2004 Ford Taurus from North America

Summary:

You buy a Taurus, you take a gamble

Faults:

We bought a used 01 Taurus with 56,000 miles on it. Looked and drove like it had been a very well cared for vehicle. 3 days later, it started leaking tranny fluid. After 3 visits to dealer, they replaced the tranny.Didn't feel good about having a used tranny put in, so we traded for an 04 Taurus with 15,500 miles. Shortly thereafter the catalytic converter had to be replaced because of a rattling noise. One month later it started rattling again. Ford said that's normal operating noise. At 25,000 miles the tranny started leaking on this vehicle as well. Combine this with poor fuel economy and you have a poor product. At that point I was fed up with the Taurus so we traded for a Chevy Monte Carlo.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 3rd January, 2008

23rd Jan 2008, 23:48

Ew good luck with the Monte Carlo. The powertrain in the Monte Carlo will likely be more reliable than in the Taurus, but the rest of the car will fall apart rather quickly. Also, the Monte Carlo will not hold its value any better than the Taurus.

15th Mar 2008, 15:30

I agree with the last comment, good luck with the Monte Carlo. Just wait till your intake manifold gasket blows up and you start leaking coolant into the engine. I am not a big Ford fan either, but all 3 used Fords I own have cost me less in 3 years than the last NEW Chevy I owned cost me in 1. Good luck.

2004 Ford Taurus SES 24 valve duratec from North America

Summary:

Great car for the price

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong on the car so far.

General Comments:

I purchased this car about a month ago and since then have put about 1000 miles on it. When I drove it off the lot it had about 24900 miles on it. I love this car. The duratec responds with noticeable power at both low and high rpms. I am finding myself looking for reasons to go and drive, and with gas prices so high, the average of 23 miles per gallon is nice. The only complaint I have on this car is that the transmission seems to be a little jerky. It is very smooth on the down shift, but on the up-shift, especially from 3rd to 4th, is very jerky.

Overall I would have to say this is my favorite car I have ever owned and it will be part of the family for years to come.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st June, 2006

2004 Ford Taurus SEL 3.0 from North America

Summary:

Very unreliable new car!! avoid!!

Faults:

The engine starting knocking at 30,000 miles.

Keep in mind that this is a BRAND NEW CAR. Turns out a "plastic valve" broke inside the engine causing coolant to enter the engine, which basically destroyed it after so long. COME ON FORD!!

Now, after one new engine and 43,000 miles, the transmission is not engaging into the proper gear. If I put the car in reverse-stop-then put the car in drive-it will just sit there and not engage, I have to move the shifter in and out of gear to get it to work. TERRIBLE!!

The CD player no longer reads ANY discs.

Burned out taillight-the car is only 2 years old!!

Cruise control NEVER WORKED from day one. Ford can't figure it out...so much for customer satisfaction.

I gave this car a chance, but after I last had it to the "Ford Store" for a minor problem, they told me that the head-gaskets were leaking, and would only get worse. Of course, this is NOT covered under my warranty anymore... THANKS FOR NOTHING!!

The Ford dealers are also a disgrace to the industry, totally incompetent.

I have since sold the dying Taurus to a young college neighbor as his first car. We shall see how long it will last...

FORD=NEVER AGAIN!!

General Comments:

Complete disgrace of automotive engineering. ford should be ashamed!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 27th March, 2006

27th Mar 2006, 09:11

I hate to agree with you, but my 2002 Explorer will be my last FORD ever. Seeing that GM doesn't offer anything that I like and can afford, and judging by Chrysler's spotty reliability records, I might make the big jump across the pond and buy Japanese unless something favorable happens quality wise within the Big 3.