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...
7.0
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$20
Average Mileage:
69,550 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (4 reports)
changed the main key switch (1 reports)
drilled out aluminum rivits and replaced with 1/4 in bolts (1 reports)
Power windows, mirrors, inside lights and lighter will not work. Fuse blows each time and will only work after a new fuse is put in and then may go out without any notice the same day, next day or a week or so. GEM was replaced and worked for a while but now Ford is saying that it is not the module but a shortage and without warranty it is real expensive or as I was told not worth fixing since it would cost more than the car is worth. I see a lot of problems with the windows and some fixes...but Ford doesn't think they have any problems and therefore no recalls.
After just replacing the transmission, I can't close my window. After nearly getting killed rolling out onto a busy highway and my transmission dropping, now my Taurus is open to Mother Nature and any stranger that feels like getting into it. Of course I have to wait my turn at the Ford dealership so I am once again stuck with this bad lemon and drive with my window down. And lets not make this happen to just my driver's window, how about a few months down the road give my passenger window a turn? YES this happened to both of my window. Thanks a lot FORD!
After i bought the drivers window stopped working, I took it two 2 different mechanics each telling me a different story and an estimate of $200 to fix. I want down to the junk yard and bought the main key switch and replaced it for $30.
We have had the car in at 2 different dealerships where they spend a little time with it and if it doesn't happen when they are driving it around their lot, they can't fix it. I'm tired of getting into the bank drive-thru or McDonalds for that matter and not having a window that will roll down. What's worse? Driving 70mph in the rain on the highway when it won't go back up! We even have the extended warranty and we can't get anyone to fix it! If anyone out there has any suggestions, PLEASE Let me know!
- kimboclyde,
Ponca City, OK, US
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25 degree weather and my son decides to roll down the passenger side window. on the way up, the rear of the window decides to go up and the front down into the door. after driving 20 more miles and waiting till the weekend to fix, I removed the door trim to inspect. 3 of the 4 ALUMINUM mounting rivets had sheered off of the electric regulator motor, & the regulator motor came loose. I drilled out each rivet replacing them with 1/4 inch stainless bolts and locknuts. Now, how long till the LT regulator breaks loose? Possibly while ordering a BIG MAC?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Power windows, mirrors, inside lights and lighter will not work. Fuse blows each time and will only work after a new fuse is put in and then may go out without any notice the same day, next day or a week or so. GEM was replaced and worked for a while but now Ford is saying that it is not the module but a shortage and without warranty it is real expensive or as I was told not worth fixing since it would cost more than the car is worth. I see a lot of problems with the windows and some fixes...but Ford doesn't think they have any problems and therefore no recalls.
- Linda F., Davenport, IA, US