2003 Ford Taurus Ford Taurus 2003

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2003 Ford Taurus repairs by problem area

Engine (39%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (11%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (17%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (23%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (4%)

Other (3%)

Chart based on 126 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2003 Ford Taurus.

2003 Ford Taurus repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (8%)

$500 - $999 (17%)

$100 - $499 (40%)

< $100 (33%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 119 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2003 Ford Taurus

Engine not specified

Ford in Massachusetts, United States
May 2009 - Mar 2010
Jun 2009

85000 mi

US $500
alternator replaced 

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2003 Ford Taurus 4dr Wagon

200-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD

Ford Taurus in New York, United States
Mar 2017 - Jun 2018
Jun 2018

145000 mi

US $220
Broken shift lever Needed tow to shop With the $70 tow bill was about $220 

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2003 Ford Taurus 4dr Wagon

155-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD

Ford Taurus in British Columbia, Canada
Jun 2018 - Aug 2018
Jul 2018

83700 mi

C $500
Front strut and spring assemblies replaced. One spring was broken. Included allignment. 
Aug 2018

87110 mi

C $20
Engine ran rough and engine light on. Code suggested air intake system failure. Discovered break/hole in rubber elbow above PCV valve. Replaced elbow and PCV valve. 
Ford Taurus in Ohio, United States
Jul 2009 - Aug 2014
Mar 2010

35000 mi

US $150
Heater Blower Motor Blown 
Jul 2012

77200 mi

US $1400
It was the cam position sensor. The car bucked between 3000 & 4000 rpm. According the web, this is a common Taurus problem. 
Mar 2013

90000 mi

US $1913
The transmission "dropped" at an intersection. The transmission had to be rebuilt. 
Mar 2014

108000 mi

US $1000
Car would not start. Replaced battery, alternator and starter 
Aug 2014

112000 mi
The transmission was acting up again and we decided to get another vehicle. 

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2003 Ford Taurus 4dr Sedan

200-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD

Ford Taurus in Georgia, United States
Jan 2012 - Nov 2015
Jul 2012

156300 mi

US $1000
Replaced worn tie rods after purchase of new tires. I was told about the problem a while ago, but I decided to wait until I really needed to have them replaced. Leak in AC hose resulting in poor AC performance. Repair quote was over a thousand dollars, I decided to live with it. 
Sep 2012

158000 mi

US $180
Broken throttle assembly, throttle stuck open. I was able to temporarily repair it on the roadside and (carefully) drive it to the dealership. 
Jun 2013

162000 mi
Misfire in one cylinder. Replaced spark plugs, wires, and coil pack. 
Oct 2014

166200 mi

US $150
Replaced ignition coil. 
Nov 2015

170000 mi
Engine leaking oil from seals. 
Ford Taurus in Minnesota, United States
Jan 2011 - Sep 2011
Feb 2011

130000 mi

US $90
Replace Ignition wires and spark plugs & intake plenum gaskets. Was misfiring under load from bad wires, causing carbon-tracking on spark plugs. Replaced spark plugs & wires, and also replaced intake plenum gaskets for vacuum leak. Replace Ignition wires and spark plugs & intake plenum gaskets. Was misfiring under load from bad wires, causing carbon-tracking on spark plugs. Replaced spark plugs & wires, and also replaced intake plenum gaskets for vacuum leak  
Ford Taurus in Nova Scotia, Canada
May 2015 - Apr 2017
Jul 2015

87340 mi

C $28
temperature blend door not operating 
Nov 2015

99200 mi

C $87
auto climate door heat/ac not working, now blower motor shorted out. Now have new one to install. Will be going to salvage yard for actuater moduals etc. 
May 2016

76080 mi

C $115
steering rack failure. bought good used from salvage rnyard. did work myself & did not drop y-pipe to it! 
Ford Taurus in Arizona, United States
Aug 2012 - Jul 2013
Oct 2012

200800 mi

US $179
Engine missfire. replaced ign wires. 
Ford Taurus in North Carolina, United States
Mar 2013 - Aug 2019
Mar 2014

145000 mi

US $55
Replaced ignition coil pack. 
Sep 2014

150000 mi

US $44
Upper radiator hose was leaking at the plastic Y. I tried to patch it with plastic patch but it didn't hold. Replaced with Dayco brand hose. 
Sep 2016

172000 mi

US $43
Transmission was slipping (almost like throwing the car into neutral) from 1 to 2nd gear. Replaced Vehicle Speed Sensor located on top of the transmission. 
Dec 2016

175000 mi

US $45
Front sway bar end links that I had previously replaced failed after 50K miles and were causing excessive noise. 
May 2017

