1996 Ford Taurus Ghia 3.0 Duratec from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

If you buy one make sure it is under Warranty for 2 plus years

Faults:

Water pump replaced; brakes repeatedly a problem and expensive to fix (still "squeaking" at present despite being "fixed" by a Ford dealer) ; ignition key assembly self destructed so that car could NOT be turned off (!!) - cost $1500 to fix!; lousy underpowered air conditioning; warning lights for airbags and service due go on and stay on (again Ford could NOT fix this - and they are the "experts"). Also Ford could not tune the car properly either.

General Comments:

Despite the previous problems and faults this car is actually very nice to drive. It was (in fairness) very cheap to purchase with a leather interior and every option one could imagine. It is reasonably quick, not too uneconomical (from 13 mpg in stop start city grid lock type traffic to almost 30 mpg on a country highway). The car is also very safe according to crash reports and despite squeaky brakes has excellent ABS.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st November, 2003

13th Jul 2004, 10:44

I have owned my 96 Ford Taurus GL for 6 years now. We bought it used in 1998. It had 16,500 miles on it. It now has 67,000 miles and the brakes have squeaked terribly when first started, on and off for 2 years now. I take it to my mechanic at least 2ce a year for the brakes to be checked. He says he has no idea why they squeak and that my brakes are in excellent shape. He takes them apart and cleans them. Still squeaking. It's embarrassing when I leave my house in the morning - I wake up the whole neighborhood. When I leave work in the evening, everyone in the parking lot looks at me.

I also have had to repair the drivers side power window - my mechanic charged $150.00. Now the drivers side rear window is broken. I am not getting it fixed.

My air conditioner takes a good 5 minutes to get cool.

Other than that, I love driving the car and feel very safe.

Just wish they could fix the brakes.

1996 Ford Taurus GL 3.0 from North America

Summary:

Good American automobile

Faults:

At 50.000 miles my front electric window refused to roll up. This costs me $275 to fix. Also at 50.000 miles I had to put a new battery in. New brakes installed at 70.000 miles.

General Comments:

Car handles like a dream. Good acceleration and braking. Reliable sturdy car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th October, 2003

30th Dec 2003, 18:01

What did they do to fix the window problem - MORou29677@aol.com.

28th Nov 2006, 08:59

You had brakes done at 70k... big deal, every car will need brakes. The squeaking? Mechanic obviously didn't clean parts well or used cheap pads... or you ride your brakes and glazed your brake pads.

1996 Ford Taurus LX 3.0 liter DOHC 24v from North America

Summary:

What it lacks in afford-ability, it has made up for in handling and performance

Faults:

Speaker on driver's door went bad for no reason, cuts in and out.

Windshield on driver's side leaks.

Hazard's don't work and cause sporadic shorts in blinkers.

Fuse causes interior lights to remain on for any number of days after it rains.

In cold, wet weather, horn blows on it's own and you have to remove fuse.

Overdrive blown in transmission at 59K miles. Affecting the rest of the Trans.

General Comments:

This car has wonderful pick-up and handling.

The brakes are very responsive when properly maintained.

Great gas mileage in the city or on the highway.

Air-conditioning is very quick and effective.

Lumbar supports in front seats make driving comfortable for individuals.

Interior is easy to clean, stain-resistant.

Entire vehicle is very compact, yet spacious on inside.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 7th September, 2003

28th Nov 2006, 09:01

Transmission fluid should have been changed at 30k, maybe the last owner failed to do this?

The interior light can be fixed, its the electronic door hinge, if its getting wet it can short out.

1996 Ford Taurus GL 3.0 Liter V6 from North America

Summary:

Misleadingly nice and luxurious

Faults:

Soon after I got this car, coolant started pouring out of the bottom.

The Serpentine belt broke

The battery needed to be replaced

The interior dome light needs to be tapped to go on.

The turn signal is periodically malfunctioning

The front passenger door doesn't close all the way.

General Comments:

I think that this is a really nice car. it is very comfortable.

However there are the problems that keep me from wanting another one.

I think my next car will be a Honda or Toyota.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th August, 2003