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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.

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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

111 reports
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175,500 miles · Oct 17, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

THIS IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN WHILE DRIVING MY TEENAGE SON'S VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECREASE IN SPEED. WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP, WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE ACCELERATE WITHOUT HITTING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIAL…

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THIS IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN WHILE DRIVING MY TEENAGE SON'S VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECREASE IN SPEED. WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP, WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE ACCELERATE WITHOUT HITTING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY SINCE ITS A TEENAGERS VEHICLE. I SEE THAT NEWER TAURUSES HAD A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MANY WERE REPORTING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MY SON'S DID TONIGHT. ALSO, WHEN I PLACED HIS VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE REVVED UP TO 4000 RPM'S LIKE SOMEONE WAS HITTING THE GAS. I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF BEFORE IT BLEW THE ENGINE. IT WAS NERVE RACKING. THIS IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OF DEATH TO MY CHILD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648298

140,920 miles · Feb 21, 2013
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP AT A LIGHT ON A HIGHWAY ACCESS ROAD, THE VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STOPPING. IT STARTED VIOLENTLY JERKING AND VIBRATING AND THE BRAKES WERE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE RPM'S READ IN THE 4'S. I PULLED OVER AND IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY REACHED 45 MPH WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I…

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WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP AT A LIGHT ON A HIGHWAY ACCESS ROAD, THE VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STOPPING. IT STARTED VIOLENTLY JERKING AND VIBRATING AND THE BRAKES WERE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE RPM'S READ IN THE 4'S. I PULLED OVER AND IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY REACHED 45 MPH WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS RELUCTANT TO HAVE IT REACH A GREATER SPEED SO I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. IT ONCE AGAIN DID NOT WANT TO RESPOND PROPERLY TO THE BRAKES. I CALLED FORD AND EPLAINED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING, THERE ARE NO RECALLS. I RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THAT STICKS TO THE THROTTLE AND LEAVES IT OPEN. I ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED FORD FOR AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. I CALLED THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THAT PART IS AFTERMARKET AND IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS READING THE AOL VEHICLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED. I DON'T KNOW WHY FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS SERIOUS SAFET ISSUE IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499523

120,000 miles · Jan 4, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO PARK OR FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AS HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO PARK OR FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AS HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10490994

90,000 miles · May 31, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE CRUISE AND THROTTLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE CRUISE AND THROTTLE CABLE REPLACED BUT THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS. THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE COMPONENTS BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT ALSO REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 07/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. EACH TIME, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN ON ITS OWN, AND THE CONSUMER HAD NO WAY OF CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. AS THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO FASTER. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT RETURNED MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, PARTS WERE NO LONGER BEING MADE. THEY SPRAYED THE CABLES, BUT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION RETURNED WEEKS LATER. UPDATED 07/25/12

NHTSA ODI #10460174

110,000 miles · Apr 12, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO INCIDENTS THAT MAY BE RELATED TO FAULTY ACCELERATION. PERHAPS YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE OLDER FORD TAURUS FOR PROBLEMS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW ON 2006, ETC. DATES AND MILEAGE ARE APPROX. I DO NOT HAVE REPORTS AVAILABLE. VEHICLE HAD SPEED CONTROL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY REVVED U…

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VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO INCIDENTS THAT MAY BE RELATED TO FAULTY ACCELERATION. PERHAPS YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE OLDER FORD TAURUS FOR PROBLEMS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW ON 2006, ETC. DATES AND MILEAGE ARE APPROX. I DO NOT HAVE REPORTS AVAILABLE. VEHICLE HAD SPEED CONTROL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY REVVED UP WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL BOUNCED OVER PARKING LOT BUMP AND HIT OTHER VEHICLES CAUSING DAMAGES TO THOSE AS WELL AS MY VEHICLE AND INJURY TO ME AS WELL AS COST ME A TICKET. THAT WAS IN 2006 AS I RECALL. IN JANUARY, 2009 OR DECEMBER, 2008 THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY REVVED UP AGAIN WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A PARKING LOT ON TO THE HIGHWAY. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND VOLUNTEERS HELPED PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. I HAD IT TOWED AND HAVE HAD IT STORED IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE. NO ONE HAS EVER SCANNED, ETC. TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. IS IT SAFE TO EVEN SELL TO ANYONE? MILEAGE FOR THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS APPROX. 147000. I HAVE A MANDATE FROM THE CITY TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE BY MAY, 2012 OR FACE FINES THEREFORE IF YOU NEED ANYTHING TEST NEEDS DONE BEFORE THEN. MESSAGE PHONE ONLY INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10455019

112,000 miles · Mar 25, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN DECELERATE FOR APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER MILE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN DECELERATE FOR APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER MILE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,000.

NHTSA ODI #10322167

90,000 miles · May 9, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS, AFTER I BROUGHT MY 1998 FORD TAURUS TO FULL STOP, WITH THE GEAR IN PARK, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY, VERY RAPIDLY. I AM TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227174

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

73,990 miles · Aug 9, 2006
SeatsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY TO 20 MPH WHILE IN REVERSE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN FULL ACCELERATION ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AFTER THE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY TO 20 MPH WHILE IN REVERSE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN FULL ACCELERATION ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AFTER THE COLLISION UNTIL THE CONTACT SHUT THE IGNITION OFF. THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE WITH BRAKING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTRACTED THE 3 INJURED PASSENGERS FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. UPDATED 09/15/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165043

53,000 miles · Jun 14, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE THROTTLE SENSOR CONTROL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10159837

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.