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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

545 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #720552

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #858921

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2000
Interior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train

1. NEED COMPLETE NEW TRANSMISSION, 2ND GEAR BURNED UP WITH ONLY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. 2. DOON AND DOOR AJAR LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF, INTERIOR PANAL LIGHTS WON'T COME ON AND I GET SHOCKED EVERY TIME I CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER EXITING. 3. GEAR SHIFT COLUMN BROKE WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK SHIFTING TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #720438

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN BRAKING CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A GRINDING AND GRUMBLING NOISE, THIS HAPPENED AT 30,000 MILES. CONSUMER FELT THAT BRAKES WERE WORN OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD TOP FRONT AND BACK BRAKES REDONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858284

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Electrical System

WHEN PUTTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION VEHICLE DID NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER HAS SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES FOR SAME PROBLEM , AND CANNOT FIND SOLUTION. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #857959

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Electrical System

WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN IGNITION VEHICLE DOES NOT START. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #857957

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIRBAGS DURING HEAD ON IMPACT AT 35 MPH, INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #9000454

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS DURING FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. YH

NHTSA ODI #551111

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #857441

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE IN PARK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. BUT TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO DEALER AFTER DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT CONSUMER BRING VEHICLE IN, AND THEY WOULD DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY. CONSUMER GOT THERE AND DEALER WAS VERY NASTY TO HER. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE CONSUMER A RENTAL CAR, AND CONSUMER PRAC…

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VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE IN PARK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. BUT TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO DEALER AFTER DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT CONSUMER BRING VEHICLE IN, AND THEY WOULD DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY. CONSUMER GOT THERE AND DEALER WAS VERY NASTY TO HER. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE CONSUMER A RENTAL CAR, AND CONSUMER PRACTICALLY HAD TO BEG THEM TO GIVE HER A RIDE HOME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856867

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.