Engine
3.0L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 1,205 of 1,223 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 1,049 of 1,223 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Suspension
331 complaint records2 fire reports3 crash reports
"2003 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES DEFECTIVE FRONT COIL SPRING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED TWICE. *JB..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse suspension parts in the directory →
Power train
319 complaint records2 crash reports
"PARKED CAR OVERNIGHT, STARTED NEXT MORNING- CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. PARK WORKED, ALL OTHER GEARS ACTED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Glass & wipers
211 complaint records1 fire report
"CAR HEATER MOTOR FAILED - FULL OF WATER- REPAIRMAN SAYS IT'LL KEEP HAPPENING BECAUSE OF DESIGN FLAW OF 2003 FORD TAURUS WAGON. *JB..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse glass & wipers parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE12033 opened Oct 2012 | closed Jun 2013 | Vehicle Speed Control | Speed control cable damage On June 21, 2013, Ford initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 13B04 to address a concern with Speed Control Cable damage in certain model year (MY) 2000 through 2003 Taurus and Sable vehicles equipped with 3.0L 4V Duratec engines and built at the Chicago... |
| EA08018 opened Aug 2008 | closed Jun 2011 | Suspension | Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture To date, ODI is aware of 2,401 non-duplicative complaints related to the alleged defect. In addition, ODI is aware of 1,411 subject vehicles with one or more warranty claims related to the alleged defect. |
| DP06005 opened Dec 2006 | closed Dec 2007 | Fuel System, Other | ENGINE STALLING FFV ON OCTOBER 11, 2006, PUBLIC CITIZEN PETITIONED ODI TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLS CAUSED BY E85 FUEL IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 - 2005 FORD TAURUS FLEX-FUEL VEHICLES (FFV). |
| RQ03008 opened Oct 2003 | closed Mar 2004 | Exterior Lighting | BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE - led to recall 04V106000 FORD CONDUCTED A RECALL IN MARCH, 2001 TO CORRECT A DEFECT AFFECTING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IN MY 2000 THROUGH EARLY-2001 TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS (RECALL 01V-078).RQ03-008 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING... |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04V106000 | Exterior Lighting | CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING. | Normally free |
| 04V105000 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE AIR FILTER PAPER IN THESE VEHICLES CAN SMOLDER OR BURN. | Normally free |
| 03V087000 | Visibility | CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004091 2004-03-12 | Engine | 15,880 | The process used to manufacture the air filter paper was altered during the 2003 model year production, which resulted in an air filter paper element that can smolder or burn. |
| 2004092 2004-03-12 | Lights And Instruments | 70,813 | On certain vehicles, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch and/or associated wiring may render the stop lamps inoperable or cause them to stay on all the time. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB 20-2233 Jul 2020 | Structure | This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. | |
| TSB 19-2026 Feb 2019 | Structure | Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. | |
| CSP-13B04 Jun 2013 | Vehicle Speed Control | FORD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. SPEED CONTROL CABLE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE AND CAN DISCONNECT DURING HOOD MAINTENANCE AND ALSO INTERFERE WITH FULL THROTTLE RETURN TO IDLE AFTER RELEASING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MODELS 2000-2003 TAURUS, SABLE. *PE | |
| 04208 Jan 2006 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CAMSHAFT TICK NOISE - 3.0L 4V ENGINE ONLY. *TT | |
| 05224 Nov 2005 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | POWER LOCK CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT |
Show 55 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05227 Nov 2005 | Visibility | POWER WINDOW CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT | |
| 052212 Nov 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | BUCK/JERK AND MISS DURING DRIVE CYCLE ABOVE 3000 RPM - NO DTC - 3.0L 2V GAS AND FFV ENGINE. *TT | |
