2004 Ford Taurus SES 24 Valve from North America

Summary:

This is a great, comfortable car

Faults:

Rear Spindle, Rear Bearing replaced and Alignment performed at 7,000 miles.

Water Leak repaired at 18,000.

Engine Stabilizer Mount replaced at 21,000.

General Comments:

I bought this car new, (with a $4000 rebate). I am overall happy with it. The problems I have had with it were all covered with the warranty. The repairs performed at 7000 miles were most likely due to an accident I was in, and Ford still replaced these for me.

The Taurus is very comfortable and rides smooth.

I have taken it on 3 trips over 500 miles, and it got me threw a 9 hour snow blizzard with no problems. I feel safe in this car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th January, 2006

2004 Ford Taurus SES 3.0 from North America

Summary:

Nice Car, Well Style and Performs Well

Faults:

I bought a Ford CPO (Certified PreOwned) 2004 Taurus SES. Like all things used, they missed some items before final sale.

The low engine oil pressure came on almost from the first day. Dealer checked this and oil pressure OK. I was told OK to drive, but to check each day. 3 weeks later, they get the needed oil sensor, but had to order this, but provide a rental for 3 days during this downtime.

General Comments:

I ask for them to check the front end alignment as it was tracking left in all lanes on the interstate. Checking the records, this CPO did not have a front end alignment before resale? I would think this would be a must!

Now the car almost 4 weeks after delivery is driving and performing as expected. I am getting 25/26 mpg in mixed miles and as high as 31.5 on all I/S driving. The car is off to a reasonable good start.

I bought the extended warranty and this covered all the service done last week including the rental. Nice. I have taken it on one extended trip of 1,000 miles and it performed over and above expectations.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th May, 2005

2004 Ford Taurus SES 3.0 Liter from North America

Summary:

Great car for the money

Faults:

Tires seriously lost their alignment at 24,000 miles, for no obvious reason.

General Comments:

We purchased this car, from the dealership with 13,000 miles and have now placed almost an additional 13,000 miles on it. The SES has impressed me, with its overall performance and handling, along with its leg room as I am 6'6" and have always had to drive trucks to be comfortable.

The dealership has been great; they corrected my alignment problem even though the warranty was out on the front end. Overall my wife and I have really enjoyed this car and I most likely will replace my truck with a ford Taurus.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st February, 2005

6th Jul 2007, 19:49

I just bought a Taurus and for the money I can't believe all the car you get. The key is to make all American cars like the Taurus, then people wouldn't play on the other team (China).

2004 Ford Taurus SES 3.0 Duratec 24v from North America

Summary:

Solid, responsive, quiet, and a bargain

Faults:

Noting has gone wrong with this car so far.

General Comments:

This is a great car. We also have a 1998 Taurus SE. The 2004 Taurus with the 24 valve duratec engine is plenty powerful. However, it is also smooth as glass. You can barely feel the transmisison shifts, but they are crisp and positive. My only gripe with the transmission is that it shifts from 1-2 too early for my taste. This may make it smooth, but if you are accelerating moderately (not hard, nor soft) it takes you out of the power-band too quickly.

The leather seats are comfortable, but I still think the seats in the 98 Taurus were softer and more cushy.

Road noise is significantly lower than in the 98. However tire noise is present. I think this is a function of the aggressive tread design and a less aggressive tires would end this issue, but create others you can imagine. Even so, it is not bothersome. On nice roads, the car is very quiet.

Overall, I think Ford has finally gotten everything right on the Taurus. It is fast, responsive, comfortable, secure, quiet, and good-looking. I think it is a shame that they have decided to end it and move to something else. All this and we got it for $13,500 with leather, 24v, cd changer, console, etc. What a deal.

I guess now we'll have to wait another ten years before they work out the issues with the next car thought to be a replacement. Oh, well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th August, 2004

9th Mar 2006, 18:22

There is no better value right now with a used car just broke in, 10 to 20,000 miles, a 2004 or 2005, than a Ford Taurus, Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Sable, Mercury Grand Marquis. The American cars are much better built today than they were 20 to 25 years ago!

9th Mar 2006, 22:07

To the last post, You sir are now the funniest man in America. American cars being built better today??? now that is funny.

11th Mar 2006, 22:11

The Taurus has been built from 1986-2006. I have to admit the 2000-2006 models are built much better than any late 70s-early 80s Ford products. Last Taurus I drove was a 2000 SE model with the Vulcan 3.0 V6, a taxicab, with 154,000 miles on it. Only complaint was a jerky shift from reverse to drive with foot on brake. With no foot on brake, it shifted much smoother. The AC worked very well in 100-110 degree Dallas heat, and the car averaged 21mpg in mostly city driving with hours upon hours of idling with that AC blowing full tilt.

As for American cars in general being better today than 20-25 years ago, it's true. The late model cars I've driven are much better when used than the cars I drove when I was a kid. I'd much rather have a used Taurus now than a Torino or a Fairmont then. And as for foreign cars, I have owned 54 cars. 11 of those Japanese and only 3 of those Japanese cars were any better than the 40-some mostly GM/Chrysler American cars I had. They were two Datsuns and a Nissan. Worst 5 cars I ever owned were 2 Tercels, a Civic, a Celebrity, and a Cutlass Ciera. To be fair, the Celebrity was a $150 car with vandalism damage and the Ciera was a $200 car with a rod knock. The Tercels were $175 and $300 and both had blown head gaskets. All four got me around which is more than I can say for the $700 Civic which overheated in less than ten minutes on the drive home.

2004 Ford Taurus SES 3.0L from North America

Summary:

Transmission needs work

Faults:

Transmission has a huge lack of power with ac on.

Transmission also is slow from shifting from park to reverse or drive.

The cars radio the seek button has to be pushed multiple times to switch from one station.

General Comments:

The car seems to to be comfortable and pretty reliable.

It has a smooth ride.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th June, 2004

19th Apr 2005, 19:10

Speaking about transissons---The 2005 ford "500" Has a variable speed trans. -- similar to a snowmobile!!! Hope it works better than the split front axle on their pick ups years ago. Remember the light bulb add?---Ford got a better idea.

3rd Apr 2006, 14:53

I have a 2004 Ford Taurus SES. I've had nothing, but problems since purchasing it new. The transmission has been replaced 3 times, the front end has had major repair work 4 different times, the moon roof has been repaired for leaks 4 times - as has the windshield. I've had serious mechanical problems with this car since I purchased it, the problems still continue!!