1997 Ford Taurus GL review from North America

Front brake rotors have warped 4 or more times: $200 - $400 repair each time.

Check engine light is on constantly.

Brake booster failed at 110,000 miles.

Cruise control failed at 112,000 miles.

Transmission sensor failed at ~45,000 miles.

Interior lights stay on about 1/4 of the time even when all doors are closed.

Car makes a slight groaning noise while taking easy corners at neighborhood speeds.

Engine sounds very rough as of late (110,000 miles+)

There are two main weaknesses of this car - the transmission and the brakes.

The transmission can be very indecisive (ex.. a wheel slips in the rain, the transmission goes to 2nd gear and then back to first, all the while you are not moving.)

The brakes become warped every 20,000 miles or so - cheap to repair if you know how to do it yourself, but $300 at a repair shop.

The engine is still running with no major problems after 123,000 hard-driven miles.

The transmission required a sensor change early on, but has not needed replacement yet, even after the car was put into reverse at 40mh.

The car tracks straight as an arrow, holds curves surprisingly well, and is capable of doing 110mph.

The brakes stop the car very quickly, and the standard ABS is a plus, although brake fade is a problem when you drive the car hard.

The engine is slightly weak for a car this size, but it is adequate for highway merging and 2-lane passing.