I've got 3 Tauri (PT92, M651, M970), and all three have been send back for service. The "real" problem with them is that I bought them sight unseen (mail-order), and I didn't notice any problems until after I played with them for a few weeks. However, all were fixed for free. BTW, I'm REALLY nitpicky about my guns, so that might explain the following...
The PT92 has gone back twice: once because I completely screwed up the key lock spring and lost the associated detent ball, and second time was because the muzzle end of the barrel wasn't perfectly centered in the opening in the slide. Both were fixed and returned within 4 weeks, and they even changed out my grip screws after I'd mangled them with a tapered head screwdriver... (Everyone should buy some hollow-ground gunsmith-type screwdriver sets)
The M970 is currently out on its second trip. I noticed that the barrel wasn't completely screwed on to where the front sight was perfectly vertical, causing me to have to set the adjustable sights WAAAY off to one side, and it just looked stupid. When it came back, it had the same problem, just in the opposite direction; they'd screwed it in too far! This also caused the cylinder gap to close up to where it would bind up after a dozen rounds... Taurus paid the FedEx shipping the second time, and it came back in 4 weeks during its first trip. Hopefully, when it returns it will be all lined up straight... or else!
The M651 worked fine, but I thought the timing was a little off because of a lockup problem with the yoke, so I sent it back in along with the M970; since Taurus was paying for the shipment of the M970, they said I could just put it in the same box with no worries... I'll let you know when they both come back.
Long story shortened: my new rule is to just pay the $30-60 more and buy locally and INSPECT it thoroughly before purchase, instead of trying to save a few bucks over the Internet. Every problem could have been prevented by me not screwing with it or simply inspecting before I bought them. Also, Taurus Customer Service has been good to me, fixing my own screw-ups and me only paying shipping, or them paying for the shipping when they screwed up (they even had FedEx pick it up at my door). The 3 times I've gotten return shipments have all been at 4 weeks or less from the time I sent it.
If you have a big request, just be nice, friendly, and sunny when you call their customer service dept (the operator is always short though), and if you don't get the answer you want, call back a couple days later until you get a different person with a more sympathetic ear!
BTW, do they buy cosmoline by the ton? I think I get a few pounds of it inside every gun I buy from them!