Here Are The Ford Taurus Years To Avoid
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For the longest time, the Ford Taurus was a mainstay in the automobile industry. It was first introduced back in 1986 and only just ended its final year of production in 2019. With such a lengthy run, there are bound to be Ford Taurus years to avoid.
Quick Answer: The Ford Taurus surprisingly has very few years to avoid. Those include 2002, 2003, and 2005.
For a vehicle that’s been in the industry as long as the Taurus, there are only three years that stand out among the rest as being worrisome.
The 2003 Ford Taurus has the most complaints out of all of them, with transmission problems being chief among them.
A costly concern, we discuss this in greater detail below. So join us below and learn more about which Ford Taurus years to avoid.
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Which Ford Taurus Models Are Good to Buy Used?
The Ford Taurus has a long history of being a reliable vehicle for both first-time car owners and anyone looking to make a worthwhile investment. In fact, the Taurus boasts far more good years than bad, as seen below:
- 1987 Ford Taurus
- 1988 Ford Taurus
- 1989 Ford Taurus
- 1990 Ford Taurus
- 1991 Ford Taurus
- 1992 Ford Taurus
- 1993 Ford Taurus
- 1994 Ford Taurus
- 1995 Ford Taurus
- 1996 Ford Taurus
- 1997 Ford Taurus
- 1998 Ford Taurus
- 1999 Ford Taurus
- 2000 Ford Taurus
- 2001 Ford Taurus
- 2004 Ford Taurus
- 2006 Ford Taurus
- 2007 Ford Taurus
- 2008 Ford Taurus
- 2009 Ford Taurus
- 2010 Ford Taurus
- 2011 Ford Taurus
- 2012 Ford Taurus
- 2013 Ford Taurus
- 2014 Ford Taurus
- 2015 Ford Taurus
- 2016 Ford Taurus
- 2017 Ford Taurus
- 2018 Ford Taurus
- 2019 Ford Taurus
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE FORD TAURUS
Not all Taurus model years have good long-term reliability. For today’s guide, we’ll go through the recent Taurus generations and find the most reliable Ford Taurus year and the ones you should avoid.
That’s an impressive list of good years. But that’s not to say that every year is stellar. On the contrary, there are still reported problems with a few of those years.
But when compared to the automobile industry as a whole, those problems are far fewer than the norm. Still, it’s worth pointing out the years that didn’t fare as well as the rest.
As per data collected by CarComplaints, 1997 is when issues started presenting themselves. While minimal, the ’97 Taurus has its share of reports concerning transmission problems.
CarComplaints reports 39 consumer complaints and 193 NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaints.
Other years of concern include 1999, 2000, and 2001. Once again, transmission problems are the primary complaint among consumers and the NHTSA.
We will discuss these issues in greater detail when we go over the Ford Taurus years to avoid below, as those years involve the same complaint, just on a much larger scale.
Aside from those years mentioned above, however, the Taurus is a reliable vehicle that has proven itself time and again throughout the years. So if you’re in the market for a good used sedan, you have far more good years to choose from than bad.
Ford Taurus Years to Avoid
In researching Ford Taurus data, there were only three years that gave us the biggest cause for concern, including:
- 2002 Ford Taurus
- 2003 Ford Taurus
- 2005 Ford Taurus
Of these three, the 2003 Ford Taurus has the most complaints, with a staggering 407 consumer complaints and 149 NHTSA complaints.
The primary problem is transmission failure, which comes with an average repair cost of $1,930. The good news is that these problems don’t typically arise until the vehicle has reached higher mileage. In fact, the average mileage according to reports is 93,200.
Behind the 2003 Taurus is the 2005 model. As per data from CarComplaints, there are 213 consumer complaints regarding transmission problems. But even more alarming are the 646 NHTSA complaints concerning engine problems.
In addition to these, some drivers reported their accelerator getting stuck or sudden acceleration when they didn’t have their foot on the gas. These issues pose serious potential threats to you and other drivers on the road.
That said, the cost to repair these issues is far less than transmission problems, running between $50 and $220.
All of these data points culminate in a serious concern for drivers looking for a reliable used vehicle. As such, you should avoid the 2002, 2003, and 2005 models at all costs when searching the used market.
The cost to repair transmission failure can easily run into the thousands. At that point, you’re better off buying a completely different used vehicle.
8 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING A USED CAR
So you’re in the market for a used vehicle? We’ve gone ahead and prepped some essential questions to ask when buying a used car.
Overview of Ford Taurus Problems by Year
Now that we’ve discussed the primary points of concern on the 2020 Kia Telluride, let’s take a moment to briefly go over the main problems and what they mean to you.
2002 Ford Taurus: Faulty Transmission
2003 Ford Taurus: Faulty Transmission
2005 Ford Taurus: Faulty Transmission
Bad transmission plagued the Ford Taurus during these three different years. And given the expensive price tag to fix transmission problems, the investment simply isn’t worth the risk.
If you find a used Taurus during any of these three years, it’s safe to assume that transmission problems are incoming if they aren’t already present. This is especially true if the vehicle has higher mileage, which is most probable.
So when it comes to investing in a used sedan, you now know which Ford Taurus years to avoid. The sheer volume of complaints from both consumers and the NHTSA outweighs any reason to invest. Moreover, the cost to repair transmission failure pretty much seals the deal.
The good news is that if you’re set on buying a Ford Taurus, there are many other years that don’t present this concern. Stick to later models or anything before 1997 to avoid transmission issues.
As long as the previous owner took good care of the vehicle, you might be able to find a cherry Taurus from the car’s earlier years of production.
In Closing
The Ford Taurus may have ended production in 2019, but it leaves behind an impressive legacy of reliable vehicles. With only a few blemishes in what is an otherwise stellar run, the Taurus is a sedan that is worth your consideration.
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