Ford cars are unreliable?!

[John888]

Looking to buy mainstream passenger car from 95-99 for my everyday use, somehow everyone i asking what make of car should i buy, naming something Japan or German, when i asking how about Ford they say its not reliable and i should avoid it for some reason, however they never name no particular reason.
I am not fan of Ford brand its just cars and parts was way cheaper in Europe (where i used to live) and quality was fine to, but i heard same rumors about how unreliable Fords are back there.

Can someone tell me if there''''s some reason to think that US Fords are worse than European and what models of Ford passenger cars (1990-99) you consider unreliable from your own experience with them?

P.S. By reliability i mean failing rate and maintenence cost, not just safety.

[D_flore]

fords are shit

[John888]

I only except rational responses with facts please.

[zain123]

it stands for
FOUND ON the ROAD DEAD
what else do u wuna know !!! :zzz:

[John888]

I think the meaning of phrase you told above depends more of style of driving than car. And judging from tone of your comment and your car i think your very aggressive young driver that is very subject to public opinion.

[Wehbeast]

We used to have a Ford taurus, it was such a piece of shit, kept blowing through fuel pumps

[zain123]

lol i am young and i havent OWNED a ford u r right
but i have couple of friends who are die hard domestic fans, that own ford even agree with me because of the problems they have had (00 mustang)

um i wud say look on a different forum because here the opinion might be a little biased

[ShiDave]

Ford makes some decent stuff. Alot of it is cheap garbage too. Just research the reliability on any model your interested in.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Like any other manufacturer, Ford had made good and bad cars over the years. Reliability will be more dependent on model and mileage than brand.



Originally posted by zain123
u wuna

Originally posted by zain123
u r um i wud

OP should listen to this guy. :rofl:

[hedge]

My family has owned Fords since the 60's. Mostly trucks but we have never had a significant problem with any of them. I'd have to count but probably 30 vehicles total.

I think got a really bad rep for some of their disposable cars, such as the Tempo but in my experience they are fine.

[Toms-SC]

there forum is full of ricers dude head to performance-shop.com for your domestic needs.

[gretz]

Fix Or Repair Daily

[Ferio_vti]

Buy SHO Taurus:
http://eclipsnetwork.com/index2.php?clip_id=15&section_id=1and-his-Taurus-SHO-143331.html

[inline6turbo]

From Warranty Perspective


Here's The Car Rating Results:

The results show the number of failures reported for every 100 vehicles (3 -9 years-old) covered by Warranty Direct’s policies.

And just so you understand what the numbers mean: Mazda, with a score of 8.04%, would mean that nearly 92 percent of the Mazda cars covered experienced no mechanical failure of any kind ... pretty darn good.



1. Mazda - 8.04%
2. Honda - 8.90%
3. Toyota - 15.78%
4. Mitsubishi - 17.04%
5. Kia - 17.39%
6. Subaru - 18.46%
7. Nissan - 18.86%
8. Lexus - 20.05%
9. Mini - 21.90%
10. Citroen - 25.98%
11. Daewoo - 26.30%
12. Hyundai - 26.36%
13. Peugeot - 26.59%
14. Ford - 26.76%
15. Suzuki - 27.20%
16. Porsche - 27.48%
17. Fiat - 28.49%
18. BMW - 28.64%
19. Vauxhall - 28.77%
20. Mercedes-Benz - 29.90%
21. Rover - 30.12%
22. Volvo - 31.28%
23. Volkswagen - 31.44%
24. Jaguar - 32.05%
25. Skoda - 32.12%
26. Chrysler - 34.90%
27. Audi - 36.74%
28. Seat - 36.87%
29. Renault - 36.87%
30. Alfa Romeo - 39.13%
31. Saab - 41.59%
32. Land Rover - 44.21%
33. Jeep - 46.36%


Look how many Japanese in the top ten. Ford presents itself at the middle of the pack, no surprise there considering the junk below it lol

[Inzane]

Originally posted by John888
Looking to buy mainstream passenger car from 95-99 for my everyday use,

somehow everyone i asking what make of car should i buy, naming something Japan or German,

Forget the Fords. Listen to your friends. Buy something "decent" within your affordability range.

