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

What owners actually said

545 reports

74,540 miles · Feb 3, 2005

Suspension

Read full complaint

WHILE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN, HAD THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BREAK ON MY 1998 TAURUS STATION WAGON, DESTROYING THE TIRE. REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOMETHING SIMILAR, CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO SAID THE RECALL ONLY COVERED 1999 - 2001 ONES. HAD BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND TIRE REPLACED, ALONG WITH AN ALIGNMENT. AFTER RETURNING HOME, I CHECKED OUT THE DETAILS OF THE RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. INTERESTING TO SEE THAT I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH A 98 THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL PROGRAM. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTLY, THEY TOLD ME THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHO SAID HE WOULD TALK TO THE DISTRICT SERVICE REP TO SEE IF FORD WOULD COVER MY REPAIR COSTS. REP SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT I HANG ONTO MY PAPERWORK IN CASE THE RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN THE FUTURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10108491

61,000 miles · Jan 28, 2005

Structure

THERE IS A SNAPPING AND CRACKING NOISE WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THE ENTIRE FRONT FRAME RUSTED BECAUSE OF THE BAD METAL USED BY THE FACTORY. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK THE FRONT FRAME WAS NOT BUILT PROPERLY. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10099388

131,000 miles · Jan 27, 2005

Suspension

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04S17 WAS ISSUED FOR THAT COIL SPRING, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10109014

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2005

Suspension

THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *BF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED DURING A RAIN STORM. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10107052

95,000 miles · Nov 23, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE WERE PARTICLES COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND ALL OVER THE CAR. THE CONSUMER'S CHILDREN HAVE BECOME SICK AND THE CONSUMER WEARS A MASK. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WITH NO SOLUTION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10101600

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2004

Suspension

A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10099332

159,350 miles · Oct 30, 2004

Electrical System

Read full complaint

I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING. WHENEVER I PUSH THE BUTTON TO LET MY WINDOWS UP, TURN OFF MY READ DEFROST, OR HOLD ANY BUTTONS TOO LONG THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL FLASH. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I TURNED OFF MY REAR DEFROST AND MY BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED, THEN MY HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND MY CAR ALMOST SHUT DOWN, THEN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THE NEXT DAY, IT WAS NIGHT TIME, AND I SAW ANOTHER TAURUS DO THE SAME THING. BEING THAT TIME IS CHANGING AND I NEED MY HEAD LIGHTS, I WOULD HATE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT I CANT SEE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR CHECKED TO SEE IF THE ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY WAS GOING OUT, BUT ALL THE CHECKS WERE GOOD. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098019

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2004

Suspension

FORD TAURUS 1998, DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING COIL CRACKED. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE SHOULD BE A FORMAL INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE COIL SPRINGS ON 1998 TAURUS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115329

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

MY WHOLE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BECOME CORRODED BY THE COATING INSIDE OF THE HOSES THAT IS USED. I HAVE HAD MY HEATER CORE REPLACE 2 YEARS AGO AND MY RADIATOR FLUSHED. AND NOW IT IS FAILING AGAIN. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED, SO FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHY AM I LEFT HOLDING THE BAG FOR REPAIRS ON DEFECTIVE PARTS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093886

97,000 miles · Sep 21, 2004

Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES WITHIN SECONDS. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE SMOKE AND FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10092901

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.