SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1998 Ford Taurus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Ford Taurus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 318.

About this comparison →
545Owner complaints

Model-year median: 318

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1,205
1995825
1996770
1997545
1998874
19991,195
20001,037
2001
Compare all Taurus years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
111Service Brakes, Hydraulic
74Power Train
69Engine And Engine Cooling
62Suspension
59
All reported categories
Steering
40Air Bags
39Electrical System
34Seat Belts
28Structure
22Visibility
17Interior Lighting
15Exterior Lighting
14Unknown Or Other
12Fuel System, Gasoline
11Tires
10Equipment
9Latches/locks/linkages
7Seats
7Wheels
5Service Brakes, Air
4Service Brakes
3Engine
2Fuel System, Other
2Child Seat
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

141 reports with mileage · 404 unknown

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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

61 crash reports14 fire reports38 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

34 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 1999
Electrical System

WE CONNECTED THE IMMERSIONBLOCK HEATER AT 9:00, MAR 2. AT ABOUT 8:30. MAR 3, WWE DISCOVERED OUR CAR HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED, THE FRONT END BEING DEMOLISHED: THE ENGINE BURNED TH ROUGH, MUCH OF THE FRONT END BEING MELTED. ROEN FORD PERSONNEL STATE THE CUASE TO BE "UNIDENTIFIED" BUT SUGGEST THE CAUSE MIGHT BE A SHORT IN THE E…

Read full complaint

WE CONNECTED THE IMMERSIONBLOCK HEATER AT 9:00, MAR 2. AT ABOUT 8:30. MAR 3, WWE DISCOVERED OUR CAR HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED, THE FRONT END BEING DEMOLISHED: THE ENGINE BURNED TH ROUGH, MUCH OF THE FRONT END BEING MELTED. ROEN FORD PERSONNEL STATE THE CUASE TO BE "UNIDENTIFIED" BUT SUGGEST THE CAUSE MIGHT BE A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, PERHAPS THE BLOCK HEATER.

NHTSA ODI #704463

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

THE DESIGN LOCATION IN WHICH A STARTER IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE OIL FILTER IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. YH

NHTSA ODI #608924

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

NEEDS SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING, COMPUTER CHIP MALFUNCTION. MJS

NHTSA ODI #608013

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1999
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING ELECTRONIC PARTS ARE NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY, THE PANEL LIGHTS WILL BLINK, AS WELL AS THE HEADLIGHTS. SOMETIMES CONSUMER CAN'T GET THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON AT ALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO DEALER THREE TIMS AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833556

Official recalls

2

98V198000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Aug 25, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

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.