180000 mi

US $110
Replaced broken AC clutch. Did not have to recharge since I didn't remove the compressor. Replaced idler pulley and belt. Pulley bearing was shot. This was causing a lot of noise. Belt was starting to show a lot of wear. 
Jul 2017

181437 mi
Transmission was slipping again (almost like throwing the car into neutral) from 1 to 2nd gear. I had replaced Vehicle Speed Sensor previously but apparently this one went bad after about 10K miles. It is located on top of the transmission. NAPA warrantied the part. Been fine since replacement again the second time. Part is not expensive but it is a real pain to replace. 
Mar 2018

188000 mi

US $225
Replaced rear struts and sway bar end links. 
Ford Taurus in Minnesota, United States
Oct 2012 - Nov 2014
Jan 2014

147300 mi
Had intermittent hesitation at low speed usually cold but progressed to warm. Found rubber elbow off of rear valve cover to air intake b4 throttle body snorkel vacuum line leaking and sucking air. Replaced elbow, runs great. 
Jun 2014

161000 mi

US $90
Intermittent miss had fuel injectors cleaned solved issue 
Aug 2014

162500 mi

US $100
Removed injectors had cleaned reinstalled ran great 
Ford Taurus in Ontario, Canada
Mar 2008 - Sep 2013
Sep 2008

105400 mi

C $3000
replaced two of the three catalytic converters. Contacted dealership and Ford head office directly and neither could explain the reason for this type of repair. Third cat was replace 4 months later 
Apr 2010

148800 mi

C $900
Noise when turning. Shop determined it needed to replace the power steering pump. Shop suggested steering rack needs replacing. Car has been fine w/out this repair so far. 
May 2010

149800 mi

C $480
Replaced lower front ball joint. Trip included power steering flush and re-alignment. 
Jun 2010

150040 mi

C $1200
Replacement of steering rack 
Sep 2010

155000 mi

C $400
replaced front passenger side bearing 
Aug 2011

173600 mi

C $300
replaced collapsed air pollution hose and idle regulator 
Nov 2011

176980 mi

C $900
Replaced rack and pinion assembly. Second time done on this vehicle. First time was a year ago. 
Dec 2011

177940 mi
Mechanic ran a diagnostic as car was not firing on all cylinders. He recommends replacement of plugs and wires. 
Feb 2012

179660 mi

C $350
Loss of power was noticed. Car was misfiring, engine shake, vibration in front. Mechanic diagnosed that it needed new plugs and wires. First time I have replaced these since owning the car. 
Jul 2012

186620 mi

C $350
Interior trim on passenger door re-glued to door. 
Jun 2013

193440 mi

C $300
Car won't increase speed during extreme wet weather, especially in the cold. Checked tranny, its fine. Checked vaccum hoses gaskets and valves, IAC motor. Problem still exists to a lesser degree. More repairs pending. 
Jul 2013

193440 mi

C $568
car broke down on highway had to be towed. Replaced water pump and belt. 
Aug 2013

193440 mi

C $490
power steering fluid leak. Replaced hose, flushed system, filled system. Hose cost was $260. No aftermarket part available, had to order from Ford. Took several days to get the part. 
Sep 2013

193440 mi
Car lost all power while driving. Got towed to garage. Diagnostic: need new PCM and connectors. Also found crack in coil pack which probably is causing the acceleration/stalling issues. Problem finding parts.Total estimate over $1000 
Ford Taurus in Wisconsin, United States
Jun 2014 - Jun 2018
Jun 2014

145000 mi

US $750
Condensor Replacement & recharge system 
Jun 2018

184000 mi

US $410
Front passenger strut broke (actual strut shaft) mount ok 
Ford Taurus in Alberta, Canada
Nov 2010 - May 2013
Dec 2012

66960 mi

C $500
CV joint replacement 
Ford Taurus in Ontario, Canada
- Sep 2009
Jul 2009

134540 mi

C $200
Changed both front bearings 
Sep 2009

136400 mi

C $400
Changed oxygen sensor, changed air flow manifold gaskets 
Ford Taurus in Utah, United States
Jun 2009 - Dec 2012
Jul 2009

82000 mi

US $300
oxygen sensor went out at 60.000 miles 
Dec 2009

86000 mi

US $340
rear sway bar broke, replaced it. Did a brake power flush. Was told I might need to replace rear struts. 
Nov 2012

129200 mi

US $500
Throttle, timing related 
Ford Taurus in Michigan, United States
Jan 2009 - Mar 2013
Jul 2012

