Do taurus'es really blow up at 90k miles?

[twilightsable99]

if anything i've played up what's wrong with my car. i had my engine in my 99 sable (duratec v6) replaced at 92k miles for some strange unknown reason. Just had a knock from the lower and boom it was gone after 2 days (I had my end year exams and couldn't be bothered with the car). Other than that the car has been extremely reliable and has never failed to start up. I have 105,000 on it now and it still runs great, I plan to take it up to 150 and beyond. It's a good car.

The transmission works great, it was an isolated issue in the early 90s and now although its still higher than average, tranny failures are still somewhat rare on the newer cars with the AX4N transmissions. As for clutches going, the clutches on the SHO's are fine for normal driving, if you drive it hard and modify it expect to upgrade your clutch too.

As for the car that caught on fire, I find that hard to believe. Well, maybe a lesson learned--don't buy a first-of-generation vehicle if you don't intend to take it in for recalls, I believe there were some electrical TSB's on the 96.

Magazines never give the car respect because they seem to hate everything that isn't an import. Although I realize my car is far from perfect and not as reliable as say a Toyota Camry, I like the car and I know I can count on it...I just don't see the kind of things that most people complain about.

[RB25240kouki]

I have a 93 lx w/ 145k+. So far Ive replaced the radiator, trasmission, water pump (twice), motor mounts, A/C pump, Power steering pump, Front wheel bearings, blinker timer modual thing, and heater core. The motor is indistructable... its the car around it that sucks. My car is on its way to the junkyard due to an accident... One less non SHO on the road!

[royben]

I am extremely happy with my 88 taurus. It has 3.0 v-6 and automatic trans. It has 235,000 miles on it and the motor or transmission have never been apart. I have replaced the waterpump, alternator(both twice), new blower motor, rear struts,ignition module, cv boots, brakes several times, and that is it. It only uses about a quart of oil every 1500 miles or so. The body is really rusty because I used to live in Minnesota (lots of road salt), but otherwise it runs great still get about 25 mpg and am totally impressed with this car. I know that the 4 cylinder models did have transmission problems back then and that 1991 was a bad year. I drive it fairly hard and have had it over 100 mph now and then. The last time the water pump went out all the water drained out and I ran it so hot that it quit and would not turn over till it cooled down. I thought that was the end of it but it still runs fine after i replaced the waterpump.

[proticus]

HAHAHA. just my luck i had to buy the 91 taurus. Had i known about those statistics i wouldn't have bought it. i'm at 158,000 and am on my third transmission, and have replaced so many parts that i could have easily bought another car. fortunately i can do all of this myself. otherwise i would have left it on the side of the road a long time ago.

[Sexy beast]

Originally Posted by dirk-diggler

My grandaddy got one of those, before 50,000 miles he replaced:
transmission
head gasket
cv-joints
motor mounts
power steering pump
alternator
tie rods
around 100,000 he had to replace all those again
by this time all the paint came off, but that's cool cause it looked like a DeLorean, people on the streets would walk up to him and ask:"is that some kind of prototype?".

he did have some fun times with the car:
air bag blew on his face whyle driving on the freeway!(fun!!)
green mist started to come out of the heater vents!(yum!)
and to top it all off the car caught on fire in rush hour traffic!(cool)
But all and all, I think he was pretty satisfied with the car:frog:

Wow, you don't need a mechanic...you need an exorcist!

[Sexy beast]

Originally Posted by royben

I am extremely happy with my 88 taurus. It has 3.0 v-6 and automatic trans. It has 235,000 miles on it and the motor or transmission have never been apart. I have replaced the waterpump, alternator(both twice), new blower motor, rear struts,ignition module, cv boots, brakes several times, and that is it. It only uses about a quart of oil every 1500 miles or so. The body is really rusty because I used to live in Minnesota (lots of road salt), but otherwise it runs great still get about 25 mpg and am totally impressed with this car. I know that the 4 cylinder models did have transmission problems back then and that 1991 was a bad year. I drive it fairly hard and have had it over 100 mph now and then. The last time the water pump went out all the water drained out and I ran it so hot that it quit and would not turn over till it cooled down. I thought that was the end of it but it still runs fine after i replaced the waterpump.

