Problems · by component

2003 Ford Taurus structure problems

111 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Taurus cite structure, 9% of all 1,223 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
111
9% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 SITUATION, CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY "SEVERELY DETERIORATED". ON JANUARY 20TH 2020, I AGAIN REFERRED THE VEHICLE TO CASKINETE FORD CARTHAGE NEW YORK FOR FURTHER EVALUATION, AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY STANDARDS, AS WAS INFORMED, THAT THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPAIRABLE, AT THE PRESENT CONDITION, DID NOT MEET NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS, CONTRARY TO THE ORIGINAL STATUS, AND INSPECTION , ISSUED 10/23/2019 MAVIS DISCOUNT TIRE ARSENAL ST. WATERTOWN NEW YORK. FURTHER EVALUATIONS, STUDY REVEALED, THAT FAILURE OF THIS CONDITION, UNDERWAY, AT US INTERSTATE AVERAGE SPEED OF TRAFFIC, POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT WOULD RESULT, EMINENT RISK OF LOSS OF LIFE. PER US AGENCY STANDARDS, I HAVE MADE ALL REASONABLE EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THIS COMPLAINT WITH RELEVANT STATE AGENCIES, DMV. ETC. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS INCLUDED…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2020Steering, Suspension, StructureODI 11302236
“WE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP,AND SLIDE ON DRY PAVEMENT,AND WET CONDITIONS . THE CAR HAD NEW BRAKES, ROTORS, TIRES, BUT STILL WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING, UNFORTUNATELY MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR TODAY,AND HIT ANOTHER CAR. I JUST REPLACED THE TIRES AGAIN A FEW MONTHS GO, THINKING THE TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM. I HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS MYSELF, AND I THINK THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR STOPPING. THANK GOD NOBODY WAS HURT, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AN HOUR, AND SHE WAS ON A CITY STREET, CONDITIONS WERE WET , BUT SHE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2016Suspension, Structure, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10819080
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CRADLE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2015StructureODI 10712695
“TODAY A COLD FRONT MOVED IN. I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE FROM MY GRANDPARENTS AND IT HAS SPENT ITS WHOLE LIFE IN THE GARAGE.NOW IT IS ALWAYS OUTSIDE. MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR THE DOOR LATCHES HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE DOORS NOT TO SHUT, AND ME HAVING TO HOLD THEM CLOSED AS I DRIVE. THEY EVENTUALLY START WORKING ( USUALLY AFTER 20-30 MINS OF DRIVING). I HAVE TRIED DE-ICER AND GREASE BUT NOTHING WORKS. MY MOMS 2005 FORD FREESTYLE HAS THE SAME ISSUE, EXCEPT IT WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF IT. I FIND IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THAT I HAVE TO HOLD MY DOORS CLOSED OR THEY FLY OPEN WHEN I DRIVE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2015StructureODI 10670011
“THE FLOOR BOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE IS WET AND HEATER BLOWER ONLY BLOWS ON SETTING 4. MECHANIC SAID WATER SHORTED OUT BLOWER MOTOR. DID SOME SEARCHING AND FOUND I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING; REFERENCE RECALL NUMBER 03V087000 AND OTHER COMPLAINT 10184014. THIS WILL SHOW A CONTINUING TREND. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2014Visibility, StructureODI 10653135
“HAD CAR IN SHOP FOR A/C PROBLEMS. MECHANIC (WHITEHILL AUTO AND BODY) THEY HAD ANOTHER 2003 FORD TAURUS WITH A FRAME (PART OF FRAME) THAT WAS BEING REPLACED BECAUSE OF RUSTING THROUGH. HE SAID THAT OUR FRAME WAS ALSO STARTING TO RUST. HE SAID THEY HAD CONTACTED FORD AND IT WAS NOT LISTED ON ANY RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2014StructureODI 10574874

Showing 6 of 111 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.