general problems of the 2003 Ford Taurus

Keep shutting off randomly while during in the city sitting at a traffic stop. Doesn't start all the time. There's rattling and clunking noise under the front of the vehicle.

After the driving my car on April 22 (a Friday), I parked the car for the evening. On April 23, 2016 (a Saturday morning), I came outside to find my 6-mo. -old left front tire flat after sitting overnight. A friend took off the tire and it was discovered that the strut spring was broken. I had the car towed to my mechanic on April 25, where it was determined that the strut spring was indeed broken, and I had it replaced. Research and talking with others brought to light a recall for this exact issue on vehicle years 1998-2001, however, other drivers were reporting the same problem with newer models of the same vehicles. This claim is for reimbursement of the cost of replacing only the broken left strut spring (a quick strut) and the tow to the garage.

We had several close calls where the car would not stop,and slide on dry pavement,and wet conditions . The car had new brakes, rotors, tires, but still would have trouble stopping, unfortunately my daughter was driving the car today,and hit another car. I just replaced the tires again a few months go, thinking the tires were the problem. I had several close calls myself, and I think there is a big problem with this car stopping. Thank god nobody was hurt, but this could have been much worse. My daughter was going approximately 30 miles an hour, and she was on a city street, conditions were wet , but she had plenty of time to stop.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while parked, the coil spring fractured without warning. The failure recurred on one other occasion. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the strut assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,479.

The front strut spring broke and punctured the front tire causing $462. 55 worth of damage, all other years of the same make and model but a few, including this one were covered by a recall or warranty. A serious accident or fatality could have occurred if this were to happen at highway speed.

Son was backing car down driveway and heard a noise and felt front end sag. He got out and noticed that the drivers front tire was flat. Tire was a year old and cut on inside of sidewall. Took tire off and had it replaced at my cost. When trying to put it back on the car I noticed the broken spring. This is what caused the tire to blow. Very sharp edge on spring facing tire. Glad it did not happen at highway speeds or in tight area so as to avoid injury or accident. Very inconvenient and an obvious metal fatigue issue. Rust not noticeable. Bought this car used from a dealer and I wish they had corrected this ongoing problem before selling the car again. Looks like I will have to look at other manufacturers as this is the second major expense on a Ford for problems they knew about but did nothing to correct or to help compensate customers for their expense or inconvenience. .

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph in reverse, a loud bang was heard as the vehicle began shaking violently. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated the front driver's side spring was fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

Backing out of driveway heard loud noise like something hitting metal and a pop. Upon removing tire noticed jagged edge of coil sticking down and broken piece laying on ground. Also large gash on inside of tire wall.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 3 mph, she heard a loud grinding noise and smoke emitted from the wheel well. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that both front struts and the front axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage and current mileage was 128,847.

Just pulled out of my driveway, when car felt weird driving. Got out and noticed it was a flat tire in the front drivers side. Looked closer and realized my whole spring broke falling down the shaft and sliced my tire open. I now have to get it towed and fixed, I got to school and work full time and need a car. I did some research and there was a recall for the exact same problem on 98-01 tarsus. Im going to pursue filing a complaint with Ford to get a recall on models after 01 as well. This could have been very dangerous if it happened on the highway.

My son proceeded to back out of driveway and the strut coil spring broke puncturing the tire.

Front drivers side spring broke & punctured tire. I am a single mother of three boys (9,5 & 6months) and had drove home on the highway going 65mph with all my boys in the car. I parked my car at home & went out later to retrieve some paperwork from my vehicle only to find out I had a flat tire. When the tire was removed to see what was wrong with it & hopefully just having the tire repaired, that is when we noticed that the spring had broke while the car was parked & punctured the tire. As you can imagine I was in shock, but was thankful that it had not happened while driving on the highway at 65mph shredding my tire & possibly causing a fatal accident. I have since researched on the internet only to find out that this has been an ongoing problem with a number of complaints that has been investigated and has still had no recall ! is it a matter of a certain number of deaths to occur before something is done ? it is a blessing that this has not happened yet & you would think that Ford would want to keep in mind the safety of the people who buy their cars, by having a recall on the defective springs before someone is killed. There is no warning when this happens & I feel that it is unacceptable for Ford to play with the lives of the people who buy their vehicles. I can tell you that this is a great financial set back for me & my 3 children & will think twice before ever buying a Ford vehicle again knowing that the outcome could have been unforgivable. You can replace a defective part, but you cannot replace a life. . . . . . !.

