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Ford Taurus 2003

The 2003 Ford Taurus has a 3.0 L engine. It gets 21 MPG combined (18 city, 26 highway), per the EPA. 4 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Large Cars Front-wheel (FWD)
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Ford Taurus
Representative photo of the Taurus. It may show a different year or version. Photo: Damian B Oh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
3,000 cc
6
Cylinders6
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainFront-wheel (FWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)5,020 × 1,850 × 1,450 mm (197.6 × 72.8 × 57.1 in)
Wheelbase2,760 mm (108.7 in)
Curb weight1,562 kg (3,444 lb)
Body styleLarge Cars

Dimensions and weight: median of the 2 versions in Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC). Each version differs slightly.

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Ford Taurus 4-DR. Wagon
🇺🇸 Local data
NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Ford Taurus 4-DR. w/SAB
🇺🇸 Local data
NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Ford Taurus 4-DR.
🇺🇸 Local data

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
18 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Emissions
263 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

4 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS 16E026000 · 2016-04-01 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 04V106000 · 2004-03-02 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

IN ADDITION, IF THE SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING FAIL IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ACTUATE AND THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF "PARK" IF THEY FAIL IN THE CLOSED POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL REMAIN ON, WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE SPEED CONTROL TO BE ACTIVATED. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE.

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED STOP LAMP SWITCH AND WIRE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 04V105000 · 2004-03-02 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

THIS CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE TO THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES AND/OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD 03V087000 · 2003-03-10 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

POTENTIAL LOSS OF WINDSHIELD RETENTION MAY ALSO REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WINDSHIELDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD/MERCURY AT 1-800-392-3673.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES Crash 1 injured 2025-03-10 · NHTSA

Vehicle was involved in a collision with major front end damage and no airbags deployed. The brakes have been soft or spongy. I have not seen any leaks for the brake issue. I have bled the brakes several times the master was replaced by the original owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2022-07-21 · NHTSA

At times the vehicle accelerates by itself albeit I am not touching the gas pedal. While driving the vehicle at 45 mph, I take my foot off of the accelerator and the vehicle maintains the 45 mph speed or increases speed if I am driving down a hill or any downward gradient regardless of the angle of decent. When I try…

POWER TRAIN 2022-04-28 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that when taking the vehicle out of the park(P) after starting the vehicle, which required the brake pedal to be depressed, the contact could not depress the shifter button out of the park. The contact stated that the shift button would not depress. The contact s…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2022-04-14 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to actuate as needed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift out of park(P) into gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it wa…

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER 2022-04-02 · NHTSA

Windshield

SERVICE BRAKES 2021-08-30 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Taurus. The contact stated the vehicle failed to release from the park position. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified…

POWER TRAIN 2020-02-07 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLOWING DOWN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WHILE SWITCHING GEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LOCAL DEALER FORSOM LAKE FORD(12755 FOLSOM BLVD…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2020-02-06 · NHTSA

MY INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE I'M DRIVING, AND WILL STAY ON 2-3 HOURS AFTER THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2020-01-28 · NHTSA

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IF I RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN SPEED. WHEN I AM COMPLETELY STOPPED AT STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, I HAVE TO PRESSED ON THE BRAKES REALLY HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD

STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE 2020-01-27 · NHTSA

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 INF…

SUSPENSION 2020-01-08 · NHTSA

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN FTHE AIR WWNT OUT OF MY TIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE REAL. ONCE THE TIRE WAS REMOVED IT REVEALED A LARGE GASH IN THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE AS A RESULT BROKEN COIL.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2019-12-23 · NHTSA

FORD TAURUS 2003 CAR SAFETY PROBLEM WAS REPORTED ON JULY 01, 2007.FORD TAURUS 2003, MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER. ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING.

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2003 Ford Taurus have?
The 2003 Ford Taurus has a 3.0 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2003 Ford Taurus?
It gets 21 MPG combined (18 city, 26 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2003 Ford Taurus have recalls?
4 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Service Brakes, Hydraulic (2016-04-01).
What are the common problems of the 2003 Ford Taurus?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Power Train.

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