My wife's 2003 ford taurus with 58,000 miles had the torque converter spline gear,that was not heat treated properly. Fail.just out of nowhere.it happened at an intersection.no forward or reverse. This could have been deadly.this is a very common problem, and we feel a recall is in order.thank you.
2003 Ford Taurus transmission complaints
Page 10 of 12: complaints 251 to 280 of 316, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated on the dashboard.the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the cam sensor was replaced. Approximately 5 months later the failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic where the cam sensor was again replaced. The failure recurred again and the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the cam sensor was reset. The failure has not recurred. Approximately 1 year later while driving at approximately 20 MPH the front passenger side tire blew out. Upon examining the vehicle the contact noticed the coil spring was broken and pierced the tire. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the front passenger side coil spring was replaced. The contact also stated that approximately 2 months later while attempting to operate the vehicle it would not shift into gear and would not move. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where it was in the process of being diagnosed. The failure mileage was 77,000 and the current mileage was 90,600.
2003 ford taurus. Car was running okay. I was stopped at a red light and when the light changed. I put my foot on the gas pedal and the car would not move. A few days earlier during a heavy rainfall I noticed the rpms meter go up while the speed dipped. I panicked but he car made it home and drove fine for several days thereafter. I was told the transmission was shot.
I was driving my 2003 ford taurus down a state highway, in arkansas, and the transmission went out while driving it. I went to pass a vehicle, and instead of the vehicle kicking into passing gear, it was as if the vehicle went into neutral instead. The engine just revved up and the vehicle started to slow. I barely made it to the side of the road, without being struck by another vehicle. The vehicle gave no indication of any transmission problems and has approximately 132,000 miles on it. There were no shifting issues, sounds, or warning lights. I have read where many other ford taurus owners have experienced nearly the same issue. This could have been much worse than it was, since I was in the middle of a main highway and traveling at approximately 55 miles per hour at the time of the incident. The vehicle will not shift into any forward gear or reverse.
Transmission failure. While driving on an expressway, I felt the gears slip as the transmission was automatically shifting from drive to overdrive. After the gear change, I attempted to accelerate, however, power did not transfer from the engine to the wheels. I coasted to a stop. The transmission was rebuilt at my own expense.
2003 ford taurus v6 3.0 se the transmission failed without warning on a busy san francisco street while making a turn and accelerating slightly out of the turn. Had to push the car out of the street at some peril to myself. I have investigated and there have been numerous complaints about transmission failures on the 2003 taurus. Transmission has to be replaced with a rebuild. The cost is $1300.00 plus towing fee.
2003 ford taurus, 120,000 miles no warning car just stopped going moving, transmission seems to not be working, goes in every gear just no movement, have had nothing but trouble with this car since I bought it 3 yrs ago.
I was coming home from work and had just started up an incline after stopping at a stoplight at one of the busiest intersections in st.louis (hwy 64 & lindbergh). As I tried to accelerate, I heard an awful noise and realized I didn't have any power. There were no warning signs....just gone! Luckily, I was able to immediately pull off/coast into a nearby mall's parking lot (plaza frontenac). When I got to a stop, I put the car in park, then proceeded to try all the gears on the gearshift. No difference between them....they all seemed like neutral. I kept the car running, checked the transmission fluid, and noticed some grey/black in with the pink (just on the edges). Once my husband got there, he verified he thought the grey was from metal shavings from the transmission. I had this happen to my 1997 dodge avenger (transmission gave out at 37k on busy highway at rush hour), so I knew the signs. After having aaa tow my car to a transmission repair shop, we waited for the verdict. It will be at least $1600 to rebuild the transmission. This will include the torque converter. The shop says they will also replace some of the other weak parts the taurus is known for in their transmissions. The car is a 2003 ford taurus ses with 115k on it. I've had it since brand new and can't believe all of the complaints online, especially in regards to the 2003 taurus. Why hasn't there been a recall?!? I don't currently have the car or my insurance info.on me to supply the VIN number....
My husband was driving my 2003 ford taurus to the corner store and the transmission failed in the middle of the road. There were no warning lights or signs leading up to the failure. Luckily my husband was able to get to the end of our quarter mile driveway were we then pushed it to the house. I am very thankful this did not happen to my three children and I when we were out shopping earlier that day. This a potentially deadly failure that I have found many cases of online.
