IllustrationHEAD GASKET-CAR DIED, WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT LIGHT. *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
What owners actually said
545 reportsWHILE DRIVING HEATER MALFUNCTIONED AND BLEW OUT COLD AIR. WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE HEAT REMAINS COLD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. DRIVER WAS HIT IN THE STOMACH AND REQUIRED SURGERY TO CORRECT INTERNAL INJURIES. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE REASON FOR UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
A FRIEND OWNS A FORD TAURUS AND IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM HERS IS A 1997. NO SAFETY DEFEC T LISTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. *AK THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED INJURIES AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. IT ALSO DAMAGED THE SUNVISER AND MIRROR. *YH
BOLTS HOLDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSON IS RUBBING AGAINST POWER STEERING RETURN ALIGNMENT HOSE. IF THERE IS TOO MUCH FRICTION IT COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE. DEAELER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
VEHICLE WAS REARENDED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN CONSUMER, AND SHE HIT HER HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND ARM INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER YET.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30MPH. UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL CLOSE. CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH DOWN LOCK AND CLOSE DOOR SO IT WILL STAY SHUT. IF DOESN'T PUSH DOWN LOCK DOOR WILL NOT SHUT. HAVE TO CONTACT DEALER.*AK
TRANSMISSION BLEW A SEAL AND THE FLUID POURED OUT OF VEHICLE. ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. VEHICLE BUCKED WHEN CHANGING GEARS. DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. VEHICLE STILL BUCKS AND THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND HESITATES. *JG *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.