I was driving on the highway coming home the other night, going about 65, when all of a sudden my transmission went. No warning whatsoever, just revved like it was in neutral. Luckily I was able to move over (across two lanes) to the shoulder and call for a tow truck, but it was a very unnerving experience. I could have caused a major accident. Still waiting on a price from the garage it was towed to but I can tell you right now that it's not even worth it to me to pay 2,000 dollars to get this fixed. I will absoultely not be buying Ford ever again!!

I just came across this website, when i was trying to find the cost of 2003 Ford Taurus Transmission. my story is also similar to lot of other complaints on this issue

Miles as of today 75000

Drove car for 3 miles and went for a Dr. appointment for kids , came back and drove 100 feet and here goes transmission, without any warning. I was amazed on such a poor QUALITY work of Ford company.

I was on uphill and car was going back (reverse) luckily no car or anyone was behind me otherwise it would have been more disaster.

Next steps:

While this is a good forum not sure how many people see this or if we will get any resolution in terms of monetary cost for repair etc which is in 1500-3000$, as a group either we should create a Facebook page for all such complaints for FORD, I think very difficult to get anything otherwise from such a big company.

I was driving along earlier today at a modest speed and the car just seemed to go into neutral all by itself. No warning of any kind about there being a problem with the transmission. I was able to coast into a nearby vacant lot where I checked the transmission fluid level which was fine, but the car simply would not go into any gear at all. After doing some research and reading some of the other 200 or so similar complaints about the transmission of this particular make and model, I am very seriously considering not even attempting to repair this car. Considering the fact that I have only had this car for a little over a year, and in that time I have had to replace a waterpump, a starter, and now the transmission has gone out! This is most definitely the very last time that I will ever purchase a ford automobile!

This has already caused a person to loose their life. Ford needs to fix this problem. There must be a Lawyer out there that has heard about what is happening and could get everyone together and sue ford. Unfortunately it wont bring Jason back to life but hopefully it will stop someone else from loosing their life.A ll the stories that are on this internet we have to be able to do something. Its way beyond just have our vehicles fixed but a man has lost his life because of it. This is wrong ford is trying to show us that if we don't have money then we cant do anything and they can do what they want

After reading about the 186, now 187 complaints, I realize I AM NOT ALONE!!! This doesn't make it any better. I was driving about 60 mph with a friend and barely made it up a hill to a driveway(thanks goodness, not a freeway) when the acceleration stopped, tried several times to put into any gear and no response. FRUSTRATION BEGINS TO SET IN!!!!!!!!!!, but nothing like now after reading about 200 more Ford (or former) patrons and the same problem. So why the big "hush" about this universal problem....COME ON.....mechanics, salespeople and dealers........How do you expect to sell cars and service them when this many customers are irate about this major concern??. I'm all for a class action suit against

Ford Motor Co.

I wanted to let everyone know that has this transmission problem with their Taurus that I also filed a complaint with NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236. I am sure some have , but I think the more of us that do we will have a better chance of them making ford to file a RECALL. If they do even if you have paid for the repair then as long as you have the receipts for the repair then they will reimburse you the repair..

Update from Dec 30, 2011: I have contacted National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to report the transmission problem. They already have almost 200 reports. if we all send in reports they might make ford to make a Recall for our cars. Even if the car is already fixed. They will reimburse us for the cost as long as we keep our reciepts. I hope his will work. most of us can not afford to fix this and it should be thier responsibility because this is a safety hazzard. there has been one person that has lost thier life because of the problem.

This is the third Taurus of that body style I have owned.

1st: 2001 Taurus SES w/ DOHC engine. Had 250,000 miles on it when traded. Never had any problems.

2nd: 2004 Taurus SES w/o DOHC motor. I traded my 2001 for it. It was involved in a "roller crash that hit a block wall in Nov.15, 2007. It had 190,000 miles on it when totaled. Never had any problems with it other than normal maintenance.

Do to owning the above two Tauruses I thought it be safe to buy another. My wife and I walked and rode the city bus service for 18 mos. after the accident. I owed $12,250 on the car and the other drivers' ins.co. Nationwide, you know the one that has the jingle on their commercials "Nationwide we're on OUR side".

So we purchased our 3rd: 2003 Taurus SES w/o DOHC motor. Had 85,000 miles when purchased Feb 27,2009. Date and mileage transaxle went out Sat. July 2,2011 at 8:15 pm. I too also had no warning. I too have contacted and filed a complaint with the NHTSA in regards to this matter plus another complaint about those DAMNED yellow headlight lenses. The most hazardous the auto industry has allowed to be put on a motored vehicle, second only to allowing cell phone use while driving. Lee Barry, Bristol,Va.

Same problem as everyone else here Took it for emissions test and it passed with flying colors. Drove to the DMV to renew license plates. Mailed the car payment to Ford along with the insurance premium. Many miles and stops later I headed home and parked in the driveway. Went out about an hour later and it started right up but would not go into gear. The shifter moves but does not click into any gear. Reverse lights come on in the back but the car remains stuck in neutral. It will no longer even go into park mode. Had a mechanic friend come to look at it. Checked the cable, fluid, all the obvious things and everything is okie dokie. So he referred me to a transmission specialist who I will talk to next week. He advised me this is a very common problem and the repair should be around $2000.00. I'm sure I forgot to mention that I am currently unemployed, recently divorced and have no credit cards. Looks like my Taurus is going to be sitting in my driveway for quite sometime. If anyone out there is from the Chicago northwest suburbs, please let me know if you know anyone who may be able to help me....I live just north of Elgin and have no idea what to do next. I will be calling Hopkins Ford tomorrow, which is where I purchased the car from. Maybe there is some sort of Angel that works there that can help me. Hanging on a wing & a prayer with my fingers crossed!

I WAS DOING 25 MPH, JUST WENT THROUGH A INTERSECTION AND LOST SPEED ENGINE RUNNING, EVERYTHING WORKED BUT HIT THE GAS AND ENGINED REVVED BUT NO SPEED LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ROAD INTO PARKING LOT. I HAVE PARK BUT NO DRIVE, REVERSE,ETC. RAN DIAGNOSTIC -NOTHING, TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED CLEAN NO PARTICLES IN FLUID- NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. OUR MECHANIC SAID THE ONLY THING HE COULD THINK OF IT BEING IS TORQUE CONVERTER! OK THIS GONNA COST OVER 1200 TO FIX. i SEE HUNDREDS OF 2003 TAURUSES HAVING SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!!!!

I HAVE A 2003 FORD TAURUS. TODAY I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, WENT TO TAKE OFF AND THE ENGINE JUST FREE REVED. WOULDNT BUDGE. IT WILL SHIFT INTO THE PROPER POSITION BUT NO GEARS WILL ENGAGE. FORWARD OR REVERSE.. MEMORIAL DAY. AND WE TOOK TWO CAR LOADS OF PEOPLE TO PUSH THIS ONE CAR!!!! LOOKED FUNNY, BUT IT WASNT.PUSHED IT 2 MILES. CHEAPER THAN A TOW, AND THE NEIGHBORS RALLIED. GO TEAM.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD GUY BUT DAMN, FORD YOU ARE SERIOUSLY SCREWING THE POOCH.COME ON I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER. TECHNOLOGY IS SUPPOSED TO HELP, NOT HINDER!!!! I THINK I KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT NOT ENTIRELY SURE. NO NOISES, NO LIGHTS, NO WARNING. FLUIDS GOOD, WELL TAKEN CARE OF.