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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 →

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

Interior Lighting complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2007
Interior Lighting

MY DOOR AJAR LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE ALL SHUT. SOMETIMES I AM ABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE A DOOR AND THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT, BUT OTHER TIMES THE LIGHT STAYS ON NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. THE DOME LIGHT WILL STAY ON DUE TO THIS AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BULB OUT IN ORDER TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN…

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MY DOOR AJAR LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE ALL SHUT. SOMETIMES I AM ABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE A DOOR AND THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT, BUT OTHER TIMES THE LIGHT STAYS ON NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. THE DOME LIGHT WILL STAY ON DUE TO THIS AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BULB OUT IN ORDER TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR QUITE AWHILE NOW AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND TWO BATTERIES WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE CAUSED FROM THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A DEFECT SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE AND IF SO WILL THE DEALER FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177946

49,000 miles · Apr 2, 2003
Interior Lighting

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1998 FORD TAURUS WITH 49,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. AFTER I GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES THINKS THAT MY DRIVERS DOOR IS STILL OPEN. THE DOOR IS AJAR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS LIT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR SOME TIME.…

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I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1998 FORD TAURUS WITH 49,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. AFTER I GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES THINKS THAT MY DRIVERS DOOR IS STILL OPEN. THE DOOR IS AJAR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS LIT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR SOME TIME. I CAN MANUALLY TURN OFF THE DOME LIGHT BUT THE UNDER-DASH LIGHTS STAY ON. I DON'T NOTICE IT DURING THE DAY BUT IT IS SOMEWHAT DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. THE DOOR-OPEN DETECTOR IS NO LONGER A BUTTON BUT IS INSTEAD SOME SORT OF ELECTRONIC SENSOR BUILT INTO THE HINGE-SPRING MECHAMISM FOR THE DOOR. IT WILL ALSO NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK THE DRIVERS DOOR. I HIT THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS BUTTON AND ALL FOUR DOORS LOCK THEN THE DRIVERS DOOR UNLOCKS ALL BY ITSELF. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW. IT IS THE INTERIOR UNDER-DASH LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT THAT IS DISTRACTING. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10013829

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2002
Interior Lighting

WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AS NORMAL AND THEN SHOULD GO OUT WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOORS. CONSUMER STATES LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO LOOK LIKE MIRRORS. CONSUMER STATES' VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED BY THIS MIRROR LIKE IMAGE, MAKING IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER.

NHTSA ODI #8023108

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2002
Interior Lighting

INTERIOR LIGHT TO ALERT ANY DOOR IS OPEN, COMES OFF AND ON WITHOUT ANY DOORS BEING OPEN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8008788

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2002
Electrical SystemExterior LightingInterior Lighting

DOME AND DOOR LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY STAY ON. *AK DEALER REPLACED DRIVER DOOR SWITCH. BUT PROBLEM REOCCURED IN ADDITION TO THE WARNING BELL CHIMING WHEN KEYS ARE IN IGNITION WITH THE DOORS CLOSED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8006947

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2001
Interior Lighting

FIRST THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ON FOR HOURS. WE WERE IN THE ACT OF MOVING TO LA. I CALLED THE1-800 NUMBER IN OWNER'S MANUAL. WAS TOLD PROBLEM USED TO EXIST WITH MERCURY BUT NOT WITH TAURUS. ARE NOT THE TWO CARS THE SAME, EXCEPT FOR THE NAMESASSIGNED TO THEM? AT ANY RATE,I WAS TOLD TO PULL OUT BULB OR GET TO PANEL FOR FUSE. I P…

