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 reports
104,000 miles · Apr 12, 2008
Suspension
THE COIL SPRING IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE PUNCTURED THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY FLATTENING IT AND RENDERING IT UNDRIVABLE COULDN'T EVEN PUT ON THE SPARE BECAUSE OF THE SPRING I HAD MY 7 MONTH OLD SON IN THE CAR AND THANKFULLY WE WERE JUST BACKING UP AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY YET! THIS HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LAST YEAR. I AM RE…
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THE COIL SPRING IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE PUNCTURED THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY FLATTENING IT AND RENDERING IT UNDRIVABLE COULDN'T EVEN PUT ON THE SPARE BECAUSE OF THE SPRING I HAD MY 7 MONTH OLD SON IN THE CAR AND THANKFULLY WE WERE JUST BACKING UP AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY YET! THIS HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LAST YEAR. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGER THAT THIS POSES! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224284
133,000 miles · Mar 13, 2008
Electrical System
THE DOOR ADJAR SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. ALL DOORS ARE SHUT BUT LIGHT STAYS ON.WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AND ALSO THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN AND ALSO FOR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO OPEN CAR DOORS WHEN MOVING BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK. I HAVE TAKEN TH…
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THE DOOR ADJAR SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. ALL DOORS ARE SHUT BUT LIGHT STAYS ON.WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AND ALSO THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN AND ALSO FOR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO OPEN CAR DOORS WHEN MOVING BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK. I HAVE TAKEN THE BULBS FROM THE INTERIOR OUT TO PREVENT RUNNING BATTERY DOWN. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE SENSORS IN DOORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10221097
82,000 miles · Jan 12, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE OIL IS LEAKING ON EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM BACK SIDE OF ENGINE. STRONG SMELL AND OIL ON GROUND' 81,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKETS. STILL LEAKING OIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214620
75,615 miles · Sep 16, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
TWO SEPARATE TIMES BROUGHT VEHICLE TO NORMAL STOP AND ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE ON ITS OWN. HAD TO KEEP BRAKES APPLIED FULL STRENGTH. RPM WERE APPROX 2000 TO 2500. HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BOTH TIMES TO STOP THE SURGING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10203149
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
STUCK THERMOSTAT CAUSED A BOIL OVER. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE INTEGRATED PRESSURE/OVERFLOW BOTTLE CRACKED AND CAUSED A MAJOR LOSS OF COOLANT. THIS ALSO LEAD TO THE HEATER CORE BECOMING BLOCKED DUE TO THE LOSS OF COOLANT. UPDATED 12/07/07 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10201877
100,000 miles · Aug 24, 2007
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS LOWER TO THE GROUND. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED. THE REP…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS LOWER TO THE GROUND. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FAILED. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE SPRING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10200694
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2007
SeatsCrashInjury
A SEAT BACK FAILURE HAPPENED TO MY MOTHERS FORD TAURUS DURING A REAR END COLLISION, WHICH CAUSED HER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T REACH THE BRAKE OR STEERING WHEEL AFTER THE SEAT BACK BROKE. WHAT SHOULD OF BEEN A MINOR ACCIDENT TURNED INTO A VERY MAJOR ACCIDENT. AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD MAKE CARS THAT'…
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A SEAT BACK FAILURE HAPPENED TO MY MOTHERS FORD TAURUS DURING A REAR END COLLISION, WHICH CAUSED HER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T REACH THE BRAKE OR STEERING WHEEL AFTER THE SEAT BACK BROKE. WHAT SHOULD OF BEEN A MINOR ACCIDENT TURNED INTO A VERY MAJOR ACCIDENT. AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD MAKE CARS THAT'S SEATS DON'T BREAK WITH THE SMALLEST REAR COLLISION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10198687
116,000 miles · May 21, 2007
Power Train
JERKING, DOESN'T WANT TO GO, FELT LIKE FUEL FILTER, BUT THINK ITS TRANSMISSION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10191295
65,300 miles · May 17, 2007
Suspension
I OWN A 1998 FORD TAURUS. AFTER READING ANOTHER REPORT OF MALFUNCTIONING OF FRONT COIL SPRINGS I HAVE DECIDED TO REPORT THE SAME TYPE OF INCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE IN 2005. THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE, THE ENTIRE SPRING WAS LODGED THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE - THE VEHICLE WA…
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I OWN A 1998 FORD TAURUS. AFTER READING ANOTHER REPORT OF MALFUNCTIONING OF FRONT COIL SPRINGS I HAVE DECIDED TO REPORT THE SAME TYPE OF INCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE IN 2005. THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE, THE ENTIRE SPRING WAS LODGED THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE - THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE, AND HAD TO BE MOVED ON A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10191017
106,023 miles · May 15, 2007
Equipment
AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) SYSTEM FAILED; NO COOLED AIR COMING OUT OF SYSTEM; 1998 FORD TAURUS GL V6 3.0L; ONLY 106,000 MILES; HAD TO REPLACE DISCHARGE LINE; HAD TO REPLACE MANIFOLD LINES AT COMPRESSOR; HAD TO EVACUATE AND CHARGE SYSTEM. PARTS INCLUDED A/C MANIFOLD LINE SET, DISCHARGE LINE, FREON. TOTAL COST: $620. *AK
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.
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.
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