1998 Ford Taurus Complaint Log

THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN THE FUSE WAS REMOVED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

1998 FORD TAURUS WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT MOVE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2002 AND THE PRESENT. AFTER THE FOURTH TIME (MAY 2, 2003), THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2800. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION. THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN AND BURNT MERCON V. TOTAL COST FOR REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION WAS $1400-$1800. THIS IS A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE SINCE THE SHOP HAS TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT USED FOR TRAILER TOWING OR RACING. ENGINE IS THE DURATEC V6 AND THE TOTAL MILEAGE IS 64077. THIS IS TO ME A SERIOUS CONCERN SINCE A VEHICLE SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES WITHOUT A MAJOR FAILURE AS WHAT HAS HAPPENED. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FROM A COMPLETE STOP WAS AT A CONGESTED INTERSECTION, AND ONE OF THE TIMES THIS OCCURRED WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHERE THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT IS 65 MPH. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *NLM

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

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

WHILE CHANGING THE RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE THE CONSUMER HIT A TUBE WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1998 FORD TAURUS WITH 49,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. AFTER I GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES THINKS THAT MY DRIVERS DOOR IS STILL OPEN. THE DOOR IS AJAR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS LIT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR SOME TIME. I CAN MANUALLY TURN OFF THE DOME LIGHT BUT THE UNDER-DASH LIGHTS STAY ON. I DON'T NOTICE IT DURING THE DAY BUT IT IS SOMEWHAT DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. THE DOOR-OPEN DETECTOR IS NO LONGER A BUTTON BUT IS INSTEAD SOME SORT OF ELECTRONIC SENSOR BUILT INTO THE HINGE-SPRING MECHAMISM FOR THE DOOR. IT WILL ALSO NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK THE DRIVERS DOOR. I HIT THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS BUTTON AND ALL FOUR DOORS LOCK THEN THE DRIVERS DOOR UNLOCKS ALL BY ITSELF. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW. IT IS THE INTERIOR UNDER-DASH LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT THAT IS DISTRACTING. *NLM

INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHEN DRIVING (OVER HEAD AND REAR COMPARTMENT PLUS THE COURTESY LIGHTS ON THE FLOOR), LOCKS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. *NLM

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. THE DRIVE BELT IS RELATIVELY NEW BUT THE PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED WITH THE OEM BELT.

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. *JB

NO FAILURE, THE CAR IS A 1998 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE OWNER PREVIOUS OF ME SPENT $13000 REPLACING THE ENGINE DUE TO A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILURE IN AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THE NHTSA IS GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS. I HAVE MANY SOURCES FROM A CAR CLUB WITH OVER 400 DOCUMENTED CAMSHAFT FAILURES IN THESE CARS. THAT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE NUMBER THAT HAVE ACTUALLY HAD THIS PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE SOON ABOUT THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERYDAY AND THEIR ENGINE BLOWS UP AND THEY HAVE TO DISH OUT 15000 DOLLARS WHICH FORD DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEARCH THE WEB FOR FORD TAURUS V8 SHO CAMSHAFT FAILURES AND YOU WILL HAVE A VERY LONG LIST.*AK

THE REAR WHEELS MADE A NOISE.*JB

OUR COUNTY AGENCY PURCHASED TWO FORD TAURUS VEHICLES NEW, IN 1998 AND 1999. AT THE END OF FEBRUARY 2003 WITHIN ONE WEEK OF EACH OTHER THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. IN RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THERE WERE RECALLS IN 1998 ON THE 1993 FORD TAURUS AND IN 2001 ON THE 1998 FORD CONTOUR AND MERCURY MYSTIQUE, HOWEVER I SEE NO RECALLS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 AND 1999 FORD TAURUS. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS CONCERN WITH THE 1998 AND 1999 FORD TAURUS. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE COIL SPRINGS ON THESE VEHICLES AS WELL. THANK YOU. *JB

WHEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, ALL THE LIGHTS FAILED.*JB

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW, 2000 MILES TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING WAS REBUILT UNDER WARRANTY BY FORD. TRANSMISSION IS OUT AGAIN CAR WILL NOT MOVE WITHOUT INCREASING RPMS TO 2,500, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. MAKES LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. ESTIMATED $2,500 REBUILD NEEDED. HEAD GASKETS WENT OUT AT 80,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED FOR $600, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TAURUS. *LA

