Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
After driving about a mile, the air conditioning stopped and black smoke came out of the hood. Stopped the car and thought of opening the hood but saw flames. Three adults and two children (5 and 2 yrs old) got out of the car. Called police and fire service. By the time they arrive, the car was in flames. The engine and front row seats were totally burnt. The car was a total loss. There was no way to determine the reason for the (mysterious) fire. This happened in miami, florida.
Applied brakes while stopped in parking lot,pedal went to floor,all brake fluid now under car. Unable to lift car,no metal existed from floorpan to rocker panel bottom. Brake lines had been affixed to this metal,and now had lost support/mounting place and vibrated and fell apart. The outside of the car looked almost new,but the plastic trim on the lower sill HID the problem outside. Now,the door sill(both sides)are getting so bad,we are afraid to step on them,or go over a bad bump or railroad track. I don't understand this,as this metal rotted from the inside-out,as though it never went thru a rust prevention bath process. My friends are current Ford people or,like myself,are retired Ford people,they said Taurus veh. Cant have this extreme problem,but I do. Thanks for asking.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Taurus. The contact noticed oil leaking from the vehicle while it was parked in the garage. He later discovered that the engine's subframe was corroded on the rear passenger side. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and they stated that the metal where the subframe bushing was attached was corroded. The mechanic also stated that there was no known remedy for the defect. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls; therefore, they were not liable for the repairs. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage was 157,954 and failure mileage was 157,947. Updated 12/10/08 updated 12/16/08.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Taurus. While driving less than 30 MPH, the contact heard rumbling noises coming from the vehicle. The independent mechanic stated that the vehicle should be given back to the previous owner because it would not last a year due to the damaged k-frame. A personal friend/mechanic tapped on the frame of the vehicle and it was similar to glass shattering. The mechanic also stated that the snow salt from the roads were corroding the frame. The contact later purchased a subframe and is awaiting its installation. The failure mileage was 107,000 and current mileage was 109,000.
Dt: consumer was driving through mcdonalds when brakes failed, and pedal went to the floor. Consumer looked out of car and saw brake fluid on ground. Consumer walked to garage, and was told brake line was bent which caused it to rust. Brake line was located on driver's side. Consumer was told brake line went from front tire to rear tire. When brake went out the air bag light came on. Light was yellow with picture of air bag deployed. Also, consumer noticed that dash in vehicle on driver's side was separating.
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.
My family owns a 1998 Ford Taurus se which has been unable to pass inspection due to severe rust on the sub-frame where the k-member bolts to the car, as well as complete rust out under factory installed plastic rocker panel shields. We have been told by our mechanic that the engine k-member could fail during driving conditions if the vehicle were driven through another pennsylvania winter.
1998 Ford Taurus with relatively low miles. Always cared for. Mechanic informed me it has a rotted subframe. This holds the engine and transmission. Dealer stated there are no recalls for this model year. The car (which is in otherwise excellent condition) is unsafe to drive at this point. 3 independent mechanics were surprised to see this level of rot in a car of this condition.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that he noticed the vinyl on the dashboard was detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.
There is a snapping and cracking noise whenever the steering wheel is turned. The entire front frame rusted because of the bad metal used by the factory. The manufacturer will be contacted. The front frame was not built properly.
Body complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1998 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the body & structure of the 1998 Ford Taurus, 4% of the model year's 545 complaints. The component named most often is frame and members (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Taurus body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1998 Ford Taurus, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Taurus body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.