IllustrationWHILE MAKING A TURN ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Taurus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
1325–50K
3550–75K
3075–100K
39100–150K
16150K+
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
Steering complaints
40 reportsWHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING.*AK
POWER STEERING DEVELOPED A LEAK AND SUDDENLY BECAME NON FUNCTIONAL. SYSTEM FAILED, AND IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK *SCC
VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN DUE TO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER REPAIRED FOR 5TH TIME BY REPLACING STABILIZER BAR AND SWAY BAR. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER WAS DISTORTED WHEN PLAYING TAPES, THE HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN.*JB *TT
WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED AND WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH AND SLOW TO 10 MPH TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP COMPLETELY, DEALER REPLACED THE BELTS BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *YD
REMOTE KEY DOES NOT WORK. CONSUMER NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK OR LOCK VEHICLES DOORS. ALSO, ALARM DOES NOT SOUND WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD INTERMITTENTLY/MOMENTARILY STOP OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE AND RESTART IT FOR POWER STEERING TO OPERATE AGAIN. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK
A "SQUEAKING" NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM LEFT FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHILE PARKING OR TRAVELING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT TIE ROD ON DRIVER'S SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
STEERING GOT TIGHT, WHEN TURNING WHEEL, IT MADE NOISE. RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND BALLJOINTS ALL FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *AK
Official recalls
298V198000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.