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED PASSENGER SIDE STRUT BROKE, CAUSING SPRING TO BREAK WHICH PUNCTURED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE.*AK

CAM SPROCKET FAILURE ON FORD TAURUS V8 SHO. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WITHOUT NOTICE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

HEATER ABRUPTLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING LAST WINTER. SINCE THEN THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED 6 TIMES. EACH TIME IT WILL WORK FOR A WEEK AND THEN IT STOPPED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR, CHARGED $230 FOR IT AND IT DID NOTHING. IT WAS GIVEN A "CHEMICAL FLUSH" FOR $125 WHICH DID NOTHING. THEN THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD NEED THE HEATER CORE AND BLEND DOOR REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THE OTHER WORK AT ALL. APPARENTLY THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE TAURUS FROM 96 ON. I FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING AND WAS TOLD THAT THE NHTSA HAD ADVISED FORD IN 96 OR 97 THAT THEY SHOULD PROBABLY RECALL THE CARS FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES THE DEFROSTER TO NOT WORK AND THEREFORE MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT ALL IN THE WINTER. APPARENTLY FORD DID A " CUSTOMER SATISFACTION" RECALL WHICH EXPIRED IN 99 BUT WAS NEVER DONE ON MY CAR (I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2000). I CALLED FORD TO ASK WHY THIS WASN'T A RECALL SINCE FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND IT EFFECTS ALL TAURUSES FROM 96-99 AT LEAST. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE SO IT WOULDN'T BE A RECALL. I SUBMITTED THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE YOU CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE WINTER AND SINCE WHEN OURS STOPPED WORKING WE WERE ON I-70 BETWEEN ST. LOUIS AND KANSAS CITY DURING A SNOWSTORM AND HAD TO STOP BECAUSE WE COULDN'T SEE. THIS IS A $1300 REPAIR THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *LA

1998 FORD TAURUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE

PROBLEM: DOOR-AJAR WARNING LAMP ON; ALL DOORS CHECKED, INCLUDING TAILGATE; ALL ARE CLOSED FIRMLY (NOT SLAMMED SHUT). INTERIOR OVERHEAD LAMP AND UNDERDASH LIGHTS DO NOT GO OUT CONSISTENTLY AFTER THE ENGINE'S STARTED AND PUT INTO GEAR. APPEARS THAT RANDOM ORDER OF CHECK/RE-CLOSE DOORS; LOCK AND UNLOCK DOORS AND TAILGATE BY SMARTKEY OR MANUALLY; SET AND RELEASE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE'S NO CONSISTENT PATTERN TO GETTING THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. GERVAIS FORD SUGGESTS THAT IT'S ONE OF THE CONTACT SWITCHES, USUALLY THE DRIVER-SIDE, THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THIS, RATHER THAN A RELAY OR TIMER; BUT THAT THEY HAVE TO CATCH IT IN THE ACT TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE IT. REALLY AGGRAVATING TO HAVE TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO AVOID RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY IN THE WINTER, UNTIL WE CAN GET IT TO GERVAIS'S SHOP. DT

GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT LINE UP CORRECTLY WHEN IN ANY GEAR. AJAR DOOR LIGHT AND INSIDE DOME LIGHT STAY ON AND THE DRIVERSIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. ALSO, WHEN GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE CAR EACH PASSANGER GETS SHOCKED IF YOU TOUCH ONE ANOTHER OR THE DOORS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. THIS HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASES.

TRANSMISSION DOWN-SHIFTED AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING SUDDEN DE-ACCELERATION WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS ALMOST CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT BEHIND ME. CARS WERE FORCED OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID SMAHSING INTO ME AND OTHER VEHICLES TRING TO AVOID ME CLOSE CALL. LUCKY FOR ME EVERYONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION AND NO ONE GOT HURT. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS NO FAIL SAFE IN PLACE TO PREVENT SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT WHEN THE SPEED SENSOR FAILS. DANGEROUS! DT

WHEN APPLIED BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP THIS TIME CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TT

VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. CONSUMER HAD THE HEATER CORE REPLACED. HOWEVER, HEATER CORE KEPT BECOMING DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HEATER CORE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS. *AK

WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AS NORMAL AND THEN SHOULD GO OUT WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOORS. CONSUMER STATES LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO LOOK LIKE MIRRORS. CONSUMER STATES' VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED BY THIS MIRROR LIKE IMAGE, MAKING IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER.

