2001 Ford Taurus SE Sedan from North America - Comments

The vehicle has two different front end vibrations. Both vibrations have been present since the first day that I purchased the vehicle on October 10th 2001, brand new.

The first front end vibration is a driving vibration which occurs between 55 mph and 62 mph. At these speeds, the steering wheel rocks from side to side violently. At 70 mph or higher, the steering wheel rocks from side to side at an even faster pace and the entire car vibrates.

The second front end vibration is a braking vibration. When braking at the above mentioned speeds, the steering wheel and vehicle vibrates more violently.

From October 2001 until current, Ford has replaced the front brake rotors three times. Ford has replaced the brake calipers once. Ford has replaced all four tires twice.

Both vibrations still exist. My warranty expired at 36,000 miles and there is nothing else that Ford can do.

I have rented and driven three different Ford Taurus Sedans. The 2002, 2003 and 2004. All three rentals had the exact same front end vibration.

I truly regret having purchased this vehicle.

I will never purchase another Ford vehicle.

I dealt with four reputable Ford Dealers simultaneously, and my problem remains.

I own a 2002 Taurus SEL and I believe the problems this person has, is due to the tires or the rims. My Taurus does very well @ speed exceeding 65 miles per hour. I did have a "GMC Jimmy" that had the problem this person talks about, and the tiny weights on the tires were off, and so was the alignment. I think this Taurus is one of the best cars I have ever owned..........along side my Crown Vic and Lincoln Mark VIII (which is also a ford)

I own a 2001 Taurus with no such problem, 48500 miles. Just as a rebuttal. Maybe the answer is a good repair shop, and good tires. It's ironic how one problem condemns the whole company. Mine had factory firestones on it, they were crap, no wet or ice traction, and hard as a rock, rode like a lumber wagon. I put Toyo's on it, different car... go figure!

Tires make a lot of difference. I am a ford guy, but if you look at this review, it is one dimensional and as I said, the problem could easily have been the repair shops, and not the car. Thanks for your time.

I have a 2000 Taurus SEL, and also had the same vibration since I bought the car new.

One dealership tried several things, before I called FORD and had them direct to another dealership. They corrected the problem by doing a FORCE BALANCE in the tires, which I never had to rebalance for about 50K miles.

Now it was time for new tires, and I bought 85K mile Michelin tires that are T rated. My vibration came back, and it is worse than before. The odd thing though, is that it doesn't vibrate all the time... At the same speeds that it normally shakes like crazy at.

All I can think off, and hope for, is that another FORCE balance for about $150 would correct the problem for the life of the new tires.

I also wouldn't buy another Ford again, because of other problems that I've had in addition to this one.

I have the same problem with the shimmy. The original Firestone tires were terrible (very bad dry rot). I just replaced them at 35K with BF Goodrich and the same problem exists, but now it is worse. I had the car back to the dealer 9 times in 2 years and they never acknowledeged the problem existed. The brakes had to be replaced at 18K because the rotors warped and now I have 38K and I think they are shot again. At 20K, I had to replace the bushings on the front stabilizer bar. That was probably do to the vibration. The dealer was no help. They could not expalin why bushings that should last at least 100K were done at 20K.

Now I'm stuck with this car because the value has decresed so much over the last 4 years. I will take a beating if I sell it!!!

The car is unsafe with the present vibration and one can help.

I too am a TARAUS OWNER. Never again, too many much better cars out there. With 29000 miles on a 2000 TARAUS and it's worth nothing. This thing is a rust bucket-- just got a recall this week on the front strut covers because of a rust problem. And what about those STUPID door locks---put it in park and only the drivers door unlocks. Come on FORD lets get with it.

I have had similar vibration problems with my taurus, but it occurs too little to be much of any problem. the hide speed vibrations sound like warped disk combined with the slacky steering of the taurus. the warped disk more than likely comes from one source, the pads rubbing the disk for a prolonged amount of time. it could be caused from riding your brakes to maybe even the pads themselves rubbing the disk with no "driver assistance".

I have noticed the people with problems all seem to have no idea whats wrong with the car. my suggestion is that you pay more attention to the vehicle you buy cause I hear the same song and dance with every car on the market. I have/had the same problem and I knew exactly what it was. guess how much unforeseen shop work my car has had as a result of my driving the car? 0, zilch, zippo. I had an addressable problem when I bought the car, the tires and the brakes were worn out at 13k because the previous owner did not attempt to take proper care of the car, but ever since then the car has been wonderful.

