9.1
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $1,930
- Average Mileage:
- 93,200 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 340 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (157 reports)
- not sure (81 reports)
- replace torque converter (37 reports)
- sitting in drive way trying to figure something out (33 reports)
- rebuilt the transmission replacing only failed parts (20 reports)
- scrap it! (5 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
This is my mother's car. It only has 61,000 miles. It has been well maintained. She only drives short distances such as to the store and to church. There is no reason for this transmission to have failed! There needs to be a recall on this vehicle. It is obvious as there are so many complaints about the same failed transmission for this type of vehicle. Ford needs to fix these vehicles! Please let me know if there is a recall. What else can we do to make sure we are taken care of?
- Beth L., Indianapolis, IN, US
Fixed dam car on Feb only worked for one month and transmission went out again ... and don't know what to do now I have no money to fix it and don't know what to do ...some one help me !!!
- frank1973, Uvalde, TX78801, US
Ready to head home from work and transmission stopped working on hill without shoulder. Place car in park and tried re-shifting and nothing, had to back up down hill without power, around a corner with stop sign into a parking lot. Haven't been able to do anything with it as trying to figure out what is wrong, and saw all the same type of issues listed here. No prior issues with car other than normal wear and tear; tires, brakes, and the like.
- Myles H., Rozet, WY, US
Nov 072012
Taurus Centennial Edition 3.0L V6 Duratec 24 valve
- Automatic transmission
- 131,934 miles
Daughter stopped at a red light and when it changed the car would not move in any gear. Was able to get help pushing car out of traffic lane and called AAA. Had car towed home and will be getting it towed to transmission shop tomorrow to find out the bad news $$$$$$.
Had this happened 20 feet later she would have been stuck in the center of a busy intersection - an accident looking for a place to happen.
There were no odd noises or previous warning of transmission problems. Fluids are full and clean. From what I've read on this site that is the standard procedure for 03 Ford transmission failure. At 131K plus, I guess I've been lucky; however, the elusive little FORD gremlins have finally caught up to me.
Hopefully something will come of all these complaints and Ford will make things right. I will definitely be holding on to any and all receipts for repairs.
Henry Ford is probably rolling over in his grave right now - considering the bad rep his successors are giving his name.
- ghy2035, Pensacola, FL, US
Leaving work getting on the highway. Suddenly revved up. I put it in neutral and was able to coast to the side of the road. None of the gears worked, OD, D, 1, Reverse.... Seems very dangerous to fail without warning at highway speeds.
- acwilson1, Florissant, MO, US
I just had the taurus serviced at the Ford dealership and sent my daughter off to college in it. She was there for two weeks and called and said that it wouldnt drive over 20 mph and the RPM's were going high...she took it to the dealership where she was and the transmission was bad. They said it couldn't even be rebuilt. we had it replaced but she was stuck there without any transportation what so ever as it was summer session and most kids were not on campus. This car gave absolutely no symptoms of anything going out..it just worked that morning and then was bad by the time she got out of class.
I realize the car has a little over 100,000 miles but has had the recommended service maint. work done on it everytime the dealership had recommended it to be done....this was always done by the dealership and Ford had record of this and still did not stand behind it what so ever.
- lannb, Lee's Summit, MO, US
My son was driving the car returning from work and lucky for him that he cross a big intersection when the car just stop without a sign and he could take a solo. The car does not take reverse, d or d1 is just like in neutral I had change the transmission filter and the safety control shift but is still not move they told me that is the transmission these will be a very expensive repair. When I see all these comments they should do a recall on these car o repair the transmission for free. Up-sad! Mad!
- Miguel P., Casselberry, FL, US
Heard a noise, slowed car down, stopped it put it in park. Listened and heard nothing, put it in drive and it shifted into it but would not move, tried reverse, same issue. Tried other Drives nothing. Had to have it towed 3 doors from home, cost 50-, my brother is a Master Mechanic he says its probably the input shaft, the car has 62,000 on it, no fore warning regarding this.
- tankersley, Jackson, MI, US
I think the engineers we have creating our vehicles, appliances, ect. are making them to fail before they should on purpose. They sure don't make them to last as long as possible! MY car problem was the transmission pump shaft going into the gear in the torque converter was only a half dollar size washer 1/8 in. thick with gear teeth lmao. I would think it should have been at least a half inch or at Least a 1/4 in seeing that the gear teeth on the pump shaft was about a inch long.
Its a real shame to have to put up with this after paying 20,000 grad for this car. was a show car at the dealer had like 20,000 mile when bought and it having only 55,000 thousand miles for a 2003. It was my mothers car she passed away few years ago. So we only got to have 35,000 miles before this repair!
These people that taking advantage of the none suspecting world of people should be horse whipped before being put to death! My wife was 150 miles away with a car load of gran kids when this happen! What a fricken ...... NIGHTMARE!.....
