2003 Ford Taurus: engine failure

Filed Jul 15, 2012 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 130,000 miles · TX

Total transmission failure out of no where. Multiple other phantom engine failures/engine inexplicably dies.

Filed Jul 20, 2010 · Engine · 73,887 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. While driving approximately 55 MPH the engine began make a knocking noise and a check engine service light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven onto the emergency lane and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that a valve spring head broke off inside of the engine causing engine failure. The authorized dealer replaced the engine with a remanufactured engine. Within a few days, the failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to the authorized dealer who stated that they did not know what was wrong with the engine. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to occur intermittently. The failure mileage was 73,887 and the current mileage was 80,000.

Filed Sep 4, 2009 · Engine · 92,873 miles · CA

Driving the car for about 10 minutes when the AC shut off and the overheated and suddenly the engine died in the middle of the street. Every time I tried to start it, it made a knocking sound. The car was towed to a ford dealership. They could not find out why it overheated.

Filed Jun 15, 2009 · Engine · 68,454 miles · MI

While driving at highway speeds (65-70) when accelerating to pass, car bucks violently (at 70k miles on odometer). Also, random rough idling since date of purchase of vehicle in july 2003. After taking car in numerous times to dealership while under warranty and they were unable to diagnose even after hooking up recorder. Did my own research on line and discovered a faulty camshaft synchronizer was the problem. This is a $400 repair that ford is aware of as there is a service bulletin on it. However, the failure rate is usually after the warranty expires making it the responsibility of the consumer. I have also personally spoken with a dozen taurus owners who have experienced the same problem. Lodged a complaint with ford motor company who did not respond or follow through. Very disappointed as this could pose a serious safety problem for consumers not to mention catastrophic engine failure if the synchronizer fails completely. If your taurus has a rough idle that is intermittent and the diagnostic says there is no code, it is probably this problem as the service bulletin from ford indicates that the cam synchronizer does not throw a code to the computer system. Also, if your car bucks or hesitates on hard acceleration or there is a high pitched chirping sound, it is the cam synchronizer. If you take it to the dealer tell them what it is so they don't charge you an additional diagnostic fee that will show no problems! It's bad enough to have to pay $400 for a part that shouldn't fail, but does after the warranty expires. Ford should have issued a recall on this and other vehicles that had the same problems (know to occur in the f150 as well).

Filed Mar 19, 2009 · Electrical, Visibility · 78,000 miles · MA · fire

2003 ford taurus wagon. There are serious safety issues that need to be addressed by a recall: water leaking through the cabin air filter area into cabin compartment and seizing and overheating heating resistor and heater blower motor. My ford dealer told me there were no recalls for these problems on my car which is no longer under warranty the water leaking through the cabin air filter area into the cabin compartment in many 2001-3 taurus's have caused their heater blower motors to bind or seize which also burns out the blower resistor. It also eventually causes mold to form in the heater area and under the dampened carpeting. After noting a burning smell several times in my car's cabin after starting my heater fan, my heater defroster blower at first would not work- only to work a bit later-until it finally ceased to work completely. On at least 3 occasions when this happened my vision while driving was severely impeded due to the windshield fogging or icing up, as the dead blower could not defrost it. When I pulled the heater motor and resistor out (still wired) I discovered the cause of the burning smell. When I turned the ignition and fan switch on, the motor seized which caused the resistor to overheat to the point that literally flames were shooting out of the resistor! Luckily I shut the fan off completely when I smelled the burning resistor but it is fortunate the car did not catch on fire. Ford is well are of this problem and has issued a technical service bulletin # 04-15-3 to resolve it. The heater blower motor and resistor must be replaced along with the passenger side windshield cowl (which apparently warps from the sun and heat) and an additional piece of rubber molding installed on the rain hat over the cabin air filter. Additionally an area near the over the cabin air filter must be silicone caulked and some foam insulation removed for proper drainage. I repeat the above are serious safety issues that need to be addressed by a recall.

Filed Oct 25, 2007 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · OK

2003 ford taurus. Severe stalling problems. Also, before each stalling incident the dashboard lights will flash on and off, and the speedometer and tachometer will fluctuate. These problems occur when the auto is at driving speed or at idle. The most severe incident occurred when I was driving at approximately 50 MPH. The dashboard lights flashed and the engine died. I have taken the auto to the ford dealership in norman, ok. They have not been able to diagnose the problem.

Filed Sep 21, 2005 · Electrical, Engine · 30,000 miles · FL

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 did return to the dealer, and they performed a diagnostic test which showed a valve assembly control failure and it was replaced. Also, they performed fuel pump pressure test, recorder monitor road test, check of battery condition, and a replacement of the electrical fuel pump assembly. After all of these tests and corrections, this was still a problem. The vehicle continued to have a problem that has not been corrected. The consumer went to the dealer six times, and has not contacted ford manufacturer. After all of these attempts the dealer suggested to the consumer to call the federal safety agency and check the lemon law. *ak updated 12/27/05.