You drove your Toerus over 100 mph? are you trying to kill yourself?

[ncinirator]

I have a 95 taurus, 3.0L. I bought it with 20k in 96. I have neutral banged it, reverse J turns, 360s, used it at work, basicaly treated it like crap, and the car has run great, giving me NO problems, except for brakes. Now the car has 107k on it, and I whish I never did the things I mentioned.

It still runs great, except for the transmission. Its strating to slip, started shifted hard from 1st to 2nd around 90k, and the check engine light comes on and stays on after 10min of driving from a cold start. All in all, great car, guess I`m a lucky one.

[HHeliker]

I am not sure how they got this many miles on these cars - they must be rich to afford the Ford repairs. Ford sure isn't going to cover ANYTHING.

[ncinirator]

Well, my car was 1995, the last year of the "robo-cop" shape. The new cacaroach Tuarus looks ugly, and runs like crap.

I think 95 was the last good year.

[ennser]

I have a 90 taurus wagon.Transmission went on the way home from banff(140,000k).Put in a used one and one year later same thing.After that I got it rebuilt,so far so good.I have only owned about 6 cars but my taurus is the biggest lemon i've had.Lots of things always breaking down,air conditioning being the latest......It's for sale now by the way.

[Whymelaugh13]

Somebody in motocraft didnt think too far ahead when they made the intake manifold on the 3.8s aluminum and the block cast iron. They expand and totally different rates, which puts a lot of pressure on the head gasket. Ford put a recall on all cars under 100,000, but that doesnt mean that just under or above a hundred means it wont blow. Other than that, the trannys problems are the only other i know of.

[Fire-bomb]

We have owned four Tauruses, I work on them and have done extensive research on the unit. Our 1st (after spending a great deal of money: new Ac, engine, head job, steering rack, etc.), an '88 burned down 230 miles after replacing the engine - only 87K on the clock.

Instead of detailing all the caveats of owning a pre-96 Taurus, do your research on the web on the lawsuits and service bulletins. Those alone say volumes. Ther e are pages and pages of bulletins!

I don't mind them because they are good value cars and I've worked on them so much I can zip though complex repairs - I'm familiar with the enemy. Want reliability? Get a late model Taurus (2002+)

The biggest problem with these types of Tauruses is the 3.8L model. The transmission fluid lines age, check and then leak onto the exhaust system causing a fire (like ours). The fuel rails used to have cracks and cause fires. The head gaskets MUST be replaced by a good mechanic using special bolts and gasket material to allow the different expansion materials to move properly and not destroy the gasket.

We have 187K miles on our 93 3.8. I love the car. But carry an extinguisher and have a nice repair budget (will absolutely need one transmission job) for water pump, P.S. pump, steering rack, alternator, and be SURE to install a good transmission cooler after your transmission job!!

Most of all, ensure your St. Christopher statue is glued to the dash at all times!!!!

[philstaf]

My '95 Taurus with 93k has been as trouble free as any car I've owned. I've kept up the maintenence per recommendations. Uses no oil and at last tranny change no wear obvious. Since it's not worth anything if I sell it, what do I have to lose. I'll just drive it and if it falls apart, my loss in value probably wouldn't make up the difference for trading it for an unknown. Maybe a Taurus won't hold up quite as well as some of the imports, but I like the way it drives better than my '01 Accord so I'll just stay with it. IMO the differences in car's reliability are way overblown, especially if they're properly maintained.

[Fire-bomb]

Our '95 (3.0L - BIG difference) has 114K and runs like a top. I maintain our motor pool fastideously. If you would like to, just go to repair shops and discuss the Taurus, esp. 1994 and earlier 3.8L's. You'll get an earful! Obviously I agree with you on the car. I love 'em. Good luck!

[philstaf]

Should have said my '95 is a 3.0 L. This is my fourth Taurus or Sable. The Sable had the 3.8L which I didn't like because it had very little more power and worse gas mileage. My first Taurus, an '86 bought new soon after they came out, had a few problems, but none that I considered serious. I loved it! The '95 has suffered only self-inflicted problems (fender, etc., bent wheels, etc.) except for a fuel pump change I had done. It didn't go out, just started to 'whine' so I switched it out and considered it maintenance.