1998 Ford Taurus

Family: Taurus · filed with NHTSA as SHO (TAURUS), TAURUS, TAURUS SHO

Summary

In its first three years the 1998 Taurus drew 214 complaints — 0.9× the median of its generation (1996–1999). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Accelerator & Cruise Control, holds 20% of the 553 that name a component.
5 recalls filed for this model year.
No federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 559
Recalls: 5
Investigations: 0
NCAP overall: Not rated
Combined MPG: 18–20
Annual fuel cost: $3,100–$4,300
Median mileage at complaint: 85,757 mi (n = 147)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 62 / 14 / 64 / 4

What owners report

Accelerator & Cruise Control

111 complaints · 20% of complaints that name a component · median 90,000 mi (n = 17)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO PARK OR FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AS HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMIT…

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE CRUISE AND…

Brakes

83 complaints · 15% of complaints that name a component · median 70,000 mi (n = 17)

Owner report WHILE GOING TO WORK BOTH BRAKES LINES ON DRIVERS SIDE WENT BAD AFTER CHECKING WITH MECHANIC. WAS TOLD BOTH LINES WAS ROTTED AWAY. I DO HAVE TO ORDER PARTS FROM FORD. WHICH IS GOING TO CAUSE ME 265.00 TO FIX . MY CAR HAS 49000 MILES. NO REASON WHY BRAKES LINE FAIL NOT A OLD CAR ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF. *JB

Owner report DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE ABS SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Powertrain

74 complaints · 13% of complaints that name a component · median 102,000 mi (n = 22)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A JERKING MOTION AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE …

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL QUICKLY AND SHIFT INTO PARK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAI…

1% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (1996–1999)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 242.

Model year	All complaints	First three years
1996	850	266
1997	800	225
1998	559	214
1999	903	259

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

16E026000 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

Filed 2016-04-01 · 49,635 vehicles

Defect: Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.

Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

09E012000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2009-04-07 · 16,270 vehicles

Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

06E026000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-03-23 · 61,944 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

98V198000 · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Filed 1998-08-25 · 7,000 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: 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

Filed 1998-02-10 · 571,800 vehicles

Defect: 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."

Risk: 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.

Federal investigations

None on file.

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	25	19	$3300
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	23	19	$3300
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	24	20	$3100
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	26	20	$3100
Taurus SHO	3.4L 8cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	15	23	18	$4300
Taurus Wagon	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	24	19	$3300
Taurus Wagon	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	23	18	$3450

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
1998 Ford Taurus 4-DR.	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 211 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about engine and engine cooling.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2005-11-14	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT
2005-05-01	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	SURGE, IDLE ROLL, ROUGH IDLE ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FANS ARE OPERATING. *TT
2004-12-13	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)	GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
2004-08-23	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04.
2004-08-01	POWER TRAIN	GROAN/BUZZ/VIBRATION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED ON AN INCLINE. TT THIS BULLETIN UPDATES PREVIOUS BULLETIN 17358, DATED 11/01/2003 TO INCLUDE 2005 MODELS. TT
2003-09-15	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
2003-07-21	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	IN VEHICLE LOCTITE SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR CAMSHAFT TUBE AND GEAR. *TT
2003-07-21	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES	NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT
2003-07-21	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION WITH COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS MAY BE MORE ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED USING THE OPTIONAL WORLDWIDE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (WDS) COIL ON PLUG (COP) KIT. 2003 SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT
2003-06-23	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER	TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING WHEN COMMANDED AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0741 OR P1744 STORED IN MEMORY. MODELS FROM 1996 TO 2003. *TT

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Taurus, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford Taurus model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.