113300 mi

US $1000
New Compressor 
Ford Taurus in Ohio, United States
Jul 2009 - Jun 2011
Feb 2010

108000 mi

US $230
Fuel pump failed. Located in gas tank, which made the repair difficult and time consuming. 
Ford Taurus in New York, United States
Jan 2009 - Apr 2014
Feb 2009

49000 mi
Total transmission failure. 
Jun 2010

58000 mi

US $50
Hood latch would not engage completely. Only secondary latch worked 
Nov 2012

76800 mi

US $100
Replaced original Motorcraft battery. 
Dec 2012

78000 mi

US $400
Car surging and stalling. Replaced numerous emission hoses 
May 2013

81000 mi

US $250
Engine stalling and surging. Replaced hoses and air control valve 
Sep 2013

93000 mi

US $200
AC cmpressor seized up. Replaced witha pulley 
Ford Taurus in New York, United States
Jun 2016 - Nov 2017
Jul 2016

112000 mi

US $800
Coil pack went, hard misfire while idling and under hard acceleration. Coil pack replaced along with plugs and wires. 
Oct 2016

115100 mi

US $800
Ball joints (front),  thermostat, coolant temp sensor, power steering flush 
Feb 2017

120479 mi

US $350
Accessory drive belt, tensioner, and pulley Replaced PCV Valve 
Ford Taurus in New York, United States
Jul 2009 - Dec 2011
Mar 2011

139000 mi

US $780
Torque converter failure. Replaced part & serviced transmission. 

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2003 Ford Taurus 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD

Ford Taurus in Iowa, United States
Sep 2013 - Jan 2017
Oct 2013

85300 mi
Car had faulty alternator. Replaced by dealer. 
Sep 2014

99000 mi

US $275
Starter failed. Replaced starter 
Jan 2016

92700 mi

US $185
Check engine light. Misfire code. Replaced sparkplugs & tuned up. 
Jun 2016

123000 mi

US $750
Struts replaced 
Nov 2016

134300 mi

US $350
Starter went bad. Replaced starter. 
Ford Taurus in Minnesota, United States
Oct 2013 - Jun 2022
Nov 2013

151000 mi
Divers side output shaft/CV axle seal. 
Jun 2015

176000 mi

US $86
Right front wheel bearing, hub replaced part warranteed. 
Nov 2015

177000 mi

US $260
Right side inner tierod. 
Sep 2017

190000 mi

US $200
Right front hub again. Got the first two from O'Reilly's. This last one from Napa. 
Ford Taurus in Texas, United States
Dec 2014 - Apr 2015
Jan 2015

US $80
car ran but at stop sign car would stall, idled badly, replaced Air intake control and cracked ignition coil assembly. 
Apr 2015

152000 mi

US $350
The car computer ECU $279. No windows working, no radio, no power door locks and power trunk. The car would start but no directional lights. Finally car would not start.  
Ford Taurus in New York, United States
Apr 2015 - Nov 2015
Jun 2015

111000 mi

US $285
Broken front driver spring. Replaced spring/shock as assembly. Replaced worn dogbone swaybar link. 
Sep 2015

111000 mi
CEL with lean codes p0171 and p0174. Estimate was for intake manifold gaskets. Heat shield rattled at certain engine RPMs. Shop attached heat shield with new screw. 
Oct 2015

111000 mi

US $20
CEL with lean codes p0171 and p0174. Hole in PCV boot connecting to intake manifold. New boot installed, cleared codes by disconnecting battery. No new CEL. 
Nov 2015

111000 mi
Hood didn't latch. Disassembled, cleaned latch mechanism, adjusted mechanism higher when installed to fix problem. 
Ford Taurus in California, United States
Jan 2015 - Jun 2018
Sep 2015

96000 mi

US $300
Door ajar switch said the door was always open 
Sep 2016

105000 mi

US $100
Brake switch went out 
Jan 2018

110000 mi

US $89
Dipstick washer replaced 
Ford Taurus in Nevada, United States
May 2013 - Sep 2016
Jul 2014

98300 mi
Fuel pump went out 
Ford Taurus in New York, United States
- Nov 2008
Aug 2007

52476 mi
A/C not cold - found suction line was leaking from the o-ring seal - covered under parts warranty from previous attempt to fix this on 6/26/07 
Jan 2008

55062 mi

US $65
Check Engine Light - Replaced Bank 2 Oxygen Sensor - Extended Warranty 
Feb 2008

55279 mi
Rust Repair on left rear quarter panel - covered by Rust Proofing Warranty 
Oct 2008

