1996 Ford Taurus Ghia 3.0 Duratec

Summary:

If you buy one make sure it is under Warranty for 2 plus years

Faults:

Water pump replaced; brakes repeatedly a problem and expensive to fix (still "squeaking" at present despite being "fixed" by a Ford dealer) ; ignition key assembly self destructed so that car could NOT be turned off (!!) - cost $1500 to fix!; lousy underpowered air conditioning; warning lights for airbags and service due go on and stay on (again Ford could NOT fix this - and they are the "experts"). Also Ford could not tune the car properly either.

General Comments:

Despite the previous problems and faults this car is actually very nice to drive. It was (in fairness) very cheap to purchase with a leather interior and every option one could imagine. It is reasonably quick, not too uneconomical (from 13 mpg in stop start city grid lock type traffic to almost 30 mpg on a country highway). The car is also very safe according to crash reports and despite squeaky brakes has excellent ABS.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st November, 2003

13th Jul 2004, 10:44

I have owned my 96 Ford Taurus GL for 6 years now. We bought it used in 1998. It had 16,500 miles on it. It now has 67,000 miles and the brakes have squeaked terribly when first started, on and off for 2 years now. I take it to my mechanic at least 2ce a year for the brakes to be checked. He says he has no idea why they squeak and that my brakes are in excellent shape. He takes them apart and cleans them. Still squeaking. It's embarrassing when I leave my house in the morning - I wake up the whole neighborhood. When I leave work in the evening, everyone in the parking lot looks at me.

I also have had to repair the drivers side power window - my mechanic charged $150.00. Now the drivers side rear window is broken. I am not getting it fixed.

My air conditioner takes a good 5 minutes to get cool.

Other than that, I love driving the car and feel very safe.

Just wish they could fix the brakes.

1996 Ford Taurus 3.0

Summary:

Bargain luxury - but too expensive to fix

Faults:

Transmission ($5500).

General Comments:

A beautiful luxury car, which puts Australian models to shame, BUT the transmission is a known factory fault and cost $5500aus to fix. Ford Australia MAY or MAY NOT come to the party and pay for parts. Once the job is done (can be a 4 week job) Ford Australia cannot guarantee that the faulty part has been replaced by an upgraded part. So you may have all this pain again in another 40k.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st October, 2000

19th Dec 2000, 19:43

'96 SHO with 85K, maintained impeccably, I've got all maintenance records.

Engine ceased, 2 cylinders dead, no compression. New engine quote, $10,800, must be rebuilt as it cannot be replaced, $8K engine parts, $2.8K labor, each head quoted at $1200/each, 4-6 week wait.

I love this car, nothing out there like it, I'm heartbroken over the expense and the possibility that I may have to trade it in.

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