Automatic Transmission Torque Converter Problems of Ford Taurus - part 1

Had to replace my torque converter for $1,300 which is ridiculous considering there is only 87,000 miles. There has been thousands of complaints. Ford needs to fix this! wouldn't leave park, had it towed out of my driveway.

See all problems of the 2003 Ford Taurus 🔎.

Driving on a high-speed highway, when without warning (no check engine light or any other notification), the transmission quit working. I was left unable to accelerate or even maintain my speed; and I had to coast to a stop on an exit ramp as the portion of highway that I was on did not have shoulders on either side. It was very dangerous. The traffic behind me was just as ill-prepared for this sudden deceleration, and I was powerless to do anything other than steer to relative safety. It appears that the torque converter's splines are not properly designed and this is a common occurrence on this specific make, model and year. This defect should be attended to, especially so that there is no injury or loss of life in the future.

See all problems of the 2005 Ford Taurus 🔎.

I was driving on the freeway at posted speeds when my car began to slow with the accelerator still pressed, almost getting rear ended I was able to get to the shoulder of the freeway. I realized the car was running but would not go forward or reverse. I had to call a tow truck. I waited three hours for the tow truck to show up and then had it towed 80 miles to my house. I did some research and found that the torque converter splines would fail with no warning. I also did some test to confirm it was the torque converter. There are so many complaints with the same issue and Ford motor company has done nothing to recall and fix the problem. Does it take someone getting killed first? Ford needs to step up and recall to fix this problem before people are killed.

I was driving on the highway doing around 70 and, all of a sudden, the rpm's revved up really high (into the 7000's) and the car indicator said check transmission. I quickly changed lanes and got onto the shoulder and shut off my car. I let it sit for ten minutes while I checked for visible problems. Finding none, I then turned the car back on and put it in gear and it would not move. I tried it in every gear but the car still refused to move. I then had it towed to a mechanic that said that my transmission was bad. My regular mechanic and I had done some research over the phone while we were waiting to hear back from the mechanic and found that other people had the same problem. They said that it was the fault of a bad torque converter. Ford actually has a lot of complaints about bad torque converters and did a recall for their 2004 freestar which I had heard uses the same torque converter as the Taurus. After researching, I decided to take my car to a transmission shop instead and they confirmed that the torque converter was indeed bad. The splines had stripped out and/or broke. It cost $1400. 00 to replace it for a car that had a little over 57000 miles. During my research I came across others who had even less mileage on their Taurus's when their torque converters died.

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My 2005 Ford Taurus has a stripped torque converter spline after I inspected it closely. I believe this to be a design flaw because it seems to be a very common problem with this year, make and model of this vehicle. It is also common in other similar Ford models. It is a safety hazard because the torque converter spline can strip out without warning, leaving the vehicle without any power to the drive wheels. This can be especially hazard in an intersection when a light turns red, on at high speed on a highway, which would risk a high-speed rear end collision. Ford has not issued a recall for this common defect. There are many instances of this same failure on the internet by other owners. The vehicle lost all power to the wheels as I was in an intersection making a left turn at low speed on a city street. The car would not move forward while the engine was running and the transmission in drive. Very luckily, the vehicle was able to coast to a stop clear of traffic. However, the outcome could have been very different.

While getting off the freeway on the drive home from work (at 6:40pm on Dec 1st, 2016) the transmission no longer engaged. I had to coast over to a field and park while avoiding on-going traffic. I lost all engagement with the gears (rd21), and it is like being in perpetual neutral. The splines of the torque converter are stripped. Ford made them too small, so they strip. The car has 126,000 miles on it, and is only used to go to and from work. Thousands upon thousands of people have had this exact problem, yet Ford has done nothing to correct the situation.

Upon returning to the Taurus in a parking lot, the transmission did not engage. The gear shift moved as freely as it normally does, but the vehicle would not go into either reverse or drive. I had to have it towed across town. Our mechanic told me today that the torque converter was stripped and had to be replaced and that metal particles from the stripped out pieces had to be cleaned out. Total cost will be about $1800. Mechanic said this is a common issue with Tauruses and windstars of that time, and a look at the complaints on this page confirms it. Disappointing that Ford will not recall for what is obviously a widespread problem. My incident occurred at 88k miles.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 60 mph, the speed suddenly declined when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the torque converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. While driving 20 mph, the transmission failed without warning. The vehicle felt as if it were in neutral. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the torque converter in the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly felt as if it were in neutral and would not engage in any gear. There were no warning indicators illuminated. An independent mechanic stated that the torque converter may have failed. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic who diagnosed and confirmed that the torque converter failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The failure mileage was 132,400.

Transmission torque converter - stripped splines. Just 49,334 miles. This car has very low mileage and is in immaculate condition. Definitely a proven bad part that Ford should cover. The car quit moving at my workplace parking lot. Im grateful it wasn't in an intersection. Had to replace converter.