60209 mi

US $363
Washer fluid lines rotted, driver's side nozzle not spraying correctly - line and nozzle replaced Passenger side tires losing air - resealed both tires **Cost includes additional routine maintenance 
Nov 2008

60276 mi

US $148
Fuel tank leaking - new fuel tank installed - Extended Warranty 
Ford Taurus in Indiana, United States
Jun 2012 - Oct 2015
Nov 2012

171300 mi
Replaced battery. 
Mar 2014

191000 mi

US $50
vacuum leak 
Jul 2015

201700 mi

US $85
Master cylinder was kaput! 
Ford Taurus in Washington, United States
Jun 2009 - Jun 2017
Aug 2010

140000 mi

US $350
Starter went out. Shop replaced starter and had to replace it again within one week, bad from supplier. 
Jan 2011

238700 mi

US $1700
Smell of radiator fluid inside vehicle. Water on floor on passenger side, not associated with radiator. 
Oct 2011

170000 mi

US $570
Starting car was labored and failed on one occasion. Battery and alternator checked out OK at parts store test. Starter replaced. 
Feb 2015

256000 mi

US $550
Car was missing badly. Replaced spark plugs and wires. Also replaced the coil/distributer. 
Mar 2015

256000 mi

US $900
Replaced: Alternator,  Surpentine Tensioner and idle pulleys, water pump, timing cover. 
May 2015

261000 mi

US $1560
#3 cylinder intake valve spring broke, causing bent valve and spring replacement. 
Ford Taurus in Colorado, United States
Feb 2010 - Apr 2011
Apr 2011

140000 mi

US $453
Starter was replaced. Oil and filter change, tire rotation. 
Ford Taurus in Washington, United States
Aug 2009 - Jun 2011
Jan 2010

126000 mi

US $100
Water leaking into trunk during rain. Replaced trunk seal, seems to have stopped. 
May 2010

130000 mi

US $501
Alternator had to be replaced. 
Jul 2010

130000 mi

US $460
Replaced worn inner tie rods 
Ford Taurus in Ohio, United States
Jan 2009 - Apr 2009
Apr 2009

258000 mi

US $84
blew the engine. The repair bill exceeded what I was willing to spend, so I just paid the tow bill and junked it. 
Ford Taurus in Washington, United States
Jan 2009 - Jun 2011
May 2009

91000 mi

US $780
Water leak, in trunk lid mounted brake light, which was never connected during mfg. according to repair shop. Air conditioning was also checked as source of leak and from below chassis as well with sprinkler. 
Ford Taurus in Ohio, United States
Mar 2010 - Jun 2010
Jun 2010

145000 mi
Car began running roughly. The shop determined a cracked head. I elected not to repair. 
Ford Taurus in Missouri, United States
Apr 2011 - Jul 2011
Jul 2011

145000 mi
The CV Joint came apart and tore up front end. 
Ford Taurus in Louisiana, United States
Oct 2011 - Oct 2013
Oct 2012

97000 mi

US $200
Replaced alternator 
Nov 2012

97800 mi

US $280
new master cylinder, new rear brake cylinders 
Apr 2013

102500 mi
minor antifreeze leak. Added radiator stop leak. 
Ford Taurus in Wisconsin, United States
Dec 2012 - Jul 2013
Jan 2013

73300 mi

US $600
I took it in to have it looked over, a safety inspection. The battery was replaced, an exhaust clamp, windshield washer nozzle fixed, brakes cleaned. Going to have the rust removed from both wheel wells, rear driver and passenger sides. The starter had to be replaced. 
Mar 2013

75000 mi

US $202
The sway bar was lose in the trunk area. 
Ford Taurus in Pennsylvania, United States
Jul 2012 - Jun 2015
Jun 2015

106000 mi
Total transmission failure after service; was a gasket. Traded it in. 
Ford Taurus in California, United States
Jun 2008 - Sep 2013
May 2008

61000 mi

US $350
New Starter. 
Apr 2012

94000 mi

US $1229
Alternator replaced. Approx: $600. Synchronizer and sensor assembly replaced. Approx: 600 
Jul 2012

94200 mi

US $973
Car would not start. Replaced Fuel Pump. 
Ford Taurus in Georgia, United States
Apr 2012 - Jun 2017
May 2012

85500 mi

US $1500
shaft sheared in torque convertor 
Dec 2015

90000 mi

US $2530
torque converter 
Jan 2016

US $500
alternator replaced 
Ford Taurus in Texas, United States
May 2013 - Jul 2015
Jun 2013

91000 mi

US $1080
Replaced the A/C compressor and associated parts. 

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2003 Ford Taurus Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2003 Ford Taurus problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.