Overview & Reviews

A few new exterior color choices are added and there are minor changes to a couple of optional equipment packages.

• Good crash test scores. Nice interior ergonomics. Excellent optional Duratec powertrain.

• Stying is a bit over-the-top for some.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 100.00

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  RIP 97 Taurus - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By homerrocks2 - December 30 - 7:34 am

  It (to me) was a very ugly car at first and I thought it was a piece of junk, but the style grew on me. I didnt realize how comfortable and nice it was until we lost her and got a ZX2 (talk about small, haha)

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  loved it but it didnt love me - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By katepaints - May 21 - 8:20 pm

  I loved this car got it new. Two years into it, it kept shorting out so I couldnt keep lights on auto. Needed a new ignition before 50K. At six years the transmission needed overhauling after it died. With all the technical updates it ran much better. A year later at 129K the engine died. Ford in its infinite wisdom had put a race car engine in it so I really couldnt replace the engine at a reasonable cost. I was incredibly disappointed as I had been very good at maintenance and upkeep. I walked away and bought a 96 Jeep Cherokee which was a lot more reliable.

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  Pretty good car - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By madison77 - March 14 - 5:41 am

  My car is 14 years old and still running. Bought it used when it was 3 years old with 29,000 miles. It now has 123, something miles and still runs okay. Ive experienced problems time to time. Typical for an older car. My car likes to leak fluids a lot and burns oil in the engine area not the exhaust since I try to keep on top of the oil resovoir. My car has a problem with the door jam sensor. When I get in the car and close the door the car door sensor thinks the door is still open when it actually is closed. To this day it still does it and it drives me nuts but I dont want to spend money on fixing this problem. Its not worth it. Car still has good acceleration. I hate the fuel milage.

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  Its a Ford, What do you except? - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By Crystal - April 7 - 8:53 pm

  I got my 97 Taurus a little less than an year ago, and if I had the chance it would take a trip right back were it came from. When the car came to us the battery was dead, and it was a mess such as to its dirtiness (it was bought out of auction). When we drove the car it had a clunking in the brakes, which that turn into a money spree of new rotors and brakes for all four wheels which never solved the problem till the car died. Which that happened in the first five months of owning it, the cause of the faulty gas gauge a 167 miles left (please try 0) luckly we had AAA to bail us out. After we had it fixed the bill came back for almost a $900 dollars not to count the faulty anti-lock system.

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  Rust Bucket - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By Brian Rogers - April 21 - 3:31 pm

  Have had this car for five years. It has 104,000 miles on it. Had to replace camshaft position sensor. Other problems include two wheel bearing replacements at 60,000 miles, warped rotors, replaced power steering pump at 98,000. Worst problem if you live in the northeast. The plastic rocker panel trim holds the salt and water against the body along the bottom below the doors. The metal is completely eaten away, and now the car cannot be lifted on an automobile lift.

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  major headaches - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By bigstan - September 20 - 6:20 pm

  The Taurus is definitely made to be a throw away car. The car had a rebuilt transmission when I bought it and I had to replace the tranny again at 102,000 miles. Now at 140,000, it is slipping again. The oil pan is now leaking as well and the a/c just went out, Had to replace speed sensor as well, cost $500 bucks. It rides rough, is loud, and uses brakes up very fast. I take great care of my cars and wonder how much trouble I would have had if I didnt. I am now giving up on Fords.

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  A sorry gift - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By Pops - July 31 - 9:59 am

  Because they depreciate so fast, especially with high mileage, I was able to buy this Taurus very cheaply. It is rated well in safety so I gave it as gift to my son. Excellent car with few problems until the tranny went at 120,000. I should not have replaced it. Since then it has been ball joints, struts, oil pan and gaskets and major brake work. Now at 150,000 it needs another tranny, serpentine belt pulley, exhaust, and wheel bearings. The Taurus is probably a good buy with low mileage, but sell it before it gets much over the 100,000 mark. Long term buyers should go with foreign makes.

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  Not what we were hoping for... - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By JennS - March 11 - 6:36 pm

  Ford hurt my feelings with this car. Have had lots of trouble with my Taurus. Thought it would be a nice, economy car with a long, worry-free life. Wrong! Lots of little annoying problems, like the door ajar switches sticking and making the lights stay on, numerous sensor problems, rotors, etc. Replaced the head and gasket at 80,000, radiator has "gunk" in it even after numerous flushes/cleanings. Can hear the "water" running when you turn. Now it is missing, again, after replacing spark plugs/wires 3 different times. Afraid the transmission will go any day. Other than that, I like to drive it and it is a comfortable ride. Just wish it was more dependable.

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  do all fords suck? - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By tonya ogden - April 14 - 2:00 am

  problems with the transmission, motor, battery, speed sensor, door panels, heater, windshield wipers, power seats, 2 tires were on the car were the wrong size, and head gaskets, there is more but i lost track.

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  Average Describes It - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By TaurusNC - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Bought this vehicle out of a rental fleet. Perhaps that is the reason I had constant problems with mechanical items. Heat, waterpump, radiator had issues from day one. Ride and handling were nice when the car was up and running. Ended up donating to charity after waterpump blew at 85,000 miles.