Transmission Failure problems of the 2003 Ford Taurus - part 1

Dangerous situation transmission complete failure in intersection while turning left. Stopped awaiting on-coming traffic at city street situation could have resulted in a serious accident with on-coming traffic resulting in serious injury! many complaints already filled however after speaking with Ford the refuse to fix it.

The 2003 Taurus was being driven on a secondary road on 7/7/14 when it quite moving forward as it was in drive, upon acceleration and the car was steered to the right of the roadway and drifted to make a right turn off a busy roadway . Although it was not in that roadway it was still obstructing the alternate road right lane traveled by dump trucks , until towed 2 hours later , vehicle fails to shift or otherwise go into any gear , the car is in front of our house, parked since that day,as obviously the transmission has failed and needs repair or rebuilding. I can not afford a transmission repair right now costing $3000.

Went to cross a very busy intersection in our city (and intersection where there have been multiple fatalities), and the vehicle would not go. Engine was running; transmission acted as if it were in neutral. I was stuck in the middle of the busiest road in desoto county. My friends and I had to get out of the vehicle and push it across the road to a safe place. It appears the transmission has failed and the local transmission shops want close to $1800. 00 to replace. I have read numerous complaints of this same issue affecting others. Why hasn't Ford placed a recall on this issue and fix it? I am surprised someone has not been killed.

Our daughter had planned to come home for a family gathering on easter Sunday and indicated she was leaving dekalb, IL and would be taking the interstate 88 toll way to dixon. Shortly after she had called, she phoned again to say that her car suddenly went out of gear as she was driving to get on the toll way. The car engine raced has the car started to slow down. Fortunately, she was able to coast off on to a side road and stop the car. . Read more...

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the transmission failed to respond. The vehicle was coasted into a nearby parking lot. The vehicle had not been towed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified, who informed that there was not a recall related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

Was driving 50 mph when with no warning the car started slowing down and I almost crashed into a retention pond. Cannot drive due to transmission failure! no money and still making payments on only s. S.

Tl-the contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the transmission failed to operate without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and they informed the contact that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the malfunction. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. Mah.

Transmission completely failed without warning. Suddenly lost power to axles though rpms were up, as if car was in neutral.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph uphill, the transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the transmission suddenly failed to operate. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road and then towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem and was unable to provide assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the contact¿s home and was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed a transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 232,000.

Cpsc# i1240221a. 2003 Ford Taurus. Consumer stated the transmission failed unexpectedly and without warning while driving.

Transmission failed unexpectedly while driving and without any warning whatsoever.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 15 mph the transmission failed and he was unable to shift into any gear. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 95,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 10 mph, the transmission failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence and had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact planned to notify the manufacturer of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

Sudden transmission failure. Car went from drive to neutral without warning, and then won't enter any gear. Fortunately we weren't on a busy freeway at the time.

On this Sunday, I had made three previous stops, without incident. I was turning into an intersection, when, without warning, I had no power. The transmission had failed! I coasted to the side of the street and called aaa. I had the car towed to a firestone dealer. The verdict on Monday was an internal transmission failure. I then had the vehicle towed to a local Ford dealer. I was subsequently informed that I would need a new transmission. The new transmission cost $3287. 51; towing costs were $122. 00! I am the original owner of this vehicle, and the transmission was always maintained properly. There should be no reason for this transmission failure. There is a website that lists several hundred complaints about the 2003 Ford Taurus automatic transmission. I have also registered this complaint with the Ford motor company. Ford should recall this vehicle, considering the hundreds of transmission failures reported for the 2003 Taurus, and fully compensate owners, who, in cases like mine, have spent thousands of dollars.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact started the ignition and attempted to shift into reverse but the vehicle would not respond. The vehicle would not operate in any gear which was selected. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the faulty transmission was replaced with a new manufacturer's transmission. One week later, the transmission failed as the contact attempted to enter a driveway. The vehicle was towed back to the mechanic where the transmission was being replaced with another manufacturer's transmission. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000. Updated 5/12/11.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact was driving 55 mph when the transmission failed. The vehicle was inspected by a local mechanic who advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 51,175.

