1997 Ford Taurus GL review from North America
"I've driven a Ford lately... and I've come to regret it"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Cooling system flow problems caused several engine core plugs to corrode. This lead to coolant loss and engine overheating.
Cam position sensor had to be replaced twice.
Subframe assembly bushing disintegrated.
Door ajar light constantly lit due to defective door switch.
Interior door handle panel on all doors broken.
Climate control system blend door actuator stuck, can only get cold air.
Gas mileage 19 MPG combined vs. manufacturer's claim of 25/28.
General comments?
I liked this car when I first bought it. It felt solid and delivered acceptable performance. The ride was smooth, acceleration was a bit weak for a 3.0L V6 (but certainly an improvement over the last car I owned), handling was predictable. Having owned other Fords in the past I expected good quality and reliability.
In the past year, however, the repair costs have exceeded the blue book value of this car. Some of the problems the car had can be traced back to design flaws that Ford addressed with recalls, but as the second owner of the car I wasn't notified and thus had to pay for the repairs myself.
Recommended reviews
| Good, and the work is worth it |
|
| One big headache |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0L Vulcan Automatic |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 2 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 2 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 16000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 72000 miles |
| Previous car | Mazda 323 |
| Date of Entry | 24th September, 2002 |