Tl- the contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the torque converter in the vehicle had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000. Wh.

My car randomly stopped moving when I was on the highway it was a major scene almost got rear ended by 5 cars had to veer off to the side to avoid a accident these transmissions/torque converters need to be recalled they were recalled in the Ford winstar with the same tranny parts but not the Ford Taurus 2003 I was told the transmission and the torque converter went out and this is a more than common problem for this year of Tauruses this is redicilious come on Ford recall these trannys!!! I cant afford $1500.

Traveling on interstate highway at 70mph. Suddenly the transmission gears disengage and there is no more acceleration. I coast to the side of the road. Engine is running, but the vehicle will not move when shifted in any gear (forward or reverse). Towed to nearest Ford dealership. They suspect torque converter and/or full transmission failure.

I was departing from parking lot and the car suddenly had some noise in the hood then lost all the power. After starting engine again, I can shift the gear into d or r, engine works ok but the car won't move at all. Before it happened, the transmission works fine, no delayed engagement, no slips, no jolts, smooth gear-changing. . . The transmission just stopped with no warning signs at all. The car is regularly and well maintained. No check engine light on when it happened. Later it turned out to be the stripped torque converter splines. It is a very common problem among Ford early 2000's vehicles, the splines are only 0. 16" thick by Ford's defect designs, which can be easily stripped.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle would lose power without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician stated that the spline and torque converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 152,000.

See all problems of the 2002 Ford Taurus 🔎.

Was heading home from fishing to have easter dinner with the family I was in the right lane going to pass a truck on the express way to the left lane, when I went to give it gas to go around him, I got nothing like the car was in neutral, rpms went up and I started slowing down . No noise no nothing so I sat on the side of the road for 2 hours waiting for a tow to get it home. Since it was easter Sunday I had no where to tow it too. I've been doing some research and looks like a torque converter not 100 percent sure until I dig into it. But I did buy this car used and have not had a problem in 2 years, got the extended warranty and what do you know I was 1600 miles over the limit so no warranty. I'm dam well not going to pay for this and ill be calling the finance company to come get it still making payments, cause if it going to cost me 1800 to fix it, no way cars only worth 2500.

While driving 70 mph on interstate 35 my daughter completely lost power. The engine would rev but no power. In traffic, she had to coast to pull over. There was no warning prior to this incident and the car is otherwise in excellent condition. The car had to be towed and the local Ford dealership diagnosed and are replacing the torque converter.

Vehicle came to a stop, then lost all drive and reverse. No warning or noises detected. Possible problem might be striped splines in torque converter of transmission. When this happens all pump pressure is lost and the transmission will appear to be in neutral. From what I have heard this is a common problem with this transmission.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle did not accelerate. In addition, the vehicle failed to move forward or in reverse but increased in rpm¿s. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

On 1-23-2015 a friend was driving the car on a 4 land divided highway when the transmission quit pulling. He pulled over to the side of the road but could not get the car to move in any gear. He went on to a job interview and called me and I had the vehicle towed back to my residence. I checked and this is a common problem for this make, model and year car, as the torque converter goes out without any warning.

The car was driving down the street and stopped. When I pressed to accel the transmission did'nt pull over 15 feet and stopped pulling. It was the torque converter that had gon out. And then I get a letter in the mail about other recalls but not on the transmissions. I worked for Ford for 27 years as an engineer and built transmissions under recalls. I have no idea about these paople! but the 2004 has that recall.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014, I was driving on us hwy 206 in flanders, NJ, when my car stopped responding to the accelerator. The engine was running, but pressing down on the gas pedal did nothing. I quickly maneuvered the car to the shoulder, almost causing an accident. The car wouldn't move in any gear, even reverse, however, nothing was wrong with the engine as it was still running. I was towed home and research the problem. Apparently, this has happened to many other Ford Taurus owners when the splines on the torque converter fail, rendering the transmission inoperable and the car suddenly unresponsive when pressing on the accelerator. I'm lucky I wasn't hit from behind on the highway. This is a dangerous situation that should be investigated. A recall should be issued to address this problem and replace the faulty torque converter. On July 8, 2014, Ford issued a recall for the Ford Taurus, and other models, for the same problem, but my year wasn't part of the recall. Why? in January 2012, Ford issued a recall for faulty torque converters for 450k suvs and vans. But the Taurus wasn't, again, why? are the lives of Taurus owners worth any less than SUV/minivan owners?.