[g-m]

wow those are suprising. I had always thought of toyota as the most reliable brand
WOW most of mazda's cars must NEVER break to generate a stat like that with the RX series in their lineup!

Edit: oh yea OP, they just seem cheaply built across the lineup unless you're getting a GT. But then you wouldn't be making this thread. And even the GT breaks a lot. My familiy had some experience with Fords before I was born and they broke so often apparently that my family decided to never buy domestic again. Their mech engineers just seem to be shitty I don't understand it. Apparently the problem is communication between departments during the design phase whereas european and jap car manufacturers have a cohesive unit that works together.

Little things like the windshield washer unit not liasing with the ignition unit properlyy so that there ends up being very slight fitment issues for example.

[ianmcc]

I have had nothing but good experiences with my '02 Focus; I had a leaking clutch master cylinder but less than $250 all in to get it fixed at the dealer is pretty reasonable.
Other than that I have had zero problems in 4 years of ownership. You just have to research the car you are thinking of-for example the Focus had a lot of problems in 2000 and 2001 but by 2002 reliability went way up. A lot of aftermarket support for the Focus as well.
And as far as asking for input on Ford, listen to Ford owners and not the e-thugs who have never owned one. The list above is interesting; not one GM product cracked the top 33.

[TYMSMNY]

It's because Mazda makes 1000 cars a year vs. toyota at... millions. Those numbers are based on 100 cars.

Anyways, back to the OP, if you can find a decent priced Ford, why not. Obviously we aren't all in the same situation but if you can, splurge a little more on a European or Japanese... especially the years you are looking at.

[Eleanor]

Could I see a source Inline6? Mazda at the top of the list is rather suspicious.

[gretz]

of course Mazda, they make those reliable rotory motors everyone loves

[heavyD]

IMO when you are looking for an older 90's car for everyday use I would look for a low mileage, good condition Japanese or domestic and not get fixated on one brand. You roll the dice with any old car even if it's a Honda or Toyota so best bet is to buy a car that has been driven the least and in the best shape.

[whiskas]

Originally posted by gretz
reliable rotory

ahahahahaha

Ford owns a huge chunk of mazda, and a lot of ford cars from the 90's are based on mazda vehicles. Think about that before you read stats that are out of context or listen to the usual sweaty beyond import circle jerk.

Having the displeasure of working on a lot of these vehicles I can tell you they are spectacular pieces of shit, regardless if they have a ford or mazda badge. Cramped engine bays, an obsession with using torx bolts for everything, and a lot of design decisions that make you go WTF

[TorqueDog]

Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Honda, what does it matter? Every car is shit, and every car is reliable.

It all comes down to you. If you maintain your vehicle, it'll last. If you don't, it'll break down more often than not. Every manufacturer has its lemons.

I do notice a difference in attitude between domestic and import buyers. Import buyers do tend to maintain their cars better, whereas domestic buyers seem to neglect their regular maintenance.

Don't listen to the "OMG FORD IZ TEH SUCK" morons on here. Buy something that you want, just understand that you, as a vehicle owner, need to do proper maintenance in order to keep it running properly.

[g-m]

Originally posted by whiskas


ahahahahaha

Ford owns a huge chunk of mazda, and a lot of ford cars from the 90's are based on mazda vehicles. Think about that before you read stats that are out of context or listen to the usual sweaty beyond import circle jerk.

Having the displeasure of working on a lot of these vehicles I can tell you they are spectacular pieces of shit, regardless if they have a ford or mazda badge. Cramped engine bays, an obsession with using torx bolts for everything, and a lot of design decisions that make you go WTF fuck i hate torx bolts. Why can't people use normal fucking bolts whats wrong with the design??? I'm trying to fix my phone and it uses goddamn torx screws and its enraging me

[Ferio_vti]

^^ Cuz torx/star screws have a higher torque rating and don't cam-out like philips

[GTS Jeff]

Late 90s Ford Escort ranks highly for reliability.

