Most common 1998 Ford Taurus SHO problems
Share of the 10 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Taurus SHO complaints by model year
Best Taurus SHO years: 1995, 1998. Years to avoid: 1997, 1999. Compare all years →
What 1998 Ford Taurus SHO owners say
Engine & cooling
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.
Brake line corrosion and separation causing failure of the brakes. Resulting in also front sway and link bar damage. No brakes. Front sway bars break when vehicle is turned a certain degree. Front middle of hood on all Taurus seem to lose the paint do to rock or debris being able to bounce on the bumper and hit center. I have seen at least 50 Taurus's missing paint in the same area. Service engine soon light remains on after four trips to a certified Ford dealer. Water holding in engine compartment will crack under extreme outdoor temperatures causing the car to overheat.
Transmission & drivetrain
Brake line corrosion and separation causing failure of the brakes. Resulting in also front sway and link bar damage. No brakes. Front sway bars break when vehicle is turned a certain degree. Front middle of hood on all Taurus seem to lose the paint do to rock or debris being able to bounce on the bumper and hit center. I have seen at least 50 Taurus's missing paint in the same area. Service engine soon light remains on after four trips to a certified Ford dealer. Water holding in engine compartment will crack under extreme outdoor temperatures causing the car to overheat.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Taurus SHO. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH and trying to accelerate, the vehicle would not accelerate. The overdrive button had constantly been going on and off. The vehicle had not been inspected nor had the vehicle been repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 135,000.
1998 Ford Taurus SHO engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Ford Taurus SHO a good car?
Based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Taurus SHO rates better than average: 48% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Taurus SHO at the same age. It is one of the best Taurus SHO years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Ford Taurus SHO?
The engine & cooling — 5 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (4) and suspension (2).
How many recalls does the 1998 Ford Taurus SHO have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Ford Taurus SHO. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Taurus SHO?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997 and 1999. See the full Ford Taurus SHO years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Taurus SHO problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 86,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.