Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reports
135,000 miles · Jan 27, 2011
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON HAD CONSTANTLY BEEN GOING ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE …
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE OVERDRIVE BUTTON HAD CONSTANTLY BEEN GOING ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 135,000.
NHTSA ODI #10379323
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2007
Seat Belts
I OWN A 1998 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON. THE REAR SEAT BELTS LAP AND BOTH SHOULDERS HAVE GOTTEN JAMMED IN THE SIDE COMPARTMENTS TWICE AND WERE UNUSABLE. I HAD IT REAPAIRED ONCE AT NO COST AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. BOTH REAR DOOR PANELS ARE COMING APART ALSO. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AN…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 1998 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON. THE REAR SEAT BELTS LAP AND BOTH SHOULDERS HAVE GOTTEN JAMMED IN THE SIDE COMPARTMENTS TWICE AND WERE UNUSABLE. I HAD IT REAPAIRED ONCE AT NO COST AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. BOTH REAR DOOR PANELS ARE COMING APART ALSO. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR WHERE DOOR STARTED TO SEPARATE. I BROUGHT THE ISSUE UP TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR IT FOR $300.00 AND UP EACH SEATBELT. I EXPLAINED IT WAS A SAFTEY ISSUE AND THEY SIMPLY SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE. I HAPPENED TO COME ACROSS YOUR WEBSITE AND DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME GET THIS REPAIR DONE. I CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AT THIS TIME AND I CAN NOT TRANSPORT MORE THEN 1 PERSON IN THE REAR SEAT, ONLY IN THE MIDDLE. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #10192702
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
BRAKE LINE CORROSION AND SEPARATION CAUSING FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. RESULTING IN ALSO FRONT SWAY AND LINK BAR DAMAGE. NO BRAKES. FRONT SWAY BARS BREAK WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED A CERTAIN DEGREE. FRONT MIDDLE OF HOOD ON ALL TAURUS SEEM TO LOSE THE PAINT DO TO ROCK OR DEBRIS BEING ABLE TO BOUNCE ON THE BUMPER AND HIT CENTER. I HAV…
Read full complaint
BRAKE LINE CORROSION AND SEPARATION CAUSING FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. RESULTING IN ALSO FRONT SWAY AND LINK BAR DAMAGE. NO BRAKES. FRONT SWAY BARS BREAK WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED A CERTAIN DEGREE. FRONT MIDDLE OF HOOD ON ALL TAURUS SEEM TO LOSE THE PAINT DO TO ROCK OR DEBRIS BEING ABLE TO BOUNCE ON THE BUMPER AND HIT CENTER. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 50 TAURUS'S MISSING PAINT IN THE SAME AREA. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO A CERTIFIED FORD DEALER. WATER HOLDING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WILL CRACK UNDER EXTREME OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10135744
Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2005
Suspension
MY 1998 FORD TAURUS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM EXACTLY AS THE RECALL STATES FOR THE 1999 FORD TAURUS RE: THE SPRING COIL BREAKING AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE. THIS RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE, COIL, SPRING, AND MOUNT REPAIR, AS WELL AS A TOW AND RENTAL CAR. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE IT HAPPEN IN MY DRIVEWAY INSTEAD OF ON THE INTERSTAT…
Read full complaint
MY 1998 FORD TAURUS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM EXACTLY AS THE RECALL STATES FOR THE 1999 FORD TAURUS RE: THE SPRING COIL BREAKING AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE. THIS RESULTED IN A FLAT TIRE, COIL, SPRING, AND MOUNT REPAIR, AS WELL AS A TOW AND RENTAL CAR. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE IT HAPPEN IN MY DRIVEWAY INSTEAD OF ON THE INTERSTATE POSSIBLY RESULTING IN DEATH OF MY CHILD AND SELF. IT CAUSED AND IMMEDIATE BLOW OUT OF MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. I AM VERY ANGRY THAT I HAVE BEEN WATCHING FOR REPORTS ON POSSIBLE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE YEAR AND PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND NONE!!!! AMAZING THAT IT HAPPENS IN 1999 MAKES, BUT NOT 1998. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS MATTER AS I KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER 1998S. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ANTICIPATED COOPERATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10105839
80,000 miles · Dec 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO FAILURE, THE CAR IS A 1998 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE OWNER PREVIOUS OF ME SPENT $13000 REPLACING THE ENGINE DUE TO A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILURE IN AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THE NHTSA IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS. I HAVE MANY SOURCES FROM A CAR CLUB WITH OVER 400 DOCUMENTED CAMSHAFT FAILURES IN THESE C…
Read full complaint
NO FAILURE, THE CAR IS A 1998 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE OWNER PREVIOUS OF ME SPENT $13000 REPLACING THE ENGINE DUE TO A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILURE IN AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THE NHTSA IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS. I HAVE MANY SOURCES FROM A CAR CLUB WITH OVER 400 DOCUMENTED CAMSHAFT FAILURES IN THESE CARS. THAT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE NUMBER THAT HAVE ACTUALLY HAD THIS PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE SOON ABOUT THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERYDAY AND THEIR ENGINE BLOWS UP AND THEY HAVE TO DISH OUT 15000 DOLLARS WHICH FORD DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEARCH THE WEB FOR FORD TAURUS V8 SHO CAMSHAFT FAILURES AND YOU WILL HAVE A VERY LONG LIST.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10100833
49,980 miles · Oct 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
POSSIBLE CAM FAILURE RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE LOST IF NOT FOR ALL FOUR CAMSHAFTS WELDED THIS DAY FOR THE COST OF $600. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041692
85,757 miles · Mar 20, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAM SPROCKET FAILURE ON FORD TAURUS V8 SHO. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10010782
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THERE WERE TWO COPIES OF CONSUMERS REPORT (BOUND IN FOLDERS). RESPONDED TO REPORT OF DEFECTIVE ENGINE CAMSHAFTS IN 1998 FORD TAURUS SHO VEHICLES. SENT A VOQ TO THE CONSUMER FOR FUTURE USE. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #568316
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Power Train
SPEEDOMETER SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #875904
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
Power Train
SPEEDOMETER SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #875903
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1998 Ford Taurus Sho Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year