Started my 2003 Ford Taurus to go to work. My car was parked on a downward sloped driveway as it has been for several years. As I went to put it in reverse it rolled down the incline. Tried several times to put the car in reverse but each time it rolled down the incline. After almost hitting my backyard fence I cut the car off and called in late for work. I realize all cars have things that might have to be replaced or worked on but given the number of complaints of this same issue among this make/model/year with transmission problems Ford should make this right with people who trusted the company enough to buy their product. Many complaints have caused near accidents. I could have ended up destroying my fence and entering the creek that runs along my backyard. My mechanic said this was a defect in the transmission involving the torque converter. Ford please pay for the defect in your product so I can trust you again.

Was going up highway,then without any warning rpms raced,managed to get to side of road no warnings nothing. Starts fine. Any gear seems like neutral or park. Looked online and found several complaints about torque converter splines not being thick enough.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while stopped, the engine rpms abnormally increased and the vehicle would not accelerate as the engine roared loudly. The contact was able to coast onto the road shoulder. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed and the failure was located at the torque converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 107, 000. Updated 12/04/lj updated 12/6/2013.

I was driving about 45 mph after exiting the highway. It was about 6pm in heavy traffic. I made a left turn and engine revved as hit the gas and suddenly the car stalled. I coasted to the left turn median. The car would not move, I put in reverse then in drive and no response. I turn my hazards lights on. I was almost hit twice in the back by other turning cars who could see me until they completed their turn. I called the police and he pushed my car with his cruiser 4 lanes over to get to side the road. I had the car towed home. Two mechanics advised me of a new/rebuilt transmission. A third mechanic advised me that it is likely the torque converter, which is a common complaint.

Transmission failed while driving with no warning. Attempting to accelerate from a stop light there was a 'shudder' felt throughout the car and the car failed to accelerate. Park will work (no vehicle movement) but car will not move in any gear selection (r, od, d, d1). Mechanic states that it is probably stripped splines to torque converter. This an apparent known issue with this car. Had this occurred in heaver traffic or an intersection or interstate without the ability to pull over this is an accident (fatal) waiting to happen. Why this hasn't been recalled yet is unexplainable as there are several complaints on this and is known to mechanics.

Automatic transmission:torque converter---I own a 2005 Ford Taurus se. Friday sept 27th on my way home I had issues with the transmission going out on a major, very heavily traveled road. I pulled away from a stop light and was traveling approx 35mph when the car stopped "pulling" and the engine rpm's reved past 6k. The car stopped partly in the road where I had to get out on the two lane road and pushed the car the to the side of the road in rush hour traffic. (very dangerous). I called for a tow truck and got the car back to my house. Wondering why the transmission gave out without any warning, I did some reasearch online only to find out that there is a major problem with the 2005 Ford Taurus torque converters where the pump shaft spline is only . 160 thick, and under normal use, the spline wears excessively and eventually fails without warning causing the vehicle to loose its motive power. Now what I dont understand is why hasn't the NHTSA investigated this problem because after more research and speaking with a Ford master mechanic I found out that there is a recall for the same exact problem with the Ford freestar vehicles!! why did the recall only stop with the freestar vehicle when its the same problem on the Taurus? is it going to take a wreck with a fatality to get something done about this problem? I uderstand when parts fail but when you read online to different fourums and there are hundreds if not thousands of complaints about the same problem of the 2005 Taurus this is a major concern which something needs to be done to make Ford accountable especailly whent there is a same issue with a different vehicle that has a recall. Even the master technician said he doesn't know why the recall stopped with the freestar, it's the same exact problem with the 2005 Taurus, and a dangerous one at that. Is any investigation going on with this issue?.

Tl-the contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 mph the engine began to rev and the transmission responded as though it were in the neutral position. There was no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and currently being diagnosed. The mechanic informed that the failure could possibly be related to the torque converter. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000. Js.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop sign, the vehicle failed to move forward. After several attempts to accelerate forward and in reverse, the vehicle still would not move. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and upon further investigation, the contact diagnosed that the torque converter would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 146,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The engine failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the torque converter was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 66,700.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration power. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where it was found that the torque converter had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 182,580. The VIN was unavailable.

I was made to believe that Ford authorized for the transmission to be replaced at 80,000 miles(see previous transmission complaint on this VIN). I recently discovered that the only work that was done was a Ford authorized repair to the torque converter, and not a replacment of the transmission as the repairing dealer recommended. At the time of the repair the vehicle was under Ford's extended warranty plan. The vehicle now has 130,000, and it has an intermittent jerk while going from 0-20 mph. The local Ford dealer, along with another independent repair shop, has informed me that the transmission needs to be replaced. I contacted Ford and they informed me that since the vehicle is no longer under warranty there is nothing that they will do. It's my belief ,since the original transmission problem at 80,000, the transmissions in the 2005 are defective.

2003 Ford Taurus. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems. Consumer sent additional correspondence. The consumer stated the vehicle stopped forward movement, in the middle of the highway, and it felt as though the vehicle was in neutral. The engine continued to idle, and the vehicle had to be towed. The consumer stated the torque converter was defective. Updated 11/20/13.