The Ford Taurus GL transmission is a piece of junk. We had to negotiate with the dealership after we bought the vehicle to pay 75 % of the repair for the transmission. The dealership knew it was going out. The transmission started acting up seriously within 2,000 miles of driving off the lot. I would be sitting at an inclined intersection with the car in drive and the transmission would shift into neutral all on it's own. There are websites on the world wide web regarding how unsafe the transmission is and people being left in similar precarious situations. Ford should have recalled the transmission as an unsafe design. I wouldn't take a Ford Taurus if they gave it to me with an extended warranty free.
The interior started loosening up at about the same time. By loosening up, I mean upholstery screws started coming out of the electric seat control for the driver seat.
People be aware. Ford knows this is an unsafe vehicle and refuses to acknowledge they have an unsafe product on the streets. How many 1991 Ford Taurus GL do you see on the road now?
Driving a 1991 ford taurus with 160000 miles on it, the car is a daily driver, but you must want to own this car as things do need repair. engine and trans not touched as of this date, the interior condition and the exterior condition are excellent.
This goes to you and everyone else with bad complaints on Ford Taurus's. Every used vehicle with high mileage is going to have problems. There is not any vehicle's mad, even brand new ones, that has no problems at all. However normal maintenance well decrease wear and tear on a vehicle, such as not abusing it, making sure all screws, nuts and bolts are tight once in a while, because all screws will loosen after so many years. As far as transmissions, if you have transmission flushes done every two years, and do regular service intervals, you are very likely going to have a vehicle without too many problems. Cars are like kids, you have to maintain them, you just cannot put gas in a car and drive it and expect it to have no problems, no more than you can put clothing and food to a child and expect them to never need anything else.
My significant other had a 1989 Taurus GL which was the perfect "chick" vehicle. Although she is by no means a mechanic, she was aware of, and performed all the basic preventitive maintanence neccessary, and it proved to be a reliable mode of solid transportation. This was in 1999,and the car had over 100,000 miles on it. It was rear ended and totaled, but the motor and tranny were pulled and sold.
So when I found an identical (white four door GL) 1992 model, I snatched it up for $500.00 and all I had to do was replace the radiator and the power steering pump. The car looks and responds well, both mechanically and aesthetically. I give the early Taurus models a thumbs up-and this is being written from a die hard GM fan!!!
Patrick Carroll, Cleveland, Ohio.
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