Most common 1998 Ford Taurus problems
Share of the 545 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Taurus complaints by model year
Best Taurus years: 2019, 2017, 2016. Years to avoid: 2005, 2013, 2002, 1995, 2000. Compare all years →
1998 Ford Taurus recalls (2)
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle mounting bracket and stud assembly.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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."
Remedy: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
What 1998 Ford Taurus owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 111 →
Vehicle has had two incidents that May be related to faulty acceleration. Perhaps you need to investigate older Ford Taurus for problems currently under review on 2006, etc. Dates and mileage are approx. I do not have reports available. Vehicle had speed control. While attempting to park the accelerator suddenly revved up when I hit the brakes. Happened so suddenly the car went out of control bounced over parking lot bump and hit other vehicles causing damages to those as well as my vehicle and injury to me as well as cost me a ticket. That was in 2006 as I recall. In January, 2009 or December, 2008 the accelerator suddenly revved up again when I was pulling into traffic from a parking lot on to the highway. I shut off the engine and volunteers helped push the vehicle off the road. I had it towed and have had it stored in my driveway since. No one has ever scanned, etc. …
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably to 20 MPH while in reverse which resulted in a collision. The vehicle's transmission was put in reverse to back into a parking spot when full acceleration engaged. The vehicle went over an embankment and collided with a tree. The vehicle kept accelerating after the collision until the contact shut the ignition off. The throttle control was not controllable with braking. The fire department was contacted and extracted the 3 injured passengers from the rear window. The manufacturer was not contacted and a police report was taken. Updated 09/15/06.
Brakes all 81 →
Dt*: the contact stated while approaching a stop at 15 MPH the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle did not stop, causing a rear end collision with another vehicle. The brake pedal went to the floor and was spongy. Seat belts were in use and minor injuries were sustained by both the contact and passenger. There was a police report filed and the vehicle was towed. The insurance inspector has not disclosed the cause of the accident. The manufacturer was not alerted.
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.
Transmission & drivetrain all 69 →
While travelling to work on Friday morning, December 5, I had just accessed interstate 65 north and had travelled on it for approximately 2 miles. I had reached my normal cruising speed of 80 MPH when I began to cross the bridge over the tennessee river. On the downside of the bridge, I had no warning when all of a sudden my transmission ceased to function. Due to the speed I was travelling, I was able to coast until I exited the bridge. After approximately 1/4 a mile, I safely pulled the vehicle over into the emergency lane and came to a stop. I proceeded to check all the gears to determine if the transmission had completely failed. Unfortunately, it had. There was absolutely no warning to the transmission failure. There was no noise, no jerk, no anything. The vehicle has approximately 135,000 miles on it, and I ensure that routine service is performed on it. …
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. …
1998 Ford Taurus engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Ford Taurus a good car?
Based on 545 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Taurus rates avoid: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Taurus at the same age. It is one of the Taurus years we suggest avoiding. 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?
The speed control & acceleration — 111 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about accelerator pedal. Next are the brakes (81) and transmission & drivetrain (69).
How many recalls does the 1998 Ford Taurus have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1998 Ford Taurus, the most recent from August 25, 1998 (anchorage). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Taurus?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2017 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2013, 2002, 1995 and 2000. See the full Ford Taurus years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Taurus problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 87,000 miles; 15% 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.