[ianmcc]

^^^And a lot of Mazda parts in that car.

[DannyO]

For what its worth, my mum has a 2000 Expedition that is used all the time for all sorts of things, nothing has ever broke on it, apart from replacing the tires that came on it and doing an oil change when needed its been very reliable.

[analbumcover]

Originally posted by DannyO
For what its worth, my mum has a 2000 Expedition that is used all the time for all sorts of things, nothing has ever broke on it, apart from replacing the tires that came on it and doing an oil change when needed its been very reliable.

Get her a lottery ticket

[Casa]

Originally posted by DannyO
For what its worth, my mum has a 2000 Expedition that is used all the time for all sorts of things, nothing has ever broke on it, apart from replacing the tires that came on it and doing an oil change when needed its been very reliable.

haha thats a rarity

[analbumcover]

Originally posted by Casa


holy
can your Mom bless me?
oh wait, she's coming back to bed gotta log off

Dude what the fuck?

Whats your reason to insult his mother?

Completely Uncalled for

Useless 08

[johnnybad1]

I owned a 96 Ford Taurus and at 80,000 it fell apart, rust, waterpump, alternator, fuel pump. Jeez what a complete piece of shit car that thing was. There is just no quality in the damn things.

Having said that, I also currently have a 97 Ford Explorer for winter use and that thing is the best vehicle I've ever had for cost vs value. 206,000kms and never the slightest problem over and above the maintenance and replacement of wear part items.

My advice to you is to stay away from the "Fleet car" crap like Taurus, Intrepid etc. they are pure shit plain and simple.

[Ferio_vti]

Originally posted by johnnybad1
I owned a 96 Ford Taurus and at 80,000 it fell apart, rust, waterpump, alternator, fuel pump. Jeez what a complete piece of shit car that thing was. There is just no quality in the damn things.

Having said that, I also currently have a 97 Ford Explorer for winter use and that thing is the best vehicle I've ever had for cost vs value. 206,000kms and never the slightest problem over and above the maintenance and replacement of wear part items.

My advice to you is to stay away from the "Fleet car" crap like Taurus, Intrepid etc. they are pure shit plain and simple.


:werd:
The only place Ford puts their money is in trucks and their Pony car.
Avis should be the only place to find Ford cars.

[Casa]

Originally posted by Ferio_vti



:werd:
The only place Ford puts their money is in trucks and their Pony car.
Avis should be the only place to find Ford cars.

not any more. but in the 90's yes.

[Moe Man]

umm no problem with me 318 rwhp, and it takes a beating.

2 years and still going strong. :thumbsup:

[NickGT]

Originally posted by TorqueDog


I do notice a difference in attitude between domestic and import buyers. Import buyers do tend to maintain their cars better, whereas domestic buyers seem to neglect their regular maintenance.



I dunno. I take pretty good care of my domestic... And there are plenty of imports rolling around that haven't seen a wash in 6 months nevermind regular maintenance.

I like HeavyD's post best because its the truth. When looking at an older vehicle look for the condition of the vehicle, mileage and maintenance records. Don't worry so much about the brand if it serves the purpose.

[demosticgarbage]

fords are very reliable. along with the other big 2 , they are what drives north america into the recession..


well not so much.

[mark4091]

If you're looking at a Mustang, Focus or F-150 you're chances are good. Japanese cars are the same, they just have a huge following of guys who can't do they're own oil changes and those are the guys who are quick to jump on these threads with biased opinions.

What most people say here is true, avoid the taurus, escort, ect, there's shit our there with any brand.

[RaptorGJC]

My first car was a 93 escort that had 185,000 km on it. I spent money on the regular wear and tear parts (brakes, tires, tie rods, ball joints) and did oil changes usually on schedule. It lasted me 2 years and 35,000 km with no problems at all and it never broke down on me.

