Three problems related to ignition have been reported for the 2003 Ford Taurus. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Ford Taurus based on all problems reported for the 2003 Taurus.
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 Tauruss 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 cars 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.
2003 Ford Taurus stalls at high speeds and at slowing down.
Intermittent hesitation during aceleration. North bound, two lane CT 85. Clear, dry pm. Resevoir to my right, trees, signaled for a left turn, no oncomming traffic. I slowed to make turn, then accelerated. I saw a vehicle pull out to pass, several cars behind. My car started to gain speed, then hesitated, the rpm started to build up. The SUV struck my right rear light, and bumper. The accident scene was rual, over a mile to nearest dweling. No phone. Other driver returned to scene. No witnesses stopped. After the body repair work was complete, the service department at simon Ford could not find any proble. Probleb manifested itself 5 or 6 times on the way home. It also showed up driving back to simon Ford. Did not recur while mechanic was with me, for test drive. Problem has occured about 12 times since. The 2003 Ford turus currently has 482 miles on it. Purchased with 64 miles, and accident at 137miles. When problem occurs, after about one second rpm builds to about 1500 rpm, then hangs there for one to two seconds, before increasing. It is as if the engin cut back to two cylinders, then increases to four, and finanly back to six.