transmission problem
8.7
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$2,028.00
Average Mileage:
106,059 miles
Number of complaints:
15 complaints
Most common solutions:
- rebuild transmission (8 reports)
- not sure (6 reports)
- replaced with junkyard tranny (1 reports)
Helpful Websites About 1997 Ford Taurus transmission failure
2004May 12
Taurus LX 3.0L V6 Ohv
- Automatic transmission
- 114,078 miles
This is by far one of the best cars I have ever owned. Crash safety ratings make my first car look like a casket waiting to happen. Also the ABS saved my bacon more than a couple times. The ride is luxury car, the handling okay, fuel efficiency okay for the 1997 time frame, and reliability is about what you expect with American cars. Your going to spend money fixing them, that's why they cost less than Japanese cars (even the ones built in the US.) I was very disappointed however when the transmission failed. Having owned other cars (american and Japanese) that easily surpassed 150,000 miles without transmission incident, I found this failure particularly unacceptable. I had been religious with the fluid and filter change as well, which made it all the more unacceptable. I had purchased the car with 50,000 miles on it. It now has 170,000 miles on it, so far the tranny failure being the worst of the problems (in terms of expense.) It was a soft failure, giving plenty of notice that something was wrong. What was even more devilishly disturbing is that the actual failure was an electronic switch buried in the transmission. The transmission itself was functional in terms of the gearing, but the clutch (which engages at highway speeds to reduce slippage that occurs via the torque converter, and disengages to allow slippage at lower speeds via the torque converter) activation switch somehow had a leak where tranny fluid was getting in and shorting out the connector. The only way to fix it was to remove the tranny and open it up. Rather than take the expensive route, I went cheap and replaced the tranny with a younger junkyard sourced tranny. Slightly risky (no one wants that 1 in 10 unit that will have the same problem) but probably worth it (when you get over 100,000 you never know what else may fail. At least on american iron. Still, it is by far one of the best cars I've ever owned. But Ford really needs to address long term drive train if they want to stay in the business. And of course canceling production of your highest sales volume vehicle isn't the brightest idea (can you say failed attempt to transition to more expensive, less efficient vehicle? Did you say 500?)
2007Jul 11
Taurus GLS 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 121,000 miles
Taurus' are known for transmission failure especially in this year. The only known fix is to rebuild the trans, if they just replace the trans it still has the same defect, rebuilding eliminates the defect and the problem is fixed.
2008Mar 26
Taurus
- Automatic transmission
- 146,800 miles
This is the 2nd time I've had to have a rebuilt transmission put into this car. I'm fed up with it. I had the car for about 6 months when it went out the first time. Now a year and a half later I'm replacing it again. I'm a single mom with a limited income and can't afford to buy another car...which is what I wish I could do right now instead of fixing this recurring problem.
2008Feb 04
Taurus
- Automatic transmission
- 100,000 miles
Ok well i see a lot of the very same problems were having with our transmission we know its going to go out all the way, no doubt. Were going to drive it til it drops so to speak. We figured out though if you accelerate until its about to shift and then let off and let it shift on its own it doesn't jerk as much. Also if you put it in neutral between gears it seems to shift easier. I know this car is junk i just thought maybe other people could try what were doing to get the most out of the car. Personally with all its problems its not worth it to pay the money needed to fix it.
2003Aug 03
Taurus G 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 15,000 miles
When I got the car it had 3,600 miles on it. Then at about 15,000 miles the transmission dies. It wasn't covered under warranty because it was 12000 or 12 month which ever came first. Also for the past year my car says it's in reverse but it is really in park.
2007Jul 17
(reported on)Taurus GL 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 146,000 miles
this was my second car i have had this car for only 2 months and all of a sudden it shutters when i accelerate thu 1st gear. its a good car except for the transmission issues now i cant even race it at stoplights because if u give it too much gas to begin with it will completely slip out of a gear and sit there and rev
2004Jun 01
(reported on)Taurus
- Manual transmission
- 121,000 miles
This car, like my last Taurus, has been the worst car ever. I knew the Taurus was famous for transmission trouble, but I had faith in the dealer when he said ford had fixed the problem. I haven't decided whether I'm gonna torch the damn thing or if I will replace it and sell it to someone else (I will tell them of the famous ford transmissions- but I'll replace with another brand or something). The old saying is true of FORD--found on roadside daily! I HATE double HATE this car.
2007Jan 25
(reported on)Taurus GL 3.2 V6
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
I feel it should have been covered by warrenty. I made the mistake in the past I had a 1992 taurus and the transmission went out about the same time, which after there was a recall bad year. After I bought this car gave the other car to my son. 1 month later the transmission went out the second time. I already had bought this car and they said shouldn't have the same problem because it was a 1992 problem. They no longer had issues. Well they were wrong. Otherwise the car has been fairly good. I can only say better not happen again it is getting to about the same mileage the when the other when died the second time.
2005Aug 09
(reported on)Taurus
- 74,000 miles
This damn Taurus has been nothing but a money pit since i got it. i just started college. The damn thing breaks down. heres the story, I get off work and pull in to my parking spot. put the car in park but doesn't go in to park. so I try again and again. then a nut falls off of some part under the dash. now my car has only first gear. the rest nothing. now I'm with out a car.
2006May 11
(reported on)Taurus GL
- 123,000 miles
2nd time having a transmission problem with this car. First time felt like I broke my neck when it shuddered violently while going 65mph on a highway. Had that rebuilt and now a few years later, after some slight shudders when accelerating, it just made a slight grinding noise and then refused to engage the transmission. No telling how much this will cost. And I just had the water cooling system replaced.. entirely! A list of problems with this car over the years. One window motor failed and now another. When using the turn selector, the windshield wiper stops working. Had to have 2 seat belt pulleys replaced. Another occasion, a pulley on the drive belt tore off and went flying beneath the car, instantly killing the power. This car is nothing but a money pit!
2005Dec 28
(reported on)Taurus GL
- 126,000 miles
Ive had this car since it was brand new and i have a whole list of problems but the worst and most expensive of them all is the transmisson. I had to replace the torque convertor clutch solenoid after that popped up a code and fired the service light. The transmission suggested it be rebuilt so i paid and i have been taking it back for the past month because its either leaking coolant, tranny fluid, oil. this car is a complete joke and i wouldnt consider ever buying another.
2005Nov 03
(reported on)Taurus GL
- 119,000 miles
my five year old daughter were about 3 hours away from home and out of no where I smelt burnt tranny fluid, I looked in my rear view mirror and white smoke was pouring out. I pullled over to a gas station and lost every bit of fluid out. Whats so bad is no one can figure out where it's leaking from!!!!!
2004Apr 15
(reported on)Taurus GL
- 97,000 miles
I bought this car (my first car) in June of 2003 and I started to have problems in September of 2003, first my transmission fluid started to leak and so I fixed that and then I went to back out of my drive way one day it would go, the transmission was shot. I am a college student and so I have not been able to replace it. I feel it was not right or safe for the dealership to sell such a faulty car.
2003Aug 03
(reported on)Taurus LE
- 125,000 miles
service engine soon light came on, had to rebuild the transmission. this is the latest in a long list of problems i have had with this car. i finally bought a new one. i had had it.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Sep 08
Taurus
Have had this car for about 5 years now. had to replace the first transmission at 54,000 miles. they said the bands went out, and a rebuild would cost right at the same price as a refurb. so my wife and i went with the refurb, that had a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty on it. 4 years and 44,000 miles later this one went out without warning. have yet to try to get this one fixed. i would never have thought that a car could have this much trouble with transmissions.
Gary S.
Walcott, IA, USA
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