And then someone wrote it off:banghead:

[Graham_A_M]

The Fusion V6's are excellent cars aparently. The AWD really is terrific and the car is aparently just excellent. Every report I've read holds that car in an excellent regard.

I think that car is right up your alley considering what your after.
So I'd say go for it. If I was in the market for a decent 4 door car, I'd give the Fusion a good look at, that and the Pontiac G8.
:dunno:

Good luck, and happy searching.

[D_flore]

Originally posted by ianmcc
I have had nothing but good experiences with my '02 Focus; I had a leaking clutch master cylinder but less than $250 all in to get it fixed at the dealer is pretty reasonable.
Other than that I have had zero problems in 4 years of ownership. You just have to research the car you are thinking of-for example the Focus had a lot of problems in 2000 and 2001 but by 2002 reliability went way up. A lot of aftermarket support for the Focus as well.
And as far as asking for input on Ford, listen to Ford owners and not the e-thugs who have never owned one. The list above is interesting; not one GM product cracked the top 33.

correct me if im wrong but isnt the focus for the most part not really ford

[ianmcc]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you an idiot?

[A790]

It really does depend on the vehicle and how it was maintained.

For example:

I had a 1997 Ford Probe GT that I purchased with around 140,000km on it. I drove the living piss out of that car for two years and the only thing I had to replace on it was the crank angle sensor. I literally mean I beat the snot out of it (I hit a deer doing 110km/hr on the passenger fender). It was a very reliable car that I finally sold when one of the springs on it blew (cheap fix) as I was looking for an excuse to buy something else anyway.

My buddy had a 1996 Ford Taurus LX that he also beat the snot out of and it treated him very well for three years.

My mother has a Ford Explorer SportTrac and it has only been in the shop once. I believe it's an '03.

[TorqueDog]

I worked for FoMoCo when the Fusion was released.

The Fusion really impressed me at the ride and drive... but I couldn't put it above the Honda Accord overall. The Accord just had something going for it that worked, and it kept it right at par with the Fusion, if not slightly better.

The Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry, however; it absolutely blew them away on all levels.

[Ferio_vti]

Originally posted by D_flore


correct me if im wrong but isnt the focus for the most part not really ford

You mean cuz the Focus isn't 'American' made?? Yah fine, technically it's a Euro designed car.
But then we can argue about BMW's built in Alabama, etc

Let's not get into semantics here.

[blownz]

Definitely not much to worry about with the newer Fords. I would put less trust into a mid 90's or earlier Ford, but the newer stuff is quite good.

I had an 02 Explorer (first year of the restyle) and it was solid for 107k. Only money I spent on that thing in 4 years was a battery, a few sets of wipers, and a set of tires. Even the brakes were still good at 107k. And there was only 1 recall in 4 years and only one warranty issue that I had. Really good suv.

I replaced it with an 06 Expedition which so far has been totally solid as well. I only have 40k on this one but I haven't spent a penny on it yet and only in the dealer once for warranty.

[D_flore]

Originally posted by ianmcc
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you an idiot?

thats why i said correct me if i'm wrong. and like said above it is partly euro. i was just curious.. need to get laid or somthing?

[ianmcc]

Since when is Euro not Ford? Ford of Europe got the Focus in 98, North America in 00.
The 2.3L motor, the Duratec 23 (dropped for 2008) is a 2.3 L variant of the Mazda MZR 2.3L engine. Perhaps that is what confused you.

[hampstor]

Originally posted by inline6turbo
From Warranty Perspective


Here's The Car Rating Results:

The results show the number of failures reported for every 100 vehicles (3 -9 years-old) covered by Warranty Direct’s policies.

And just so you understand what the numbers mean: Mazda, with a score of 8.04%, would mean that nearly 92 percent of the Mazda cars covered experienced no mechanical failure of any kind ... pretty darn good.



