1997 Ford Taurus GL Wagon from North America - Comments

Bought the car used from Auto-nation in California. They replaced one of the front door speakers under warranty, then the other door speaker blew out 18 months after purchase.

There is a creaking sound from under the car when you hit a bump or shift from Drive to Reverse. Initially thought it was a loose transmission or the engine was loose, but it hasn't been a problem.

Since the car originated from the East Coast, the brake discs front and rear were quite rusted, and began to warp at about 50,000 miles. The discs and pads were replaced at the 60,000 mile service, which overall cost $1,600.

I wanted to get a new ignition key for the car - the dealer told me the key was $45 and it would be an hour of labor to 'program' the key to work with my car (another $65). I read in the manual that you could simply program the key by placing it in the ignition after a working ignition key - the dealers are sharks!

No other problems.

The 24 valve Duratec engine is a must. It likes to rev and has strong acceleration (for a station wagon) over 3,000 RPM, with plenty of torque. It's actually more fun to put you foot down than in my Audi A4 2.8!

There is a lot of space in the cabin, and the rear cargo space is huge for a station wagon.

The car has the premium 'Mach' stereo in it with a trunk-mounted CD changer. Overall quite impressed with the clarity and volume, despite the blown speaker mentioned earlier.

The quality of the interior fabric and plastic is not very nice, but it's all functional and pretty easy to keep clean.

Overall I feel like I've been quite lucky with the car (knock on wood), as a lot of other buyers have experienced many more problems. I was looking for a cheap, spacious family wagon and that's what I got. Fuel economy on regular unleaded has been around 24 MPG, which is reasonable.

If I had been looking for a sedan and not a wagon, I doubt if I would have bought a Taurus however, as the market is so much bigger for sedans...

Liked the over all performance of the wagon - with the exception that if you hit a large puddle of standing water on the pass. side of the car, the belts tend to slip and it looses its power steering.

Also have one speaker blown.

Airconditioning unit went out at 103,000 miles and it was 1400.00 to fix.

Service engine soon light comes on - though it's services exceptionally well.

I've had a 97 Ford Taurus wagon for several years. The only problems I've experienced have been that check engine light that was mentioned, and also, twice it has failed to start. The first time, a few months ago, we took it to the dealer. The next day it started and they could not find a problem. Same thing happened yesterday and today it wouldn't start so I'm putting it in the shop tomorrow. It sounds like it's going to start, not the battery- lights, windows, radio works- but it just doesn't catch. Almost like it might be the fuel pump. Other than that, I haven't had too many problems with it. Nice car and just the right size for my family. Pretty good on gas, too.

1997 Taurus Wagon, I have a leak in coolant system and cannot find it, I have tried a dye, but still not showing up, does not show any signs under car when parked, no water in oil, any ideas please.

I have owned my 1997 wagon for about 9 months. and in that time I have had a few routine mantainence problems with it. I have come to the relization that this car was very poorly put together and overly complicated the opperation of it. There are so many sensors in it, that if one goes bad, then it will have to be diagnosed by technition. That will cost any where from $50.00 to $150.00. Not only is it expensive to maintain, but like I stated earlyer, It was poorly put together. The diver side door has a trim pannel that is only held in place with 1 screw and about 10 plastic trim buttons. After time, those buttons will wear out and bust.

When I was a child my father bought a ford wagon and still owns it today. It is as solid as the day he bought it. the original engine has over 150,000 miles on it and has stood the test of time. I was so impressed at the reliabilty, I wanted to have the very same car to tote around my family in. The 1997 ford wagon gl is a very big dissapointment in reliability, and economic maintinece. It offen costs way to much to repair for the price it is valued at. It was cheeply constructed, with way to much plastic, FORD should be ashamed to have put there name on this car. For as a consumer I am ashamed that I bought it.

I own a 1997 Ford Taurus GL wagon. The car was great when running. When I bought the car, it had 77,000 miles on it. Three days after I bought it, the transmission went. I got lucky there-- the dealer I bought it from took care of everything. Not many left like him. I drove the car for a couple of years more, and the only problem I had was the brakes. I replaced rotors pads twice in one year. Seeing as how the car was used in NY, the lines rusted and had to be replaced. Not the maker's fault, but the salt. In 2005, the blower motor quit, then the belt broke due to a bad idler pulley. At that time I spent $500 to repair the AC pump--costly. After picking the car up, I drove 44 miles, and the car just shut off. I had the car towed, but the garage could not find the trouble. I went back three days later and towed the car home, over 125 miles in a snowstorm. The next day I jumped the car and it started. I drove the car for another year and made many trips back and forth from New York to North Carolina. One day after moving, my wife was going to an appointment she had, and the car just shut off. I had the car towed home, only four miles this time. After three or four mechanics checked it out, we came to the conclusion that the head gasket was gone, even though no water or oil mix. When this car was running, it was fantastic--it gave me over 30 mpg on a trip. The biggest complaint I had was the seats were very hard--not good for sciatica. Now the car sits on the side of the house just getting old. That is a shame as it still looks like new both in and out--not a spot of rust or any dents, but I can't get anything for it. I think I will give it to my stepson and if he can fix it he can keep it. He has never had a decent car. I only hope the Dodge minivan I bought gives as good service as this old Ford gave. Everything still works except for the lighter which quit back in 2003. I spent a lot of money on this car the last year and a half I drove it. Has anyone else had the same luck? The reason I went to a Dodge minivan was for my wheelchair.