to be towed to local service station for repair.
1) the events leading up to the failure, none, car was riding smooth, no noises, bouncing, etc... 2) the failure, how often it occurs, its consequences. The drivers side front strut spring broke, puncturing through the tire. This is a huge known problem with these cars. Luckily I was driving at a slow speed (30 mph) when the spring let go. However, I do take the express way to and from work and travel often. Had this happened on the expressway I most definitely would have lost control when the spring punctured through the tire. 3) what was done to correct the failure? struts, springs, and two front tires were replaced. Luckily my dad, a former mechanic, was able to do the struts and springs for me. Total cost ended up being $600.
While backing my 2003 Ford Taurus out of the garage, the front driver side tire blew up. It was a loud noise. My husband was standing in front of the car and thought I ran over something that made the tire blow. When he took the tire off he found that the spring had snapped and punctured the tire and it cannot be repaired. We feel so lucky no one was driving the car at the time. It very easily would have lost control and could have injured or killed someone. We have properly maintained the car and now I see many other Ford Taurus drivers have the same problem. Ford had a recall for 1999-2001 cars with the same problem.
My wife backed out of the driveway in our 2003 Ford Taurus, the left front spring broke and punctured the tire. I replaced the strut, spring and tire. I checked with Ford to see if there was a recall. The spring recall only covered 2002 Taurus. I still have the spring, strut and maybe the tire. I reported this with Ford, even gave them the serial # off the spring and strut.
The front driver side spring coil broke causing a large gash in the tire and instant deflation. Had been parked in the driveway and shifted into reverse. Pressed the gas pedal and the tire seemed to explode with a loud sound and debris. I understand that earlier models of the Ford Taurus have been recalled (breaking coil springs recall no. 04V332000) and fixed but the recall has not been extended to newer models. The problem still exists, the danger still exists and the cost to fix the problem still exists.
Vehicle: 2003 Ford Taurus wagon, 95,000 miles, all in Michigan by original owner. Friday morning (frost warning), April 9, 2010. Moved the car 6 inches, when the front driver side tire blew out, corner of car dropped. Following day, took tire (16,000 miles) to place of purchase, where they hoisted the car and discovered ruptured coil spring had punctured tire. Had it ruptured ten miles later, I would have been on interstate 696 going 70 mph in rush hour, putting me, my passenger and adjacent vehicles at risk of deadly crash. 20 miles after repair of suspension, my teenage son, brand new driver, was driving on another interstate; it could have been him (and me) injured. I'm furious at Ford and at NHTSA, as neither have taken action to remedy well established, know defect. How many deaths will it take? do something now!! total cost of two new springs with struts, and new tire: $850. Property damage: Punctured tire, broken spring.
Coil spring broke while backing out of my garage - which blew out my front tire. I had to purchase a new tire and then have my car towed to my mechanic. He replaced coil springs on both sides and as a result of broken coil spring it broke another part which cost an additiona $69.
We were at a school event and at the end of the day got in our 2003 Ford Taurus and put in gear to leave the parking lot heard a loud bang. Got out and noticed front right tire was completely flat. Got the jack and spare tire out of trunk, lifted car, loosened lugs and tried to pull off tire - wouldn't come off. Reached behind tire and fount the suspension spring was sticking in the back of the tire. Reached in further and pulled out a section of the spring that was completely broken off and tossed it on the ground. Put tire back on and had a flat bed truck come to tow to their repair shop. I am not looking forward to getting this repair bill.
My wife and I got in the car to go home, I started the car and went to leave when we heard a loud bang and car dropped several inches. The right front spring had broken and one of the pieces punctured the tire causing it to deflate immediately. We would have been on the highway in a matter of minutes, had it happened then it could have been catastrophic. I spoke with the dealer and also contacted the manufacturer via E-mail and both basically said sorry for your luck. I know this is a common problem on these vehicles and I actually know someone personally that had the same thing occur with his 2002 Ford Taurus. I am in the process of having repaired now, I am replacing both front springs as a safety precaution and will try to keep the broken spring but there may be a core deposit involved. This defect in my opinion is potentially very serious and widespread and should be addressed by someone. Unfortunately until an entire family gets killed on the highway probably nothing will be done.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Plymouth, MN, USA