2000 Ford Taurus SE from North America

Summary:

Faulty design model

Faults:

I too am having heating problems. My heat quit. There was this muddy like substance in the jug. I had to replace the radiator, thermostat, and jug because the shop said the cooling system was probably clogged. All for $1000.00.

The next day the car overheated again. This time I took it somewhere else where I was told the water pump was not working. Replaced that!

About a month later the sludge was back. Head is not blown due to head test performed. Still no heat. Had the coolant flushed again. No leaks anywhere. Now will have to have the heater core replaced. Nothing else left to replace.

The odds of the entire cooling system failing simultaneously are absurd. Never again. No more Fords. If after this still no heat, trade in on a foreign car will be the ultimate fix!

General Comments:

Not to mention the car now bucks at stop lights. I attribute this to the cooling issue. Had the car serviced several time for the check engine light, but it still comes back on.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st June, 2009

1st Jun 2009, 11:29

" Now will have to have the heater core replaced. Nothing else left to replace."

Yes there is: the steel lines to and from the heater core. They are known to rust.

2nd Jun 2009, 00:01

I am thinking about buying a 2001 Ford Taurus... really good body, in fact I like everything about the car. Love the space (I'm a tall chick) and I like the way it drives.

OK the bad thing is that the miles are high. It has 180,000 miles on it and that makes me a little unsure about buying it. I just don't know if I should get it. It's only $2800 but I'm a student and I really NEED this car to work without needing any major money put into it for at lest a year. Even though $2800 is not a lot of money, at this time in my life for me it is.

Should I get it?

2000 Ford Taurus SE 3.0 from North America

Summary:

Very good for the money

Faults:

Repairs performed by me and the previous owner:

Battery.

Tie-rod.

Rear shocks.

General Comments:

The braking and acceleration of this car could be better, but the other aspects of it are fine. It's had very little repairs and has held up as well as a Honda or Toyota for a fraction of the price.

I would recommend the car, it is much improved over the 90's models.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th February, 2009

2000 Ford Taurus SES 3.0L from North America

Summary:

Terrible

Faults:

Early rotor failures.

Front end failures.

Engine check lights defective sensor.

3 ignition coils failed.

2 more ignition coils failed.

Had to have carbon cleaned due to defective coil failures.

Replaced rotors and brakes again -- warped rotors.

General Comments:

Good road car, but maintenance record is terrible for a model that had been the same for years.

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

Review Date: 11th January, 2009

29th Jan 2009, 17:48

Can you tell me why you consider a nine year old car with 100K miles on it that requires some maintenance to be "terrible"? Sounds like this car has served you well, yet you complain. What do you expect after 9 years of use? I bet you don't even check your fluid levels occasionally (most people don't), and when the transmission starts to slip, we'll see another "Ford is junk" review.

And it is strange to see how your coils failed like that... did they fail three at a time, then two at a time? Suspicious, if you ask me. As for warped rotors... that happens when you push these cars too hard... the cars aren't light, and most of the energy is turned into heat at the front rotors since the rears are probably drums. Though this seems to happen often, as I have read it before, so Ford should have used thicker rotors. My real issue with Ford is how they handle the issues with breaking springs... only giving cars in northern states the shielding device, and only covering the front springs... I really think the spring supplier for Ford is giving them defective metals (purposely) with too many impurities or not enough silicone or something... probably from china...

Also, the 2000 Taurus was a new design, though I am sure they used parts from 1999. I consider that 2000+ generation to be the last real Tauruses. The new Tauruses are basically Volvos... and the funny thing is that the 2000 Taurus gets better safety ratings than the newest one. So much for "Volvo safety." Shame how Ford really screwed up its production lineup, especially when they took away the Focus wagon. And the new "Taurus" is overpriced.

Anyways... if ignition coils are your only real problem... then I would say you don't have much to complain about. Replacing five of them should cost about 500 dollars including labor, assuming that you changed some in the front, and some in the back. If only the ones in the front failed (and failed again after being replaced), then it is time to find a new mechanic. When changing the front coils, they should only charge you for parts, by the way.