1) events leading up to the failure, none. Car had no problems, transmission made no noise, was not slipping, etc... Car was well maintained. 2) the failure, how often it occurs, the consequences. The transmission failed on the car at 107,000 miles, no warning, was on the freeway coming home from work, depressed the gas pedal to pass another car and then rpms maxed out. Car did nothing in any gears. Luckily I was able to merge over 3 lanes and arrive safely to the shoulder. However, had I not had enough speed this most definitely could have cause an accident. 3) what was done to correct the failure? The transmission needed to be replaced. Luckily my dad, a former mechanic, was able to put in a used (16,000 miles) transmission for me. This cost me about $700 dollars. While this transmission is still doing fine, car now has 135,000 miles, this gives me no assurance as these transmissions tend to go without warning at low mileage.
2003 ford taurus se - VIN# [xxx] - I had just taken a right turn onto a street and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. There were people behind me. I pulled off the road and it would crank but not switch gears. All fluids were in correct order with no issues. There were neither dashboard warning lights nor any unusual auto noises. This car only has 102,000 miles on it. It costed $1600 to fix. Thankfully I was not on a very busy road or I could have been severly injured. Ford needs to be aware of these problems and initiate a recall on these faulty transmissions. I was told by a certified mechanic that this particular ford has 6 different transmissions...meaning there is a significant safety issue that is being covered up! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Driving car to the store and came out our car would not move. Ran fine but would not go into gear. Mechanic said our torque converter went out. They see about 2-3 taurus's a month with the same problem. Cost around $800.00 to fix. Needs recalled considering all the complaints I've been reading with the same problem.
My 2003 ford taurus transmission just gave out while driving. Fortunately I was able to coast off road and get car towed to dealership. I have only 83,000 miles on car and transmission gave no warning it was going! Now I have to pay 2650 dollars to fix tranny ford knew was bad!
Traveling on highway, all of a sudden when I was trying to accelerate the car would just increase the rpms. The car wouldn't move in any gears. Repair shop told me transmission failed.
Driving at approx. 30mph and my car acted like I just threw it into neutral. Any gear I tried to put it into acted like I was in neutral. My transmission had to be repaired. I am reading the message boards and seeing that this is happening alot in the ford taurus. Some were driving down the interstate when this happens and that could be very dangerous going from 65mph to 0. I think there needs to be a recall on these taurus transmissions. My mechanic stated that he's fixed around 20 of them in the past year, there's obviously a problem with them.
Without warning the car lost power and would not go into any gear except park. The transmission has failed and will cost $2200 for a rebuilt one to be installed. This occurred once before, the same day our state inspection was completed, but we were able to get the car into drive again.
While driving to work, stopped at red light, when I accelerated through the intersection...no power. There was no warning. Luckily I was able to get off to the side of the road and call for tow truck. Thank god I wasn't involved in an accident also, considering the transmission just goes out and how impatient drivers are.
Transmission failure on 2003 ford taurus. Car would not go forward or reverse after pulling out into traffic although the engine was running fine. On-coming traffic had to stop or swerve to avoid my stopped car. This happened with absolutely no warning or previous problems. I found 68 other documented cases identical to this incident. Tow truck driver said he has towed 68 cases himself and was aware of the problem. I called ford and was assigned case#[xxx] but was told there is no re-call for this problem. This is definitely a "life-threatening" situation. Please read the other incident reports at http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/taurus/2003/transmission/transmission_failed.shtm police were on site but don't know if a report was generated. They pushed car out of traffic. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I was driving down the road and with no warning at all, my 2003 ford taurus starts to rev as if it was in neutral. I pull off to the side of the road, I try putting it gear with negative results. Not even a little jerk. Get it towed to a shop, they tell me I need a new transmission. Tranny just stopped with no warning. I tried googling the defect and I found a web site called www.topix.com and I find out that this is a very common problem with the ford taurus. The one thing for sure is, is that I will never, ever buy a ford vehicle again. I wouldn't even take one if I won it in a drawing. This is my 3rd one and each of them had major problems. 3 times, shame on me. I believe ford needs to fix this transmission problem and stop making shoddy products. I had a tempo, the engine went at 88,000. I had a ford windstar, the tranny went. Got it rebuilt 3 times in a 6 month period and finally just junked it. And then when I already told myself that I would never buy another ford, I get a good deal on a taurus. What a mistake. I know that I'm rambling on, but I do believe that ford could do something about this transmission problem. I've googled this problem on the web and there are many people just like me that feel the same way. That the taurus is junk.
I was driving my 2003 taurus ses and was following a truck going over a railroad track and was going like less than 5mph since the truck in front of me was going so slow and when I went to press on the gas pedal to move forward after passing the tracks the car was making a noise when I tried to press on it more. And all of a sudden it just stopped at first than started moving again so I pulled over off the main road. The next thing I know the car just stopped and would not move whatsoever. I turned the car off and turned it back on again trying to move forward by pressing on the gas and it didn't budge. The car didn't even move at all nor in reverse. Everything else was running fine and there was no technical lights on in the car. Eventually I had it towed back home and found out the transmission was out the next day resulting that I have to get a new transmission. I've also found out that it was common apparently for 2003 taurus cars to be defects for transmissions. This is highly a hazard on the road where a car just stops out of nowhere when who knows you can be crossing a light, railroad track or in mid-traffic where accidents can occur!
