Ford is aware that they have a fit problem with the cowl and air cabin filter areas of these cars that cause water to leak onto the floor of the passenger side. This causes carpets to get moldy/smelly. The leak sometimes allows water to short/ruin the blower motor. I believe recall number 03V087000 is related to this issue. I have brought this problem to the attention of my local Ford dealer and they won't do anything to fix it unless I pay them $400 or so.

- Windham, CT, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that a clicking sound was heard from the air conditioner and the contact noticed that the passenger side floor mat was wet. The contact was did not confirm if the two failures were related. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic but not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000 and the current mileage was 112,000.

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

Occasionally, after heavy rain, the passenger side floor of my Taurus would be soaked. This went on for a few years. During the winter of 2007, the blower motor stopped functioning due to the leak. When the blower motor stopped working I was on the highway and could not defrost my windows. This was especially dangerous because of the snowy and icy conditions. Not only was I unable to defrost the inside of my windshield, but I also could not prevent ice from forming on the outside of my windshield. It was an extremely dangerous situation and I had to exit the highway. The window cowl under the windshield and various parts of the blower motor were replaced. This did stop the leak. My Taurus is a 2002, but I have seen this problem in the 2000 to 2005 models. It is unacceptable that NHTSA has not investigated this and issued a recall. It is a serious safety concern, and the issue has been known for almost a decade. Please investigate.

- Sagamore Hills, OH, USA

I have a 2002 Ford Taurus ses with 225,000 miles. One day when I was driving the car down the road the front window got this perfect round crack it the window then almost shattered. I did not replace it yet to see about a recall.

- Pittsville, WI, USA

Water leaks into the heater blower box when raining and then to the passenger side floor inside the cabin. The water has shorted out the blower motor resistor and the blower motor. This also caused rust to form on the fan, the motor and resistor pack.

- Sikeston, MO, USA

I own a 2002 Ford Taurus and understand many people have had this same issue. My A/C blower motor stopped working and was filled with water with traces of rust. I replaced the blower control switch, the blower resistor board, and removed and rebuilt the blower motor. The auto parts store I bought the replacement components from (directly across the street from the Ford dealer) tells me this is a common occurrence.

- Portland, ME, USA

Every time it rains heavy, I end up with water on the passenger floor. The defrost blower motor has shorted out three times due to this problem. I looked online and found many many complaints from Ford Taurus owners. Due to some kind of defect, water gets in the heating system and ends up on the passenger floor. It also makes the defrost blower motor and resistor go out.

- Sacramento , CA, USA

Reference Ford tsb #04-15-3. I have a 2002 Ford Taurus ses with only 39,000 miles on the odometer and the blower motor had to be replaced because of water leaking from the bottom of the windshield into the blower motor. I was told by a local Ford dealer that there is a recall #03V087000 on this problem, but it expired in 2007, so I had no choice but to purchase a new motor for $133.97, Ford part #1F1Z-19805-aa. This is evidently an ongoing problem. The internet site I visited had 7 pages of complaints about this same situation. This becomes a safety issue because visibility is impaired due to the fact that now you do not have any window defrosters. I am writing this complaint mainly to see if Ford won't extend the above mentioned recall notice.

- Trafford, PA, USA

Heater fan blower only worked on highest speed only. I found out from a service technician that the problem was not a control switch, but was a resistor network P/N F6dz 19A706 aa. I replaced the part and problem was fixed (temporarily). Same problem returned 5 months later (9/26/08). More inquiring at the dealer revealed the problem source. Water leaking through a hole near cabin air filter. Technical service bulletin tsb 04-15-3 explains the remedy and repair instructions. Replaced resistor for second time and installed weatherstrip 4F1Z 54022A54 aa, and panel 4F1Z 54018A16 baa and applied silicone sealant in the leak hole. Did not replace the blower motor at this time since it seemed to be working. Now 1/25/09 the resistor failed for the 3rd time. Will be replacing the resistor and blower motor since it appears the blower is shorted and is causing repeated failure of the resistor network. I argued with the dealer wb Lincoln Mercury that it should be a recall, but it apparently was not classified as such. One Ford technician I spoke with at this dealer said he had repaired about a couple hundred of these same defects himself. Reference recall number 03V087000.