- johnsonflorida, Live Oak, FL, US
This was my mother's car, I know it was well taken care of and never abused. My mother never did highway driving. I drove it for 4 months. I commute 35 miles one way to work using the highway. Drove to work the other day. No problem, went to go out for lunch, started the car, made a whining noise so I shut it off. Started up again and it sounded fine. Went to shift into reverse and NOTHING, no reverse, no drive, nothing, no warning something was wrong. Got it to my garage via AAA, transmission is cooked!! I have to replace it, I need to get to work! The car is solid in every other way so I guess I'm going to fork out the cash to fix it with a new transmission. My mechanic told me there have been 8 upgrades to this particular transmission since the car was built!!
- Diane W., Concord, NH, US
Sorry you guys had such horrible experiences with the transmissions of these lemons! I wish that Ford would do something for you, but in the meantime, they are losing customers thanks to your posts! I almost bought one, but a quick google search brought me here and now there is no way in hell! I just can't risk it. No wonder these cars are so cheap. I had a similar experience with the Ford Contour, except it was the wiring harness. The bare wires were touching causing fuses to blow and once I was on the interstate, lost all power. Scary stuff! I read it was common and was also a recall at one time because some people's entire engine caught fire due to this. When I called ford about it, they told me that the harness was a discontinued part. A discontinued, recalled part? Needless to say, I had to tow it to the scrap yard. Almost lost my life, then lost my car. Such a greedy, selfish company Ford is.
- janafl, Jacksonville, FL, US
I was finished work, I drove 1/2 of the block and transmission disengage. I thought that I accidentally put in Neutral, but I shifted to drive and car wont move, I tried reverse same result. So I have to push my car back to the parking, because there is not parking in the street. When I took to the shop they told my that was the transmission pump and will cost $900.00. When I complaint because my car has only 55000 miles, they told me that is a common problem that Taurus has.
- ernpasc, Miami Beach, FL, US
I pulled out of my driveway on the way to work. I turned the corner and the engine revved up and the car wouldn't move. I thought maybe the rug was under the gas pedal or brake pedal. I'm in the middle of a residential street, mind you. I put the car in park, pull the rug back and put my Ford Taurus back in drive. Nothing but RPMs going up. Put it in reverse to get out of street. Nothing but RPMs going up. Put the car in over drive, nothing. Got scared because I don't know what's wrong and I'm going to be late for work. I walked around the corner to a relative's house who had a guy to help them push my car around the corner. He checked transmission fluid-it was full. Checked the main belt-it was intact. Mechanic called. Stated the transmission was gone! No warning, no slipping, no nothing. Just stopped driving.
I'm so disappointed in Ford. I looked on several web sites and the ratings for the Ford Taurus 2003 model is severely low especially when it relates to the transmission going out without any prior problems. I would like to be notified of any class action suits.
- Cindy M., Memphis, TN, US
Had transmission replaced in June of 2011. Now the transmission light is coming on. Can maybe drive 36 miles (most of the time) before the light comes on. I stop, shut the car off, then restart the car, the light goes out. Then, anywhere from 10 to 20 miles on down the road, the light comes back on. Seems I can drive further in colder weather than warmer weather (most of the time). Transmission fluid is full. Never drive the car over 55 (hence the name grannie). HELP!!!!
- granniepamela, Milton, IL, US
Same as others here, transmission failed without symptoms or warning. Did learn that FORD has acknowledged the problem and has resolved the issue in the new replacement transmissions. One step closer to FORD accepting responsibility for the problems with the transmissions. Count me in on class action or any recall efforts.
- Tom C., Spoakne, WA, US
Ford should recall the 2003 Ford Taurus transmission.
- Paul D., Cypress, CA, US
Started my car and put it in drive took off got a little ways down the road and then it just wouldn't go and reved up. made sure it was in drive, it was, tried putting it in other gears and nothing. NO warning signs what so ever . went out right before Christmas. i don't know how i am going to get to work. we have another vehicle but its my husbands and he has to have it to get him back and forth to his job. I don't know what to do, this really sucks !!!!!!!! if i would have had some type of warning i would have put it in the garage and had it looked at and fixed. now I'm stranded without a vehicle, no way to get back and forth to my job. i work for an EMS company & i have people who depend on me. i am so screwed because i live about 30 miles away from my job.
- Rachel H., Jackson, OH, US
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR . NO PRIOR PROBLEMS (SLIPPING OR NOISE ) ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED
- Jack R., Glenolden, PA, US
Hello fellow failed transmission partners.. my 2003 Taurus 120,000 transmission failed last night as well. Just normal driving on a lonely stretch of highway in the hill county (where i live luckily) and the engine revved up high and i was like WTH, so i pulled over on the shoulder, just realized i was coasting the for the last couple seconds and not even know it. So i put in park and it stayed. Put it in R, D, D1, nothing at all caught on. Neutral worked lol. All my levels were fine, no leaks, not even the transmission gave no warning at all (i,e gears slipping, hard to switch gears, etc) no signs of problems at all. When it worked, the transmission shifted smoothly like it supposed to do. SO i noticed the only thing to do is take it to a mechanic and pay the $1500 or more to fix it.. Does the sensors make a difference or anything else to check? Clueless at this point..
- mvilley, San Antonio, TX, US
Same here...bought car from private owner, No symptoms of problem with transmission...it just quit working ....very sad. Please Ford, RECALL the '03 and all others with similar problems. This car was apparently very well maintained and clean, no other issues.
- tbraunmn, Anoka, MN, US