2003 Ford Taurus: engine overheating

Filed Oct 27, 2014 · Engine · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle overheated without warning. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic, who stated that the radiator fluid container needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jun 20, 2012 · Transmission · OH

The transmission is defective in this car. It has been flushed and is full of fluid. From the beginning I could actually put the column shift between gears. Not what it's supposed to do. The salesman assured me that it was not a problem. The transmission overheats and shifts rough when hot. Last month after driving on the highway for 1/2 hour to get to work, I got off the exit and had to wait at a light. The car refused to shift for several minutes after the light changed. I was almost rear-ended. Two weeks ago the same thing happened. A car came around the corner and just missed me as I was stuck in the middle of the road. There have been numerous complaints about this transmission and it is so bad it even has its own facebook page. I work part-time and have a long commute. I now can only drive backroads at low speeds to make sure my car will shift. And I do not have money for a new transmission. I can't drive to other cities for job interviews. I understand ford was aware of the problems with this transmission and did nothing to rectify the problem. The car needs a recall.

Filed Mar 13, 2012 · Acceleration · 134,408 miles · CO

Pulled into traffic just before stop light, car continued to accelerate, at stop light put car in to neutral, engine continued to race, turned car off and back on still continued to accelerate, pulled into traffic as I could not pull out of traffic continue to shift to neutral, in and out till could pull over and call tow truck. Breaks were able to control car but engine over heated. Took to local dealership where was told it was a broken/stuck cruise control cable and that engine overheating had cracked radiator cap.

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 Sep 4, 2009 · Engine · 93,063 miles · CA

I was driving on the freeway when the car started to overheat. I exited the freeway, when I came to a complete stop the oil light came on. I drove the car slowly and I started to smell burning oil and the engine started to make a knocking sound when I accelerated. I stopped the car and oil smoke was coming out of the hood.

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 Aug 25, 2004 · Acceleration · 15,000 miles · NJ

Consumer complained that the vehicle would continuously accelerate to 200 RPM and causes the engine to overheat. Vehicle had been to the dealer on two occasions, but problem recurred. Dealer contacted the manufacturer, and manufacturer informed that dealer that was the normal characteristic of that vehicle.