With no warning or problems of any kind my transmission went out in the middle of traffic. My car was stuck in the middle of the road. Nothing I could do. Buses were coming at me from the left, cars from behind and in front. This is a huge safety hazard. Had to replace with another transmission costing over 1500.00. We will never purchase a ford vehicle again unless this is made right by the company. We have talked to several mechanics and this is common amongst ford taurus'. Wish we would have known about this ongoing problem before we purchased. We also wonder why there hasn't been a recall. Is this the purpose of recalls. How many people need to complain before something is done. No wonder people are buying from toyota. At least they own their problems and offer a solution.
2006 ford taurus. Started decelerating in the middle of traffic. Engine starts and check engine light goes off and stays off so probably no dpc code. Transmission does not work at all. Ford shop said it's not their problem because it's out of warranty. It has 107,000 miles on it. It was by the grace of god that I didn't cause an accident.
Transmission failed with 63,000 miles on it!
Driving to work lost power in car. Rpm went up pulled over I had no drive no reverse nothing the transmission was gone no warning no lights, no noise just stopped. I had it towed to shop they told me the pump was out. I have been only owner and always maintained my car. It has 65,000 miles on it.
On 3/31/10 I was driving my 2003 ford taurus southbound on I-5 in the sacramento, ca area at about 7:20 pm. Just north of richards boulevard my auto began slowing down for no apparent reason. No dashboard emergency lights came on and there was no unusual sounds. As I depressed my accelerator my RPM indicator would increase but my car continued to lose speed. I was able to safely exit the freeway and my auto coasted to a stop on a side street. I then placed my car in reverse, drive, 1 and 2 and depressed the accelerator and the car did not advance forward or backward. Car was towed to a ford dealership on 4/1/10. On 4/3/10 a customer service manager called to tell me that they need to remove the transmission in order to diagnose problem further. The car has less than 59,000 miles on it and I had purchased it used in 2007 with approximately 23,000 miles on it. I have searched the internet for similar complaints and have come to the conclusion that it is a possible transmission failure which could cost me approximately $2500.00 to fix. I bought the car for $8,900.00! I've owned a 1989 mazda 323 and a 1998 toyota corolla which each had over 110,000 miles on them and I never encountered a transmission problem.
I had just pulled out of the parking lot of my local ymca and was driving on a suburban road when all of the sudden my rpms went up and my speed went down. I was able to bring the car to a stop but loss all control of the ability to accelerate my vehicle. I brought the vehicle to a stop and called for a tow truck. The result was that the transmission had broken down. The approximate mileage on my car at the time is 70,900 miles. This complaint has been documented over 58 times on the web at: http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/taurus/2003/transmission/transmission_failed.shtml
2 transmission in my 2003 ford taurus. The first transmission went out in 2005 at 68,000 mile and the second transmission went out at 121,000 miles. Had to pay to have fixed and when I contacted ford they said they are sorry but there is nothing they can help me with. Is it traditional for a transmission to go out every 60,000 + miles? I was driving down the highway at 70 miles a hour when the second transmission went and the car revved up and wouldn't go no where and almost go rearended because there was construction on highway and no where's to pull over. I also had my grandson and daughter in the car and we all were scared that we where going to get hit.
The transmission quit working while I was driving down the road at 55mph with kids in the car. I have searched this and have found many people having this problem.
2003 ford taurus lx -without any warning the automatic transmission ceased to function. This car had 40,500 miles on it. I stepped on the gas and the car felt like it was in neutral. I have since found that this is a common problem with this car and that some people were traveling at 70 MPH on a busy highway when this occured. This could have been a deadly accident on a busy highway or anywhere in heavy traffic. My mechanic told me that the torque converter splines were totally worn out. This at just over 40,000 miles! My car is in for oil change and safety check every 3,000 miles and this is something that cannot be detected. However, ford motor company, from what I understand, is aware of this problem and there has been no recall or publicity regarding this. This was a $1300 fix.
The transmission failed completely, without warning while driving. All gear settings, with the exception of park, responded in the same manner as neutral. There was no warning of any type. The transmission simply failed. All recommended services have been performed on or ahead of schedule for this vehicle. A cursory search of internet auto message boards revealed at least several hundred failures of the same type in 2003 ford taurus automobiles.
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