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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 →
545Owner complaints

Model-year median: 318

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

74 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

ROTOR SERVICE ON FRONT END OF VEHICLE ONCE EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TIRES SHAKING, CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING, AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN REAR END WHEN BRAKING. THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER MAKE A BUZZING NOISE, THE BR…

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ROTOR SERVICE ON FRONT END OF VEHICLE ONCE EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TIRES SHAKING, CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING, AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN REAR END WHEN BRAKING. THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER MAKE A BUZZING NOISE, THE BRAKES PULSATE. THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE AND ROTORS FAILED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE MAKES A BUZZING NOISE WHEN START. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8014309

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DURING NORMAL BRAKING VEHICLE JERKS AND PULSATES, DEALER STATES DRUMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8007689

19,000 miles · Sep 7, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE AT A SET SPEED WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE WELL BEYOND PRESET SPEED. VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE 15 MPH OVER PRESET SPEED. BRAKES ROTORS WARP CONSTANTLY. ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED OR REPLACED OVER 5 TIMES. ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT DECREASE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS NO…

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CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE AT A SET SPEED WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE WELL BEYOND PRESET SPEED. VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE 15 MPH OVER PRESET SPEED. BRAKES ROTORS WARP CONSTANTLY. ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED OR REPLACED OVER 5 TIMES. ENGINE SPEED WILL NOT DECREASE WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS NOT RELEASED. DEALER CLAIM ALL TAURUS WITH 3.0L DURATIC ENGINES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM NO TECHNICAL BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO RESOLVE ANY OF THESE ISSUES. THIS REQUIRES CONSTANT BRAKING AND CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTES TO ACCELERATED BRAKE WEAR AND POSSIBLY THE ROTORS WARPING SO OFTEN. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NONE HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. NHTSA HAS COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS IN YOUR ELECTRIC FILES REGARDING THESE SAME ISSUES, YET NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. WHY? *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**751827

NHTSA ODI #10006940

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKES FAILED AND WAS FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #562978

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ROTORS REPLACED TWICE / RESURFACED 4X IN 30000 MI. PADS ALSO REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 30000 MI. VEHICLE SHAKES SIDE TO SIDE WILDLY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT SPEED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #748621

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICE BRAKES WERE SPONGY WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN, BUT VEHICLE COUNTINED TO S TRAVEL. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK MODE, AND TURNED ENGINE OFF, AND VEHICLE STILL TRAVELED. CONSUMER STATED THAT ACCLERATOR WAS STUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #892700

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES REDUCING BRAKING CAPABILITY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747307

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS HORRIBLE AND DANGEROUS. I CHANGE BRAKES EVERY 20,000 MILES OR LESS. I DRIVE HIGHWAY MILES AND SHOULD BE CHANGING AS OFTEN. ALL I GET TOLD BY THE DEALER IS THAT THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED EVERY 20K MILES. THE CAR SHAKES AND MAKES NOISES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747052

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #889551

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL START VIBRATING. ROTORS HAD BEEN RESURFACED FOUR TIMES ALREADY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #889005

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.