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

12,000 miles · Jul 24, 2003

Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES.*MR *TS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10031973

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, THAT THE VEHICEL HAS PROBLEMS WITH GASKET LEAKS.MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10027327

35,000 miles · Jul 11, 2003

Steering

MY CAR PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS. WHEN I HIT A PUDDLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THOUGH THE ENGINE RUNS FINE. WHEN I HIT THE WATER IT SPLASHES UP AND GETS THE BELT TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WET AND ALL POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE IN T…

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NHTSA ODI #10025908

90,000 miles · Jul 11, 2003

Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED MORE. VEHICLE SEEMED TO "RUN" FROM DRIVER WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BRAKE MORE OFTEN THAN NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. *AK *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021597

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST PROBLEMS WITH 1998 FORD TAURUS. NAR 07092003 *MR FORD DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART, HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. THE CONSUMER HOPED THAT A NATIONAL RECALL WOULD BE INITIATED TO INSPECT THE POTENTIAL DEADLY CONDITIONS. *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026970

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2003

Power Train

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TODAY, WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH ON RTE 1, MY 1998 FORD TAURUS WAGON SUDDENLY STARTING TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS LOUD NOISES LIKE BOTTOMING OUT ON SEVERAL BOULDERS EMANATED FROM BENEATH THE CAR. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN SMOOTHLY AND THE A/C PUMPED OUT COOL AIR, BUT WHEN THE CAR CAME TO REST AT A STOP LIGHT IT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL THE RPM GOT QUITE HIGH AND ONLY THEN AT A VERY SLOW, HERKY, JERKY PACE. THE CAR SMOOTHED OUT AT AROUND 25-30 MPH, BUT THE PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I NOTICED BLUE-GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND PARKED THE CAR IN A RELATIVELY SAFE PLACE. I NOTICED LIQUID DRIPPING FROM BENEATH THE CAR NEAR THE REAR OF THE OIL PAN. MY HUSBAND CHECKED ON THE CAR ON HIS WAY HOME FROM WORK TO ASCERTAIN THAT THE LIQUID IS TRANSMISSION FLUID. WITHOUT HUMOR I RECALLED A WOMAN TELLING ME JUST TWO WEEKS AGO THAT SHE HAD A CAR JUST LIKE MINE THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN RECENTLY, AND I TOLD HER AT THE TIME THAT MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ON RTE 1 AND NOT ON I-95, AND IN THE DAY TIME ON A HOT SUNNY DAY AND NOT ON A COLD, WET NIGHT. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023793

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2003

Steering

WHEN MAKING LEFT OF RIGHT TURNS A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING ON 6/17/2003. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024265

70,000 miles · Jun 6, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringStructure

WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT A STREET CORNER IN THE RAIN THE POWER STEERING WILL MOMENTARILY FAIL. THE DRIVE BELT WILL MAKE A SLIGHT SQUEAL WHEN IT RE-ENGAGES. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS INADEQUAGE SPLASH SHIELDING INSIDE THE RIGHT HAND WHEEL WELL SUCH THAT WATER IS THROWN UP ON THE DRIVE BELT AND CRANKSHAFT PULLY BY THE COCKED WHEEL. …

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NHTSA ODI #10021155

44,328 miles · Jun 5, 2003

Power Train

NAR 06/05/2003 *MR MECHANICS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEMS AS A BROKEN TORQUE CONVERTER. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10022506

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN HEARD A TAPING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE CAM SHAFT SPROCKET FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020435

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.