IllustrationWHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. 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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
111 reportsCAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AFTER CAR IS PUT INTO PARK, NOW IT IS DOING IT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND NOT GO OUT, RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF BY IT'S SELF, ELECTRIC SEAT ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME, GOES BACK THEN WILL NOT GO BACK UP, CAR WILL INCREASE IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE IN PARK AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO…
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CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AFTER CAR IS PUT INTO PARK, NOW IT IS DOING IT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND NOT GO OUT, RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF BY IT'S SELF, ELECTRIC SEAT ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME, GOES BACK THEN WILL NOT GO BACK UP, CAR WILL INCREASE IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE IN PARK AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP UNLESS YOU TURN OFF ENGINE, STARTING TO CLIMB IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT.*AK
THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY WILL ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN WHILE COASTING AT A SLOW SPEED. THIS REQUIRES HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THIS IS A VERY REPEATABLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ALSO IDLES VERY FAST AT ALL ENGINE TEMPERATURES WHICH CAUSES VERY HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. THE LOCAL FORD DEALE…
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THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY WILL ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN WHILE COASTING AT A SLOW SPEED. THIS REQUIRES HEAVY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THIS IS A VERY REPEATABLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ALSO IDLES VERY FAST AT ALL ENGINE TEMPERATURES WHICH CAUSES VERY HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND IS TELLING ME THIS IS NORMAL.
AFTER DRIVING AND PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK, VEHICLE WILL IDLE TO 3000 RPMS. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP, IS TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR JUST STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. BEFORE IT WAS TURNED BACK ON, VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, THEN CUT OFF. *AK
WHEN BRAKING AND STOPPING OR BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS COMPLETELY ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I'M VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR IF ANYONE ELSE HAS REPO…
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WHEN BRAKING AND STOPPING OR BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS COMPLETELY ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. I'M VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR IF ANYONE ELSE HAS REPORTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND FOREFULLY APPLY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE AND AVOID COLLISION. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. *AK *ML *SLC
CAR ACCELERATES ALL ON ITS ON, INCLUDING GOING UPHILL WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL CAR WILL TRAVEL BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. WHEN PLACED IN PARK CAR RACES AT BETWEEN 3500 AND 4500 RPMS AND HAS TO BE SHUT OFF. PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. HAVE HAD CAR AT THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY COULDN'T FIN…
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CAR ACCELERATES ALL ON ITS ON, INCLUDING GOING UPHILL WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL CAR WILL TRAVEL BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. WHEN PLACED IN PARK CAR RACES AT BETWEEN 3500 AND 4500 RPMS AND HAS TO BE SHUT OFF. PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. HAVE HAD CAR AT THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY COULDN'T FIND OR COULDN'T BE BOTHER TO FIND PROBLEM. REQUIRES EXCESSIVE BRAKE USE AND SOMETIMES STILL LURCHES FORWARD WITH FOUR WHEEL ANTILOCK BRAKES APPLIED. HAVE NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SENT ME A QUESTIONNAIRE!! THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR 5 MONTHS WITHOUT RESOLUTION AND IT IS INEVITABLE THAT AN ACCIDENT IS SURELY TO OCCUR. *AK
AT A STOP SIGN DRIVER TOOK FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL TIGHTLY BECAUSE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE UP TO 3RPMS. IF BRAKE PEDAL ISN'T HELD DOWN HARD, VEHILE WILL TAKE OFF. *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.