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS UNDER THE DASHBOARD WILL STAY ON AND THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS UNLESS VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ME

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER REPLACING THE STEERING PUMP THE RACK AND PINON STOPS WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE GOT COMPLETELY ON FIRE.FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED ON A CAR CRASH AND HER DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE TO FUEL PUMP. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER NOTICED THE BACK SYSTEM SEAT BELTS LAP DO NOT RETRACT AFTER RELEASING BUCKETS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BOTH REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFO. *MR

THE OIL PAN RUSTED. *NLM *SCC

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO COULDN'T LOOK AT IT FOR 2 DAYS. DROVE ACROSS THE STREET TO HAVE ANOTHER SHOP RUN IT ON THEIR COMPUTER. AFTER TURNING CAR BACK ON, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR OR MOVE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO ANOTHER SHOP. WHEN THEY TOOK THE TRANSMISSION PAN OFF FOUND BROKEN CHUNKS OF METAL. HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD TO THE COST OF $2600. ALWAYS KEPT OUR DODGE PRODUCTS TO 190,000 MILES WITH NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. AFTER BOUGHT THIS CARD HEARD FORD TAURUS OFTEN HAS TRANNY PROBLEMS. WON'T BUY ANOTHER FORD. NLM

I HAVE A 98 FORD TAURUS AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY WOULD KICK BACK AND I COULD HEAR A POPPING SOUND. SO I TOOK IT TO A CARE PLACE AND THE HOOKED IT TO THE COMPUTER IT SAID A BAD PASSENGER REAR SENSOR. $200 LATER THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED. NOW THEY SAY IT IS THE MAIN MODULAR SENSOR OH THAT'S $700. WELL THE BAD THING IS I KNOW OF 2 OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE A SAFE VEHICLE. BUT I'M NOT IMPRESSED AND WOULD NEVER BUY ONE AGAIN. I THINK WITH THIS MANY COMPLAINTS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING LOSS BRAKING ABILITY, LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. CONSUMER GREY SMOKE STARTED TO FILL CAB AREA, POWER WINDOWS WERE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER FEELS LUCKY ONE OF THE WINDOWS WAS HALF WAY DOWN, AND CONSUMER CRAWLED TO SAFETY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING LOSS ALL BRAKING ABILITY, CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF CAR FLIPPED OVER. CONSUMER STATES THAT GREY SMOKE FILLED CAR, POWER WINDOWS LOCKED UP. TS

CONSUMER STATES WAS HIT FROM THE REAR IN A COLLISION. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WELD BROKE AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES HE HAD HIS POWER STEERING GEAR BOX REPLACED. HE WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED AT LEAST 100000 MILES OR MORE AND HIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30000 MILES. HE WAS CHARGED APPROX 800.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. TS

WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER REMOVED FEET FROM GAS PEDAL, ENGINE STARTED RUNNING AT A FULL THROTTLE, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT A HIGH SPEED, VEHICLE TURNED AT A 360 DEGREE ANGLE. VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A WALL.*AK

WHWN I REMOVED MY OOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR SUDDENDLY ACCELERATED (FULL THROTLE). I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR BY APPLYING BRAKES. THE CAR GOT OUT OF CONTROL AND RAN INTO AWALL.*AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PERIOD OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHICH OVERPOWERED THE VEHICLES BRAKES. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE HE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A BRICK, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE CONSUMER SUSTAINING MULTIPLE BRUISES TO BODY. *SCC

WHILE DRIVING AND WIT NO WARNING WHEN TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

POWER STEERING DEVELOPED A LEAK AND SUDDENLY BECAME NON FUNCTIONAL. SYSTEM FAILED, AND IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK *SCC

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HILL TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND WENT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR