2003 Ford Taurus problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (151) · Suspension:front (134) · Power Train:automatic Transmission (129)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Taurus model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
1,057 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:pads 2016-04-01 · campaign 16E026000 · 49,635 vehicles
Defect: Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Tau
Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.
Service bulletins (64)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure 2020-07-13 · TSB 20-2233 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. some 2000 and newer ford/lincoln/mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. panel replacement is
Structure 2019-02-07 · TSB 19-2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2000 and newer ford, lincoln and mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. panel replacement is recommended. follow the service procedure steps to correct the condition
Structure 2019-02-07 · TSB 19-2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2000 and newer ford, lincoln and mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. panel replacement is recommended. follow the service procedure steps to correct the condition
Vehicle Speed Control:cables 2013-06-21 · CSP-13B04 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford: see document search button for owner letter. speed control cable is susceptible to damage and can disconnect during hood maintenance and also interfere with full throttle return to idle after releasing accelerator pedal. models 2000-2003 taurus, sable. *pe
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2006-01-01 · 04208 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
camshaft tick noise - 3.0l 4v engine only. *tt
Engine And Engine Cooling 2005-11-14 · 052212 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
buck/jerk and miss during drive cycle above 3000 rpm - no dtc - 3.0l 2v gas and ffv engine. *tt
Showing the 6 most recent of 64 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-03-10 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“vehicle was involved in a collision with major front end damage and no airbags deployed. the brakes have been soft or spongy. i have not seen any leaks for the brake issue. i have bled the brakes several times the master was replaced by the original owner. …”
2022-07-21 · Vehicle Speed Control“at times the vehicle accelerates by itself albeit i am not touching the gas pedal. while driving the vehicle at 45 mph, i take my foot off of the accelerator and the vehicle maintains the 45 mph speed or increases speed if i am driving down a hill or any downward gradient regardless of the angle of decent. when i try to stop the vehicle using the …”
2022-04-28 · Power Train · 151,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. the contact stated that when taking the vehicle out of the park(p) after starting the vehicle, which required the brake pedal to be depressed, the contact could not depress the shifter button out of the park. the contact stated that the shift button would not depress. the contact stated no warning light was illu…”
2022-04-14 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch · 74,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. the contact stated that the brake lights failed to actuate as needed. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift out of park(p) into gear. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake ligh…”
2021-08-30 · Service Brakes“the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. the contact stated the vehicle failed to release from the park position. the brake warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mi…”
2020-02-07 · Power Train · 175,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. the contact stated that while slowing down would not accelerate when pressing the accelerator pedal and while switching gears the vehicle would lunge forward. the cause of the failure was not determined. the manufacturer and the local dealer forsom lake ford(12755 folsom blvd, forsom lake ca.) was notified…”
2020-02-06 · Exterior Lighting · 88,000 mi“my interior light stays on while i'm driving, and will stay on 2-3 hours after the engine has stopped.…”
2020-01-28 · Vehicle Speed Control · 150,000 mi“while driving down the road, if i release the gas pedal, the vehicle will continue to increase in speed. when i am completely stopped at stop sign or stop light, i have to pressed on the brakes really hard to keep the vehicle from surging forward…”
2020-01-27 · Suspension · 74,029 mi“on october 23 2019, i retained mavis discount tire to inspect my new york state registered 2003 ford taurus. mavis discount tire passed the vehicle, determining the vehicles condition complied with ny state safety standard of roadworthiness. 12/12/2019, after repairing the transmission at gorilla auto works, i was informed of a serious structural s…”
2020-01-08 · Suspension“i was backing out of my parking space at work and i heard a loud noise and then fthe air wwnt out of my tire on the front driver side real. once the tire was removed it revealed a large gash in the side wall of the tire as a result broken coil.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.