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

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2003

Power Train

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WITHOUT NOTICE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ODI #10003704

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2003

Vehicle Speed Control

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. *JG *JB

NHTSA ODI #10001503

73,000 miles · Jan 2, 2003

Power Train

1998 FORD TAURUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #10000687

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2002

Power Train

TRANSMISSION DOWN-SHIFTED AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING SUDDEN DE-ACCELERATION WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS ALMOST CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT BEHIND ME. CARS WERE FORCED OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID SMAHSING INTO ME AND OTHER VEHICLES TRING TO AVOID ME CLOSE CALL. LUCKY FOR ME EVERYONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND NO ONE GOT HURT. THIS TRANSMIS…

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NHTSA ODI #770747

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECOME INNOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS. REAR BRAKES SQUEALING AND MOANING FAILED CAUSED BY THE ROTORS. ROTOR WHICH WENT BAD CAUSING DAMAGES THE REAR BRAKES AND PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #8024083

Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2002

Structure

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PROBLEM: DOOR-AJAR WARNING LAMP ON; ALL DOORS CHECKED, INCLUDING TAILGATE; ALL ARE CLOSED FIRMLY (NOT SLAMMED SHUT). INTERIOR OVERHEAD LAMP AND UNDERDASH LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT CONSISTENTLY AFTER THE ENGINE'S STARTED AND PUT INTO GEAR. APPEARS THAT RANDOM ORDER OF CHECK/RE-CLOSE DOORS; LOCK AND UNLOCK DOORS AND TAILGATE BY SMARTKEY OR MANUALLY; SET AND RELEASE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE'S NO CONSISTENT PATTERN TO GETTING THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. GERVAIS FORD SUGGESTS THAT IT'S ONE OF THE CONTACT SWITCHES, USUALLY THE DRIVER-SIDE, THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THIS, RATHER THAN A RELAY OR TIMER; BUT THAT THEY HAVE TO CATCH IT IN THE ACT TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE IT. REALLY AGGRAVATING TO HAVE TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO AVOID RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY IN THE WINTER, UNTIL WE CAN GET IT TO GERVAIS'S SHOP. DT

NHTSA ODI #770557

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 · Nov 18, 2002

Steering

CONSUMER STATES HE HAD HIS POWER STEERING GEAR BOX REPLACED. HE WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED AT LEAST 100000 MILES OR MORE AND HIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30000 MILES. HE WAS CHARGED APPROX 800.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. TS

NHTSA ODI #8022953

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2002

Power Train

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ACCELERATOR AND THE RPM WILL RAISED UP TO MORE THEN 3 RPM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING BUT YES IT WAS TURN ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP BUT CONSUMER REFUSED TO DO IT BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE…

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NHTSA ODI #8022616

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2002

Steering

AFTER ABOUT 60000 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT THAT DRIVES THE POWER STEERING STARTED SLIPPING WHEN WE HIT A PUDDLE, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO STOP. BELT REPLACED AT 68,000, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED STARTING AGAIN AT ABOUT 85000 MILES. VERY DANGEROUS, UNEXPECTED FAILURES. DT

NHTSA ODI #769185

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.