I've never seen a straight shift Taurus -which in your case would likely mean the clutch plate is bad. You have a 50/50 chance the automatic Transmission Fluid is low or the trans filter is clogged causing this problem. Change the trans filter and fluid and clean out the cover pan. If it goes forward and backward for a few days - change it again. If not - go get a loan to pay for an expensive repair job.
The 2003 Ford Taurus has 12 valves.
The 2003 Ford Taurus has a V6 engine.
The 2003 Ford Taurus has overhead valves (OHV).
The 2003 Ford Taurus has a 4-speed automatic.
The 2003 Ford Taurus is a gas-powered vehicle.
The height of the 2003 Ford Taurus is 4 ft. 8.1 in. (56.1 in.).
The 2003 Ford Taurus is 16 ft. 5.6 in. (197.6 in.) long.
The 2003 Ford Taurus's turning circle is 39.7 ft..
The 2003 Ford Taurus runs on regular unleaded.
The curb weight of the 2003 Ford Taurus is 3355 lbs..
The 2003 Ford Taurus has 56.6 in. of rear shoulder room.
The 2003 Ford Taurus has 55.7 in. of rear hip room.