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FIRST THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ON FOR HOURS. WE WERE IN THE ACT OF MOVING TO LA. I CALLED THE1-800 NUMBER IN OWNER'S MANUAL. WAS TOLD PROBLEM USED TO EXIST WITH MERCURY BUT NOT WITH TAURUS. ARE NOT THE TWO CARS THE SAME, EXCEPT FOR THE NAMESASSIGNED TO THEM? AT ANY RATE,I WAS TOLD TO PULL OUT BULB OR GET TO PANEL FOR FUSE. I PULLED OUT BULB. THEN THE TURBO COMPONENT IN ENGINE GAVE OUT AFTER I ARRIVED IN LA. AAMCO HAD TO TOW IT AWAY BECAUSE, AT BEST, IT LURCHED FORWARD OR BACKWARD A FEW FEET. AAMCO REPLACED TURBO UNIT FOR 1400.00 THEY REPLACED BULB INTERIOR. WITHIN A WEEK THE OLD PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF, THE DOORS WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, AND ANOTHER PROBLEM STARED--THE SYMBOL FOR A DOOR NOT CLOSED WOULD STAY ON. NO MATTER IF I RE-RE-RE- CLOSED THE DOORS. I TOOK IT BACK TO AAMCO. THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP THAT SPECIALIZED IN THIS PROBLEM. WELL, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THE DEALER HERE IS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AT NO COST. I'M GUESSING --NOT --BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL. AT ANY RATE, I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR IN BECAUSE I DID/DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY. THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT AND SYMBOL WENT AWAY, BUT A NEW PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED. THE ANTENNA WILL NOT GO DOWN. THANKS FOR READING THIS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #754730

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2001
Interior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

MY DOOR LATCH AND/OR 'DOOR AJAR' LIGHT LATCH IS NOT WORKING, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME AND MY BATTERY STAYS RUN DOWN(I'VE HAD TO REPLACE IT ONCE ALREADY), AND NOT ONLY IS IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON, IT IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ON THIS. THANK YOU, MS. [XXX]. FRAME. *AK PART…

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MY DOOR LATCH AND/OR 'DOOR AJAR' LIGHT LATCH IS NOT WORKING, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME AND MY BATTERY STAYS RUN DOWN(I'VE HAD TO REPLACE IT ONCE ALREADY), AND NOT ONLY IS IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON, IT IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ON THIS. THANK YOU, MS. [XXX]. FRAME. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #753547

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2001
Interior Lighting

INSIDE COURTESY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR 25 MINUTES OR UP TO AN HOUR BEFORE GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897210

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001
Interior LightingStructure

THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH STAYED ON PROHIBITING THE POWER LOCKS TO PERFORM AND KEEP THE DOME LIGHT ON. WHEN TRYING THE LOCK THE DOOR WITH THE POWER LOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR CONSOLE, THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK AS THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR READ A DOOR WAS OPEN. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH COASTAL FORD, THE REPAIR IS WAS NOT COVERED. I CONTACTED…

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THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH STAYED ON PROHIBITING THE POWER LOCKS TO PERFORM AND KEEP THE DOME LIGHT ON. WHEN TRYING THE LOCK THE DOOR WITH THE POWER LOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR CONSOLE, THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK AS THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR READ A DOOR WAS OPEN. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH COASTAL FORD, THE REPAIR IS WAS NOT COVERED. I CONTACTED FORD AT (800)392-3673. I WAS TOLD BY ESSENCE, THE PROBLEM WITH NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL; THEREFORE, I AM NOT ENTITLED TO THE REIMBURSEMENT. I PAID COASTAL FORD $101.34 FOR THIS REPAIR. I SAW ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE COME IN WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINT BY OTHER FORD OWNERS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE TO RECEIVING COMPENSATION. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ODI #748357

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2000
Interior LightingSeat BeltsVehicle Speed Control

CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AFTER CAR IS PUT INTO PARK, NOW IT IS DOING IT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND NOT GO OUT, RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF BY IT'S SELF, ELECTRIC SEAT ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME, GOES BACK THEN WILL NOT GO BACK UP, CAR WILL INCREASE IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE IN PARK AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO…

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CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AFTER CAR IS PUT INTO PARK, NOW IT IS DOING IT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND NOT GO OUT, RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF BY IT'S SELF, ELECTRIC SEAT ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME, GOES BACK THEN WILL NOT GO BACK UP, CAR WILL INCREASE IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE IN PARK AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP UNLESS YOU TURN OFF ENGINE, STARTING TO CLIMB IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #723859

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.