1. Mazda - 8.04%
2. Honda - 8.90%
3. Toyota - 15.78%
4. Mitsubishi - 17.04%
5. Kia - 17.39%
6. Subaru - 18.46%
7. Nissan - 18.86%
8. Lexus - 20.05%
9. Mini - 21.90%
10. Citroen - 25.98%
11. Daewoo - 26.30%
12. Hyundai - 26.36%
13. Peugeot - 26.59%
14. Ford - 26.76%
15. Suzuki - 27.20%
16. Porsche - 27.48%
17. Fiat - 28.49%
18. BMW - 28.64%
19. Vauxhall - 28.77%
20. Mercedes-Benz - 29.90%
21. Rover - 30.12%
22. Volvo - 31.28%
23. Volkswagen - 31.44%
24. Jaguar - 32.05%
25. Skoda - 32.12%
26. Chrysler - 34.90%
27. Audi - 36.74%
28. Seat - 36.87%
29. Renault - 36.87%
30. Alfa Romeo - 39.13%
31. Saab - 41.59%
32. Land Rover - 44.21%
33. Jeep - 46.36%


Look how many Japanese in the top ten. Ford presents itself at the middle of the pack, no surprise there considering the junk below it lol

Unfortunately, those #'s do not tell an entire story - only a snapshot of overall warranty repairs.

Those #'s above are not exclusively mechnical failures (which you have referenced when refering to Mazda...). Those ratings include everything from loose panels, to your radio not working, engine replacements etc.

People don't always take cars in for warranty on every little thing they notice. I know quite a few people are not willing to leave their car in the shop for multiple days for a rattling panel or anything that's not critical.

No surprise most of the 'luxury' brands are lower on the list, it's safe to assume that if people spend more on a vehicle, they are going to be more picky about little problems.

Going back to Ford, like any used car, you do research before you buy. You will find that every car has common problem areas and what to look out for.

[tm88]

agreed...when i read the chart to me it is obvious why bmw landrover etc are near the top of the list.
1) not a easy DIY fix
2) what hampstor said

[TorqueDog]

I'm one of those people who will take the car into the shop for ANYTHING if it's a warranty issue. "I hear a rattle coming from Panel X, FIX IT."

[hampstor]

Originally posted by TorqueDog
I'm one of those people who will take the car into the shop for ANYTHING if it's a warranty issue. "I hear a rattle coming from Panel X, FIX IT."

What I drive: '02 BMW M5
18. BMW - 28.64%

[stevo 27]

if you want a cheap beater fuck yea

i bought my 88 mustang to get me around for 700 bucks 2.3L yes it's the most gutless thing ive ever been in but ive been nothing but mean to it and it's going strong

[TorqueDog]

Originally posted by hampstor
What I drive: '02 BMW M5
18. BMW - 28.64% Exactly. I'm probably one of those pricks who are pushing BMW's rating lower. :D

Funny though; if you look at that list, most of the more interesting cars at near the bottom... Alfa, Renault, Audi, BMW, Merc, Fiat...

I wonder how old that list is, though, considering that Rover was defunct as of April 2005.

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by stevo 27
if you want a cheap beater fuck yea

i bought my 88 mustang to get me around for 700 bucks 2.3L yes it's the most gutless thing ive ever been in but ive been nothing but mean to it and it's going strong

Lets not get into how much money you've sunk into it Steve... thats a whole "ball of wax" that we wont even touch on.:nut:
You've sunk more into that car then what I paid for my first 4 cars combined.

[blownz]

Originally posted by TorqueDog
Exactly. I'm probably one of those pricks who are pushing BMW's rating lower. :D

Funny though; if you look at that list, most of the more interesting cars at near the bottom... Alfa, Renault, Audi, BMW, Merc, Fiat...

I wonder how old that list is, though, considering that Rover was defunct as of April 2005.

The list must also be from Europe since there is no GM brands on there. Unless the bottom half of the list just wasn't posted. lol

[TorqueDog]

Originally posted by blownz
The list must also be from Europe since there is no GM brands on there. Unless the bottom half of the list just wasn't posted. lol 19. Vauxhall - 28.77%

Vauxhall is General Motors.


You are onto something though, I think it is a European list.