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

My daughter was driving a 2003 Ford Taurus on July 7, 2011. The vehicle stopped moving. The engine was working, but the car would not move. Car was towed to a repair facility where it was diagnosed that the transmission was torn up and would have to be replace or rebuilt. This transmission failure happened without any previous indications of the car having transmission trouble. I understand that other 2003 Ford Taurus vehicles have also had this problem. If this failure had happened on a busy interstate during rush hour, it could have been a major safety issue. As it was, she almost had a wreck, because the car was driving down the road and then suddenly the transmission failed, causing the vehicle to not have any power to the wheels to move. She was nearly rear-ended by a car behind her due to this product failure. Ford needs to rectify this defect. I am having to come out of pocket for a lot of money to fix a problem that apparently is inherent to this model. I would like for Ford to reimburse my expenses.

Without warning my 2003 Ford Taurus won't run in any gear, transmission failure. I had to walk in 105 weather with 5 kids in order to get help for a tow. This was on a busy four lane road where I had to narrowly avoid being rear ended going 50 miles an hour. Is someone waiting for a death to occur to require Ford to recall this faulty product?.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the transmission failed and the vehicle would not further accelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who inspected the vehicle and stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the transmission was replaced one year ago by another mechanic after experiencing the same failure. The manufacturer was notified and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 69,304 and the current mileage was 89,000.

2003 Ford Taurus transmission breaks going down the interstate at 75 mph,we were stranded on the side of the road at 11 pm in the rain. !!! if you search the internet threre are hundreds of complaints about this transmission failing it is the same transmission that was recalled in the windstar. But since no one has died yet nothing will change.

Complete transmission failure on a 2003 Ford Taurus while driving.

Transmission failed at just under 95,000 miles with no warning.

Transmission failed on my 2003 Taurus with my son driving in heavy rain at night. After almost being hit from behind, he had to push the car off the road & wait for the tow truck, still dangerous on a busy street in any condition or situation. This seems to be a Ford issue with no solution. Worse yet, there was no warning signs & the fluid smells normal.

2003 Ford Taurus ses, stops on busy highway without warning. Transmission failure! car won't move forward or backwards! very dangerous! Ford and dealer says it's not their problem! I hope my problem becomes their problem!! they sell us this junk and then don't have to stand behind it. . . No wonder everyone is buying foreign!.

Loss of forward motion on a dangerous highway intersection due to transmission failure.

Transmission failure. Vehicle has approximately 60,000 miles. Was pulling out into busy traffic. The engine revved but stopped moving. The vehicle had to be pushed to the side of the road. This is a one time event. There were no signs, symptoms or warning lights prior to failure. There has been nothing done to repair or correct the problem due to the repair costs.

There are no events leading up to failure!! my 17 year old daughter was getting onto the highway 45 minutes away from home and the car just stopped suddenly, she was in an area where her cell phone had no service, she had to accept help from a stranger that stopped to help! her and her 15 year old sister were terrified!! after finally getting in touch with me I had to have the car towed in which they had to ride with a tow truck driver which was just as scary to them!! since then I have done a small amount of research and my findings are astonishing!!! the 2003 Ford Taurus has hundreds of complaints about the same problem! transmission failure. . . I am the only owner of this car and she was driving it to chapel hill because it was safer (in my eyes) that her 1998 Mercury marquis, I am very upset that no one has told us owners of this vehicle that there is a known problem with the transmission. I really expect to hear something from someone in reference to fixing this problem or I will be contacting the state attorney general's office. I have documentation of all the other owners and problems. The car has been taken to a local mechanic because there is no way I'm letting Ford touch my car again. . . And will be getting the results later next week, I should not have to be out of a vehicle because of a known problem that could of been fixed sooner! thank you and know I will be hearing from someone soon!.

Transmission failure while driving down highway. No warnings or signs of malfunction prior to.

2003 Ford Taurus fails at highway speeds to a dead stop. Many reports noted on carcomplaints. Com - in line with Toyota failures. Endangers the public. All related to known transmission failure.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while traveling at 10 mph, the transmission failed without warning. The contact stated there was never any prior indication that the transmission was failing. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were 101,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact was driving approximately 15 mph, approaching a traffic light when suddenly, the rpms increased and the transmission failed to function. The vehicle was towed to her residence, and two days later the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician replaced the transmission. The failure mileage was 110,000.