1996 Ford Taurus GL review from North America
"A mediocre family car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Driver's rear window motor seized, and the fuel pump was improperly grounded (caused the car to die at stops) at 34,000.
Oil pan basket blown at 40,000.
Check engine light (Misfiring) at 48,000.
Engine belt idler frozen, caused a shredded serpentine belt and roadside repair at 55,000.
Air conditioner compressor failure at 60,000.
Transmission tunnel multi-function switch failure (controls power to accessories like wipers, windows, and power assist for steering) at 68,000.
Currently, the left front CV joint is intermittently "popping" and will eventually fail. Started at 71,000.
General comments?
I purchased an extended warranty on this car when I bought it, and have gotten about 90% back out of it so far for repairs done.
The car handles okay for its size, and the ride is smooth. The engine is underpowered for its size. Transmission performance is okay, but sometimes shifting is harsh, especially when I pass or merge. Gets fair mileage for a V6, 24-26MPG interstate driving, about 18-20MPG in the city. I like the variable power steering assist.
I do the regular maintenance on the vehicle, but that hasn't stopped the problems from coming on suddenly. Since this is the first 'recent' American car I have owned in a while, I thought the quality would be better.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 Vulcan 6 cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 32000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 72000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Caprice |
| Date of Entry | 22nd May, 2001 |