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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 →

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

What owners actually said

545 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED NEW. DEALER CUT ROTORS UPON INITIAL COMPLAINT AND PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN 3000 MILES. DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE ROTORS AT MY COST INFORMING ME THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ROTORS WERE AGAIN REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS AGAIN RETURNE…

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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED NEW. DEALER CUT ROTORS UPON INITIAL COMPLAINT AND PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN 3000 MILES. DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE ROTORS AT MY COST INFORMING ME THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ROTORS WERE AGAIN REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS AGAIN RETURNED ONLY 2,000 MILES LATER. THIS APPEARS TO ME TO BE A DESIGN FAILURE AS I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #744344

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN WOULD VIBRATE MODERATELY TO VIOLENTLY. DEALERSHIP LOOKED INTO THIS DEFECT AND REPLACED FRONT ROTORS/ TIRES, AND BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886132

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2001
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK GEAR ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 3500 - 4000 RPMS. ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELING DOWN ROAD AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AFTER HE TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. BRAKES HAVE TO BE PRESSED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN, HAPPENS RANDOMLY AS WELL. PLEASE PRO…

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VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK GEAR ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 3500 - 4000 RPMS. ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELING DOWN ROAD AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AFTER HE TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. BRAKES HAVE TO BE PRESSED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN, HAPPENS RANDOMLY AS WELL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886131

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE HAS NO COMPRESSION BRAKING, IT FREEWHEELS ON DOWNHILL GRADES BY AS MUCH AS 25MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE BRAKE REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #744134

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743498

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE DESIGNED POORLY. WHEN TRANSFERING FEET FROM ONE PEDAL TO ANOTHER, CONSUMER'S FOOT WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN THE PEDALS. *AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #883804

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHEN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION CAR SEEMS TO SURGE AT ANY GIVEN TIME .YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR IN THAT KIN OF TRAFFIC THAT THE CAR WILL DO THE SAME THING AND SURGE.THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SLOW THE CAR DOWN IS PUTTING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE.YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL SURGE. DEALERSHIP PUT A NEW T…

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WHEN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION CAR SEEMS TO SURGE AT ANY GIVEN TIME .YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR IN THAT KIN OF TRAFFIC THAT THE CAR WILL DO THE SAME THING AND SURGE.THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SLOW THE CAR DOWN IS PUTTING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE.YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL SURGE. DEALERSHIP PUT A NEW TRANS , REPLACED AIR BY PASS VALVE,REPLACE SOME COMPUTER CHIP, REPROGRAMMED PCM. CAR HAS BEEN IN 4 TIMES IT STILL SURGES DEALERSHIP STATES CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AFTER KEEPIN CAR FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. .

NHTSA ODI #742256

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2001
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 1998 FORD TAURUS ARE EXTREMELY INSUFFICIENT REGARDING THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ILLUMINATION. THIS IS A RESULT OF POOR HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR DESIGN. OTHER TAURUS OWNERS I HAVE TALKED WITH EXPRESSED THE SAME GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. I'VE DRIVEN A 2000 FORD FOCUS, WHICH DID NOT EXHIBIT THE SAME PR…

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THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 1998 FORD TAURUS ARE EXTREMELY INSUFFICIENT REGARDING THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ILLUMINATION. THIS IS A RESULT OF POOR HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR DESIGN. OTHER TAURUS OWNERS I HAVE TALKED WITH EXPRESSED THE SAME GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. I'VE DRIVEN A 2000 FORD FOCUS, WHICH DID NOT EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS CAR, A 1996 FORD CONTOUR, HAD EXCELLENT HEADLIGHTS. THE LIGHTS ON THE TAURUS ARE EASILY "OVER DRIVEN" AT ANY SPEED OVER 35 M.P.H. AT NIGHT. THIS RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE TAURUS DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM? I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD OFFER AN IMPROVED REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT FOR DEALER RETROFIT TO CORRECT THIS VERY HAZARDOUS SAFETY DEFICIT.

NHTSA ODI #741876

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS IS TO REGISTER THE ENGINE R.P.M. SURGING THAT OCCURS WHEN THE FORD TAURUS IS PLACED IN PARK FOLLOWING ROAD USE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER TAURUS OWNERS AND THEIR COMMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH MY EXPERIENCES OF THE ENGINE RACING TO 3,000 R.P.M. OR HIGHER. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED TO REVERSE OR DRIVE WITHOUT THE BR…

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THIS IS TO REGISTER THE ENGINE R.P.M. SURGING THAT OCCURS WHEN THE FORD TAURUS IS PLACED IN PARK FOLLOWING ROAD USE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER TAURUS OWNERS AND THEIR COMMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH MY EXPERIENCES OF THE ENGINE RACING TO 3,000 R.P.M. OR HIGHER. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED TO REVERSE OR DRIVE WITHOUT THE BRAKE FIRMLY APPLIED, CERTAINLY WHAT WOULD BE UNATTENDED ACCELERATION WILL OCCUR WITH LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES. I'VE BEEN TO MY FORD DEALER (MARSHALL FORD, INC. OF UNION, MS). THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TRIED THEIR BEST TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH. HOWEVER, MY COMMUNICATIONS WITH FORD MOTOR CO. REGARDING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM HAVE NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY. THEY HAVE DENIED ANY EXISTENCE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THE NUMBER OF TAURUS OWNERS WITH IDENTICAL ENGINE R.P.M. ACCELERATION COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE REFLECT A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND CONSULT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING THE ENGINE R.P.M. SURGING AS DESCRIBED, WHICH IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #741875

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Power Train

THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON WENT OUT CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE INTO GEAR ONCE STOPPED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #881018

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.