When driving down a public road the front driver spring broke before I could safely stop this in turn cut the tire ,this is a long standing problem with Ford Taurus, prior recalls, yet not corrected in latter model years this could have resulted in a fatal accident at higher speeds.

Car sitting in driveway and we noticed a flat tire. Upon further inspection the drivers side coil spring broke and was stuck in the tire.

Front spring broke while in garage,puncturing front tire. Local garage replaced both front struts,springs,and tire {1]. Contacted local dealer to inquire about recall or warranty. They where not helpful.

Left front spring cracked/broke, shredded front left tire.

Coil spring busted, went into my tire.

Driver's side coil spring snapped while sitting in the cold. Thinking tire was flat moved car over a few feet in driveway and shard of metal from coil spring shredded inside of tire. This is our third Taurus (also have an '01 and '02) that the same thing has happened to.

From a parked position in my driveway put the car in reverse. Heard a loud hiss and left side of vehicle dropped down. Upon further investigation found coil spring had failed and cut sidewall of tire. If this had happened at highway speed results could have been disastrous have had this happen on 2 Ford vehicles why hasn't Ford issued a recall for this issue very unsafe.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while in reverse, the left front strut spring broke and punctured the tire. A month before, the right front strut spring had broken and punctured the tire. The vehicle was repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 68,000.

On January 5, 2011 my eldest daughter was driving our car in a residential area near our home. As she drove over a manhole she heard a noise and the bottom of the car scrape the pavement. She stopped to inspect, but not noticing anything unusual she continued on. A mile later she got a flat tire on the front left side. After calling for help she pulled into a parking lot. I helped change the tire, but I noticed that the car was riding low. When I went to get a new tire I was told that there was a greater problem. A broken spring! that is what had punctured the tire. The next day(s) we got the front end repaired and a new tire mounted. I understand that there was a recall of this problem on earlier Taurus models. Apparently the problem still exists for 2003 models! although you have closed your investigation (ea0818) please add this complaint to your file.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The driver side coil spring broke and punctured the driver side tire. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic shop who replaced two struts assembly and a tire at the contact's expense. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified. The failure mileage was 113,000.

Searched recalls for Ford Taurus. Saw same problem with recall on 2001-2002 Taurus. Car was parked at school, cold weather, left front spring snaps taking out tire, stabilizer pin, and the inner shaft boot. Mine is a 2003 with the same problem Ford said sorry. Father repaired vehicle himself cost ~ $400. 00.

Left front spring failure at 70mph on us hwy 127. There was a loud band, smell of burning rubber as the front corner of the vehicle dropped down. Was able to get the vehicle to the side of the road. Upon closer inspection, the spring had broken, and was lodged against the tire/wheel. Saved a small piece of the spring. It was clean and free of rust at the breakpoint. Vehicle was towed to local Ford dealer. Will contact them on Monday.

Began noticing vibration in steering wheel of 2003 Ford Taurus lx. Took car to original Ford dealer 3-4 times and the tires were balanced, but the vibration persisted. On the last visit to this dealer, I was told that I needed new tires. Spent $400 on new tires at an independent tire dealer, but the vibration is still there. Went to different Ford dealer and they told me that the new tires were "out of round". They balanced and rotated tires, but the vibration still persists.

Car shimmies and shakes on braking even with new rotors and brake pads. Car has done this since about 20,000 miles. No accidents and just normal use of car. Have had to have brakes and rotors replaced twice already. Upon checking for others with issues, I discovered several others at epinions. Com and decided to contact Ford directly, they said they don't have a recall on this. I then decided it was time to contact the NHTSA.