People, owning a car is not a care free pass. please take care of your car and understand its mechanics. the previous owner of my car didn't and it cost me, but the next person that owns my car will not have the same expense. you know why? because I take care of my car.

I own a 2002 model and have similar problems. There is and has always been a vibration in the steering wheel and brakes. The vibration has grown worse over time. I now have 76,000 miles and car is hard to maintain control due to vibrations. I hate to trade car due to the poor trade value. Will not buy another Ford.

I have read several reviews and some have said the repairs needed to fix are not much considering the price of car. Well, before this Taurus, I owned a Beretta. I traded it at 163,000 miles. This car is a reasonably cheap car, cheaper than the Taurus. The only problem I had was the drive belt tensioner needed replace, $75.00. Five years, 163,000 miles and a $75.00 repair bill. Now, at 76,000 on this Taurus, I'm looking at a couple of grand to repair. At one time, I highly value the Taurus. Now, I call it a piece of junk.

All you guys do is whine. "Oh, it shakes! I will NEVER buy another Ford! Never, ever ever!" Does it occur to you to go to a different mechanic? Quit your whining!

I've read about 10 different forums with the same complaint on Taurus. Well, I've had the same problem. 2002 Taurus with 95K miles. Guess what? After new struts, new balanced top of the line tires, new tie rods, new CV joints, and new ceramic top of the line brakes and vented rotors. STILL vibrating. Guess what it was... MOTOR MOUNTS. Check your motor mounts my friends. My 95K '02 Taurus rides like a '06 BMW now. Have a nice day.

In_10z

N.O., LA.

You're right, Motor Mounts!! I just bought my 2001 Taurus recently from a used car lot. Wasn't going to get it, but the wife loved it. Dealer's mechanic told me I would have to wait a couple of days to take it home because he was waiting for the motor mounts to come in to replace the old ones. He explained to me they were causing a vibration in the steering. When I took the car home, it drove like a dream!! That is with 150,000km on the car

I own a 2001 Ford Taurus, which by the way are rated as one of the safest vehicles on the road, I had a vibration when braking (warped rotors). The stock rotors when doing a lot of braking (city driving) heat up and when hitting a water puddle warp. I did the brake job myself at 35k and replaced the original rotors with Bosch and now at 61k no shimmy. At 59k I did have to replace the bushings in the stabilizer bar, I have to admit to having hit a number of pot holes and rough railroad tracks over the entire use of this car (northwest Indiana is littered with bad roads and railroad tracks).

If you have a problem with your car and your dealer doesn't take care of it, you must not really have a problem, you are the problem, you purchased used from a who knows? no idea what the previous owner/s did to the vehicle. I can't believe one person claims the drivers door is the only door that unlocks in park... what button are you pushing? the fact that the rear doors will not open unless unlocked from the inside is a safety feature. Balance your tires people, replace the rotors when you have a brake job done, learn your vehicles features, accessories and controls. Stay away from pot holes and rough railroad tracks, they are hell on ANY car, even Toyota.

I enjoy my Taurus, it has been a very good car. FORD!

I have a 2001 ford Taurus and I love it. Yes my car vibrated also. After getting new tires and keeping them rotated, the car never vibrates. I just replaced front and back brakes for a whopping 500.00 charge, but it was negligence on my behalf for not getting the rear brakes adjusted. Mine drives like a dream... and now (500.00) later, I understand the importance of keeping those rear brakes adjusted. I wouldn't trade my car for anything!

I have a 2000 ford taurus with 138000 miles... no problems what so ever love this car I will buy another one and another... its not the flashiest car, but its the cheapest and most dependable. you cannot beat these cars for the price they do have a low resale so buy them used! as I did. I paid 3200 dollars for mine what a deal.

Seems to me if the car was bought from the dealer that way, and you did not use the lemon law to your advantage, then a little vibration in the front end is the least of your problems in life.

I own a 2002 Ford Taurus SES with the 24/v 200 hp engine and the car overall has been pretty good. I read about the vibration problem and have solved both issues causing it. First the OEM brake rotors are JUNK, and until you replace them with quality aftermarket ones they will be a problem. Second, quality tires mounted and balanced correctly should solve the shimmmy/vibe at turnpike speeds. Also a 4 wheel alignment would be in order. My single biggest complaint is RUST around the left rear wheel well that has been repaired twice now only to return in 6 mos.! The dealer gets ONE more shot at correcting it and then I'm going to file a LEMON LAW case against them in NYS.