- Vadnais Hts, MN, USA

Blower motor noise, and leaking on the firewall. The leaking started in 2008, I had the trough above the firewall and the blower motor replaced, and now the blower motor makes a loud vibrating sound. My car is a 2002 Ford Taurus ses and it only had about 50,000 miles on it when it started leaking, and now only has 72,000 miles on it, with the blower motor making these sounds. I am filing a formal complaint. Existing recall number 03V087000 and a second complaint number is 10184014.

- Grinnell, IA, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that water leaks into the vehicle through the windshield, which shortens the circuit in the floorboard. Secondly, she discovered that the heating system was inoperative. She has not had the vehicle inspected to determine the cause of the failure. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer in reference to NHTSA campaign id number 03V087000 (visibility:windshield). Finally, the contact stated that the front coil spring fractured and caused the ball joints and the front passenger tire to fail. The springs were replaced, but the manufacturer did not provide her with any financial assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 101,000.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

With the cold Michigan weather upon us, my heater blower is needed to provide removal of foggy/frosty windows for my children's safety and others. Ford has had complaints on the internet and dealers are aware of the problem, I spoke to my local dealer and they said this very common with the Ford Taurus as water enters the passenger floor board and shorts out the blower motor. They said this would be a $400 repair.

- Waterford, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. Whenever the contact attempted to activate the rear defroster, she noticed that no air would blow out. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and the contact was informed that there was water build up in the blower of the defroster. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. Prior to the failure, the check engine warning indicator would illuminate whenever the defroster was activated. The current mileage was 132,000 and failure mileage was 128,000.

- Griffin, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that there was a water leak under the windshield that leaked onto the passenger side floor and created a puddle. He discovered a recall pertaining to the blower case/blow motor, but never received a recall notice. The NHTSA campaign id number was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 47,000.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

2992 Ford Taurus ses heater blower switch and seal required replacement Ford dealer had tsb on subject and new parts numbers to replace parts upgraded parts. Cost $600 Ford knows they have problem and redesigned the parts, but will not stand up and cover cost. I have owned a Honda and Toyota and both would have helped with similar problem. It is no wonder why they have become the top sellers in usa. I will never purchase another Ford product ever. They need to stand up and become a auto manufacturer, not weisel word around the problem. If the cause of the problem was me then I fix if they cause then they should fix.

- Uncasville, CT, USA

Heater quit blowing air. Went to replace blower motor had water in it. Looks like it has been leaking for long time. I thought water on floor was window being left open.

- Freeport, IL, USA

The fan blower motor on my dad's 2003 Ford Taurus SE with only 33,000 miles and on my 2002 Ford Taurus ses with 82,000 miles both failed recently. My dad passed away July 7th and I was attempting to seal the car when a prospective buyer mentioned that the fan wasn't working. I checked it out and it work sporadically. I ended up taking it to hiller Ford in franklin wi after talking to Ford - they wanted it diagnosed. The dealer replaced the blower motor, resistor and rain hat which cost $520. The day of my dad's funeral, the blower motor on my car began to work sporadically. I took my car to hiller Ford and authorized the repairs today. The estimate is $429 to replace the blower motor, resistor and a seal. The dealer service manager stated that it appears there is a leak in the post for the windshield and water was getting behind the dash soaking the blower motor unit. When I contacted Ford on August 22, 2008, they claim neither car was subject to the 2003 windshield replacement recall (NHTSA campaign id # 03V087000). I find it hard to believe that Ford is offering no relief because they claim the cars weren't subject to the recall and the windshield leak isn't related to the blower motor going bad. I'm out almost $1000 in repair costs and I've seen many comments from other owners who have had issues with the blower motor and leaks into the passenger compartment.

- Muskego, WI, USA

My 2002 Ford Taurus had a water leak in the ac/heater blower during rain storms. The dealer fixed the leak but I have had to replace the blower motor and blower motor resistor twice. My blower quit running again today. Motor and resistor need to be replaced again.

- Waseca, MN, USA

The heater/ac blower of my 2002 Ford Taurus only works on high. I went to the dealership today and received an estimate to repair will cost me $660. This estimate includes a "fix" for a known design flaw. Evidently water leaks into the vehicle from somewhere around where the windshield wipers are causing damage to the resistor and motor. I need a blower motor, updated (fix) cowl, and resistor.

- Somerville, MA, USA

Every time it rains, my 2002 Ford Taurus SE leaks into the right passenger floor board. Various bulletin boards, show that numerous Taurus vehicles leak. Ford should be responsible for the repair at no cost to the consumer. Leaking causes blower to malfunction and/or not operate at all. Extremely costly repair.

- Sicklerville, NJ, USA