Faults:

Typical things for a car of this mileage. The worst is the engine burnt an exhaust valve at about 265,000 miles. The car still runs (although not well) and I was driving it around for a while before it developed a coolant leak as well. The power steering rack is failing, the front suspension is worn out. Just about anything that has gone wrong is certainly expected on a car with this kind of mileage.

General Comments:

I bought the car for $1,000 and it doesn't owe me a dime back. I've driven it accross country a few times, and its always gotten me there and back. Any problem its developed was never debilitating enough to prevent me from driving it. Even to this day, I can go out and turn the key and it WILL start, run, drive, and stop.

I bought a '99 Saturn to replace this car as a daily driver when it started getting to the point where I could no longer trust it for my long commute. The Saturn, although newer and with 1/3rd the mileage, is nosier and has had more "little" things (like switches and trim panels) go wrong than the Taurus. Even all power windows and locks still work in the Taurus. I find that truly amazing.

Faults:

Well parts of this car actually were designed well, comfortable ride, good power, no rattles or squeaks. but way too many problems. I know the Transmission was rebuilt before I bought this car. then when I had it a lot of issues with electrical. The high low beam light control assembly was working properly and had to be worked on. the car stalls a lot and will not stay running at a low speed due to either computer or the T P S (throttle position sensor). so I have to do a lot of restarting. and it can actually be dangerous while driving and the motor stalls and dies sometimes on turns. not fun when you have no power steering trying to turn with a dead car.

General Comments:

I will give this car high marks on comfort and smooth quiet ride at hi-way speeds. but Ford had way too many issues with this car on a reliability stand point. Trans, electrical issues, engine stall.

Faults:

Power steering rack leaks, but still works. Struts are worn out from age. I've replaced the heater core, and the wheels/tires (upgraded to 15" alloys from 14" black steelies).

Engine has a burnt exhaust valve, but continues to run and attain 20 MPG and do 75 MPH on the highway. Its certainly not as quick as it used to be, but it still cranks every time.

Dash cracked, makes noises (rattles and squeaks) but this is completely understandable for a car with as many miles as this one. If the suspension was replaced (and it needs it bad), the car would perform a lot better. I've driven lower-mileage Taurus' of the same year and model, and they handled better than mine. I replaced the stabilizer bar links, and that helped, but it really needs new struts, springs, and strut-mounts.

General Comments:

I tried to replace this car with a 1996 Chrysler Concorde LXi after the Taurus hit 250,000 miles, and that was a terrible car. It ended up eating its engine and transmission so I junked it and started driving the Taurus again. I guess I'll have it from now on. :)

This Taurus has been very good to me. I know most of the history on it before I got it. The transmission was replaced with a used unit when the car had 198,000 miles. The engine has never been worked on, but needs work now.