| 18719 Jul 2005 | Fuel System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMING ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0171, P0172, P0174 AND/OR P0175 (FUEL SYSTEM TOO RICH OR LEAN). *TT | |
| 042421 Jun 2005 | Seat Belts | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT | |
| 18614 May 2005 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SURGE, IDLE ROLL, ROUGH IDLE ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FANS ARE OPERATING. *TT | |
| 18471 Mar 2005 | Equipment | RKE INOPERATIVE. *EH | |
| 05310 Feb 2005 | Seat Belts | SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH | |
| 18411 Feb 2005 | Electrical System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0133, P1131 OR P2195. *TT | |
| 04251 Dec 2004 | Structure | ALUMINUM CORROSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT | |
| 042514 Dec 2004 | Electrical System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0300, P0316 OR P030X - NO CRANK BATTERY DISCHARGED. *TT | |
| 04189 Dec 2004 | Visibility | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT | |
| 042107 Dec 2004 | Power Train | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT | |
| 04223 Nov 2004 | Visibility | GRUNTING NOISE FROM FRONT POWER WINDOW GLASS IS POWERED TO THE FULL UP POSITION. *EH | |
| 04E13 Oct 2004 | Power Train | EMISSION RELATED SERVICE ACTION 04E13. RE-FLASH THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). *TT | |
| 04174 Sep 2004 | Electrical System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT | |
| 031506 Aug 2004 | Visibility | WATER IN THE BLOWER CASE OR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, AN INOPERATIVE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER MOTOR, A MOTOR THAT OPERATES ON HIGH SPEED ONLY, AND/OR A BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR FAILURE. VEHICLES BUILT 5/1/2001 TO 12/15/2003. *TT | |
| 041514 Aug 2004 | Visibility | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT | |
| 17358 Aug 2004 | Power Train | GROAN/BUZZ/VIBRATION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED ON AN INCLINE. *TT THIS BULLETIN UPDATES PREVIOUS BULLETIN 17358, DATED 11/01/2003 TO INCLUDE 2005 MODELS. *TT | |
| 17960 Aug 2004 | Electrical System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0171/P0174, P1131/P1151, AND/OR P2195/P2197 IN CONTINUOUS MEMORY. *TT | |
| 031501 Jul 2004 | Visibility | INOPERATIVE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (HEATED BACKLITE) GRID LINES, INTEGRAL ANTENNA CONCERNS. *TT | |
| 17928 Jul 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ROUGH RUNNING, MISFIRE AND A LACK OF POWER DUE TO A LOSS OF COMPRESSION. *TT | |
| 17681 Apr 2004 | Equipment | AUTOLOCKS AND (RKE) REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY INOPERATIVE. *TT | |
| 17703 Apr 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | TICKING NOISE FROM LEFT CYLINDER HEAD WITH WARM ENGINE. *TT | |
| 17564 Feb 2004 | Fuel System | FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ FULL AFTER FILLING TANK. *MJ | |
| 0415 Jan 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | LOWER ENGINE OIL LEAKS 3.0L 2V VULCAN ENGINE. DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE TIPS. *TT | |
| 17503 Jan 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SURGE AT A STEADY SPEED BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH WITH NO OTHER DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS. *TT | |
| 17416 Dec 2003 | Fuel System | FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ FULL. *MJ | |
| 17434 Dec 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH CONTINUOUS MEMORY DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) P0172/P0175 (SYSTEM TOO RICH). *TT | |
| 17355 Nov 2003 | Fuel System | FUEL GAUGE WHICH DOES NOT READ COMPLETELY FULL WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED. *TT | |
| 17281 Oct 2003 | Vehicle Speed Control | SURGE AT CRUISE. *TT | |
| 03181 Sep 2003 | Electrical System | REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT | |
| 17224 Sep 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INTERMITTENT ROLLING IDLE ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.0L 2-VALVE ENGINE. *TT | |
| 17225 Sep 2003 | Steering | STEERING COLUMN LOCK DISCONTINUED. *TT | |
| 17234 Sep 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE OIL LEAKS FROM THE FILTER AREA ON VEHICLES WITH A 3.0L 2-VALVE ENGINE. *TT | |
| 17094 Aug 2003 | Suspension | RATTLING OR CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TT | |
