IllustrationWHILE 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
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
What owners actually said
545 reportsTHE 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
ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER FAIL TO FUNCTION WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
VEHICLE HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO ELECTRONIC FAILURE. MECHANIC STATED DUE TO DEFECT. FROM MANUFACTUER. *AK
VEHICLE RETURNED DRIECTLY AFTER PURCHASE FOR NON-FUNCTIONAL TAIL LIGHT WHICH WAS REPLACED. CONDENSATION WAS PRESENT IN TAIL LIGHT. BULB ALONE WAS CHANGED. LIGHT FAILED AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2001. DEALER INSPECTED CAR AND FIXED LIGHT BY CHANGING LENS. UPON DELIVERY OF CAR TAIL LIGHT STILL DID NOT WORK EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE RECEIVED NEW …
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VEHICLE RETURNED DRIECTLY AFTER PURCHASE FOR NON-FUNCTIONAL TAIL LIGHT WHICH WAS REPLACED. CONDENSATION WAS PRESENT IN TAIL LIGHT. BULB ALONE WAS CHANGED. LIGHT FAILED AGAIN IN JUNE OF 2001. DEALER INSPECTED CAR AND FIXED LIGHT BY CHANGING LENS. UPON DELIVERY OF CAR TAIL LIGHT STILL DID NOT WORK EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE RECEIVED NEW NYS INSPECTION STICKER. CAR KEPT ADDITIONAL DAYS. AT THIS POINT ONLY LENS WAS CHANGED, BULB HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED, BUT CAR PASSED INSPECTION. CHARGE WAS 224.70 FOR A NEW LENS WITHOUT REPAIR BEING COMPLETED. DEALER REP STATED THAT SILICONE CAULK COULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO STOP LEAK AND NEW LENS WAS NOT NECESSARY. METRO FORD THEN CLEANED A "CORRODED LIGHT SOCKET" FOR NO CHARGE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE LENS CHANGE AND NOT PRICE GOUGED CONSUMER. ALSO HOW CAN CAR PASS INSPECTION W/O TAIL LIGHTS. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF NYS INSPECTION LAW AT LEAST. THIS CAR HAD BEEN DELIVERED AS REPAIRED AND IF WE HAD NOT CHECKED TO SEE WE WOULD HAVE ASSUMED THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THIS CORROSION PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO FORD, IS COMMON, THEREFORE SHOULDN'T THE PROBLEM BE CONSIDERED AS A RECALL FIX AND NOT BLOWN OFF AS AN ANNOYANCE. PLEASE ADVISE D WILKES. *AK
ON 6-28-01 I WAS ON I-75 GOING NORTH. MY TIRE UNRAVELED ON ME. MY HUSBAND AND A STATE TROOPER PUT ON A SPARE. MY HUSBAND HAD MY TIRES ROTATED 2 MONTHS BEFORE. I HAVE HAD 3 FLATS AND TIRE REPLACEMENTS ON MY CAR. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS. NICK (800-392-3673) TOLD ME FORD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENERAL TIRES. HE TRA…
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ON 6-28-01 I WAS ON I-75 GOING NORTH. MY TIRE UNRAVELED ON ME. MY HUSBAND AND A STATE TROOPER PUT ON A SPARE. MY HUSBAND HAD MY TIRES ROTATED 2 MONTHS BEFORE. I HAVE HAD 3 FLATS AND TIRE REPLACEMENTS ON MY CAR. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS. NICK (800-392-3673) TOLD ME FORD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENERAL TIRES. HE TRANSFERRED ME TO GENERAL TIRES (800-847-3349). EILEEN AT GENERAL TOOK THE COMPLAINT AND GAVE ME A FILE #38421. I AGREED TO GO TO BELLE TIRE TO HAVE THE TIRE INSPECTED. EILEEN CALLED BELLE TIRE. I TOOK THE TIRE TO BELLE TIRE ON 7-2-01. DARRELL AT BELLE TIRE (313-271-9400) CALLED GENERAL TIRE. JILL AT GENERAL TOLD HIM A FILE SHOULD NOT HAVE EVER BEEN MADE ON MY COMPLAINT AND I SHOULD JUST TAKE THE TIRE BACK TO WHERE I GOT IT. SHE WAS VERY ABRUPT AND RUDE. I LEFT.*AK
BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES REDUCING BRAKING CAPABILITY. *AK
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
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A 1993 FORD, PROBE. AT AN IMPACT OF 45 MPH, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
PE00 020 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAT AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. HE WAS IN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDERS. LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. IT WAS GOODYEAR TIRES. CONSUMER WILL FILL IN MORE INFORMATION THEN NEEDED.*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.