Ford Taurus reliability - better info
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25
The problem with your system is it doesn't account for crooked and/or incompetent mechanics who greatly skew the data.
My '97 Taurus wagon (GL) was bought brand new and has never been touched by a "professional" mechanic. I've done all the repairs myself. The problems I've had with my vehicle are surely the TRUE problems associated with this make and model. On my recommendation, my father bought a similar '97 Taurus (sedan, not wagon) and experienced the exact same problems with his vehicle. The problems were: bad VSS, bad CMP, contaminated/gunked-up cooling system, cracked degas bottle, soft transmission, door ajar light, etc. In the case of the gunked-up cooling system, I have successfully thwarted serious problems by continuously flushing the system. My Dad, however, had an incompetent mechanic who let his system corrode to the point where his freeze plugs rusted out. The 2nd plug required removal of the tranny - a $700 bill to replace a $5 part. Never should've happened. My father immediately dumped the car and now says he'll never buy another Ford the rest of his life. If he were in your survey, his $700 repair skews the data because it wasn't a real problem with the vehicle as much as it was a problem with who was SERVICING the vehicle.
My '97 Taurus wagon (GL) was bought brand new and has never been touched by a "professional" mechanic. I've done all the repairs myself. The problems I've had with my vehicle are surely the TRUE problems associated with this make and model. On my recommendation, my father bought a similar '97 Taurus (sedan, not wagon) and experienced the exact same problems with his vehicle. The problems were: bad VSS, bad CMP, contaminated/gunked-up cooling system, cracked degas bottle, soft transmission, door ajar light, etc. In the case of the gunked-up cooling system, I have successfully thwarted serious problems by continuously flushing the system. My Dad, however, had an incompetent mechanic who let his system corrode to the point where his freeze plugs rusted out. The 2nd plug required removal of the tranny - a $700 bill to replace a $5 part. Never should've happened. My father immediately dumped the car and now says he'll never buy another Ford the rest of his life. If he were in your survey, his $700 repair skews the data because it wasn't a real problem with the vehicle as much as it was a problem with who was SERVICING the vehicle.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
We correct for this a bit by only measuring successfully completed repairs. And it is true that the older a car is the more difference proper maintenance makes.
Based on the data I receive, I don't think that the competence of mechanics has a major impact on the things I currently measure.
Not saying these results are perfect, but they are accurate enough to be useful, and far better than the alternatives.
The main thing that makes a difference: the number of owners participating.
So I hope more will sign up and help me provide better information.
Details here:
Car reliability research
Based on the data I receive, I don't think that the competence of mechanics has a major impact on the things I currently measure.
Not saying these results are perfect, but they are accurate enough to be useful, and far better than the alternatives.
The main thing that makes a difference: the number of owners participating.
So I hope more will sign up and help me provide better information.
Details here:
Car reliability research
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
We've updated the results for the Taurus to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2008: 52
2003: 81
2001: 111
2000: 106
1999: 73, probably not accurate
Small sample sizes in all cases. The 1999 is better than average, the others are average.
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
Ford Taurus reliability comparisons
2008: 52
2003: 81
2001: 111
2000: 106
1999: 73, probably not accurate
Small sample sizes in all cases. The 1999 is better than average, the others are average.
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
Ford Taurus reliability comparisons
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
Just enhanced the related repair history survey so that it can (optionally) be used as a personal car maintenance record.
As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May, with a preview for participants next month.
Car reliability research
As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May, with a preview for participants next month.
Car reliability research
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
We've updated the results for the Taurus to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010: 73
2008: 53
2003: 73, small sample size
2002: 124, very small sample size
2001: 132
2000: 122
1999: 71, very small sample size, probably not accurate
The 1999 is better than average, the others are average.
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
Ford Taurus reliability comparisons
2010: 73
2008: 53
2003: 73, small sample size
2002: 124, very small sample size
2001: 132
2000: 122
1999: 71, very small sample size, probably not accurate
The 1999 is better than average, the others are average.
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
Ford Taurus reliability comparisons
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
574 Taurus and Sable owners now signed up. A good start, but more are needed to provide precise results for all model years.
Help get your year fully included:
Car reliability research
Help get your year fully included:
Car reliability research
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
We've updated the results for the Taurus to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010.
Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010: 80, about average but close to "worse than average" due to a common problem with peeling tail light trim
2008: 54, about average
2003: 86, about average, small sample size
2002: 146, worse than average, very small sample size
2001: 153, worse than average
2000: 162, worse than average
1999: 114, about average, very small sample size, probably not accurate
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years from 1995 on.
To see how competitors compare, and sign up to help:
Ford Taurus reliability comparisons
Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010: 80, about average but close to "worse than average" due to a common problem with peeling tail light trim
2008: 54, about average
2003: 86, about average, small sample size
2002: 146, worse than average, very small sample size
2001: 153, worse than average
2000: 162, worse than average
1999: 114, about average, very small sample size, probably not accurate
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years from 1995 on.
To see how competitors compare, and sign up to help:
Ford Taurus reliability comparisons
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
Starting this month we have a new question to measure, as objectively as possible, the severity of a problem. Many people have been asking for reliability stats that weight problems by how severe they are, and once we have enough responses with the revised survey we'll start providing this.
Also, updated reliability stats this month.
As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.
Car reliability research
Also, updated reliability stats this month.
As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.
Car reliability research
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
We've updated the results for the Taurus to include owner experiences through September 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of next year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010: 70, about average; common problem with peeling tail light trim
2008: 70, about average
2003: 76, better than average, small sample size
2002: 120, about average, very small sample size
2001: 147, about average
2000: 162, worse than average
1999: 132, about average, very small sample size
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years from 1995 on.
To see how competitors compare, and sign up to help:
Ford Taurus reliability ratings and comparisons
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010: 70, about average; common problem with peeling tail light trim
2008: 70, about average
2003: 76, better than average, small sample size
2002: 120, about average, very small sample size
2001: 147, about average
2000: 162, worse than average
1999: 132, about average, very small sample size
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years from 1995 on.
To see how competitors compare, and sign up to help:
Ford Taurus reliability ratings and comparisons
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 168
We've updated the results for the Taurus to include owner experiences through December 31, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of this year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010: 75, about average; common problem with peeling tail light trim
2008: 64, about average
2005: no repairs reported, 14 cars
2004: 106, about average, very small sample size
2003: 86, about average, small sample size
2002: 110, about average, very small sample size
2001: 173, worse than average
2000: 188, worse than average
1999: 131, about average, very small sample size
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years from 1995 on.
To see how competitors compare, and sign up to help:
Ford Taurus reliability ratings and comparisons
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2010: 75, about average; common problem with peeling tail light trim
2008: 64, about average
2005: no repairs reported, 14 cars
2004: 106, about average, very small sample size
2003: 86, about average, small sample size
2002: 110, about average, very small sample size
2001: 173, worse than average
2000: 188, worse than average
1999: 131, about average, very small sample size
Everyone who's been participating, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and fully cover all model years from 1995 on.
To see how competitors compare, and sign up to help:
Ford Taurus reliability ratings and comparisons