Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Ford Taurus
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Ford Taurus has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,223 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16E026000 Front Brake Pad Shims May Shift and Contact Disc NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V106000 FORD/BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V105000 FORD/AIR FILTER PAPER/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V087000 FORD/FMVSS 212/WINDSHIELD MOUNTING NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 316 complaints
- Suspension 313 complaints
- Visibility 191 complaints
- Structure 111 complaints
- Electrical System 97 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 88 complaints
Of the 1,223 complaints on file, 56 report a crash and 12 a fire; across all 1,223 complaints, owners report 59 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Ford Taurus exhibits a below-average reliability with 1,223 owner complaints and four recalls. Power train and suspension issues are notably frequent, indicating common and critical failures. The recall data points to issues with brake lights, windshield installation, and air filter systems. However, some categories have fewer complaints, which makes a definitive assessment challenging.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 100,000–150,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | common |
| suspension | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| visibility | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad inspections
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Coolant flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual transmission noise
- Suspension creaking
- Erratic brake light behavior
- Windshield leaks
- Engine overheating
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Ford Taurus at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.