| 03144 Jul 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION WITH COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS MAY BE MORE ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED USING THE OPTIONAL WORLDWIDE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (WDS) COIL ON PLUG (COP) KIT. 2003 SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT | |
| 03148 Jul 2003 | Power Train | NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT | |
| 16974 Jul 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE OIL LEAK NEAR THE OIL PAN OR OIL FILTER ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.0L 2-VALVE (VULCAN) ENGINE. *TT | |
| 16982 Jul 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CLUNKING/POPPING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UPON ACCELERATION AND/OR DECELERATION. *TT | |
| 03123 Jun 2003 | Power Train | TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING WHEN COMMANDED AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0741 OR P1744 STORED IN MEMORY. MODELS FROM 1996 TO 2003. *TT | |
| 03111 Jun 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE COOLING FAN INDUCED BODY BOOM, ROUGH ENGINE IDLE SENSATION OR UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE AT IDLE WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FAN IS IN THE HIGH SPEED MODE. *TT | |
| 16911 Jun 2003 | Electrical System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND TCIL LAMP ILLUMINATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH MULTIPLE MEMORY DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES RELATED TO TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS AND HEGO HEATER CIRCUITS. *TT | |
| 0398 May 2003 | Fuel System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATION WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442, P0455, P0456, P0457, P1442 OR CHECK FUEL CAP LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0457. *TT | |
| 16809 Apr 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | THE NEW HIGH FLOW WATER PUMP IS NOT YET LISTED IN THE PARTS CATALOG BUT WILL BE SOON. THE SERVICE CAN BE ORDERED THROUGH NORMAL PART ORDERING SYSTEM. *TT | |
| 16678 Mar 2003 | Power Train | AX4S TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT NO REVERSE ENGAGEMENT CONDITION. *TT *JB | |
| 16679 Mar 2003 | Fuel System | NEW PUSH TYPE FUEL CLIP AND CONNECTOR REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS. *TT *JB | |
| 16710 Mar 2003 | Suspension | RATTLING OR CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TT *JB | |
| 0335 Feb 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC) VALVE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE TIPS. *TT | |
| 0325 Feb 2003 | Visibility | GRUNTING NOISE FROM FRONT POWER WINDOW AFTER GLASS IS POWERED TO THE FULL-UP POSITION. *TT | |
| 16613 Feb 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | VEHICLES WITH VERY LOW ODOMETER MILES, MAY EXHIBIT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL TEMPORARY START-UP FAST IDLE (1600-2500 RPM THAT DECREASES SLOWLY). NO SERVICE NECESSARY. *TT | |
| 02236 Nov 2002 | Visibility | ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE COOL/WARM FUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM - REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR STRATIFICATION (SECONDARY) TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. *TT | |
| 02221 Nov 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE-GEAR DRIVEN SYNCHRONIZERS-INCORRECT INSTALLATION-CAMSHAFT POSITION SYNCHRONIZER (CMP) INSTALLATION TOOL CORRECT APPLICATION. *MJ | |
| 13422 Nov 2002 | Unknown Or Other | RUNNING CHANGE. *TT | |
| 870197 Oct 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INCORRECTLY INSTALLED GEAR DRIVEN CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) SENSOR SYNCHRONIZER ASSEMBLIES CAUSING SURGE, LOST OF POWER, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1336, P1309 AND P0340. *TT | |
| 02208 Oct 2002 | Equipment | CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH |
Showing 60 of 63 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Find the roughest road nearby.Clunks over bumps, a droning hum that changes when the car leans, or a corner that sits low are this vehicle's suspension complaints. Wheel bearings and control arm bushings lead the parts list.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Run the wipers and washers, and test every window.Slow or stuck regulators, streaking wipers, and windshield cracks are this vehicle's visibility complaints.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 3 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Ford Taurus →