1998 Ford Taurus complaints

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

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE CAR CRASH, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25/30 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SLIGHT INJURIES.*AK

ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. WHEN THIS OCCURRED EXCESSIVE FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ECU AND HCU. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR,WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 50 MPH APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER PUMPED THE BRAKES 2-3 TIMES AND THE PEDAL CONTINUED TO GO TO THE FLOOR. THEN HE QUICKLY DOWN SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO FIRST GEAR AND APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP JUST SHORT OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER 10 MILES, THE BRAKES WERE WORKING NORMAL. THREE PEOPLE WERE IN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. *PH *JB

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS INOPERABLE, DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE RETRACTOR MECHANISMS. PART IS UNAVAILABLE. *PH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT COST OF $695.00, CONSUMER STATED THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

BRAKE FAILURE ON 1998 FORD TAURUS. *AK

1998 FORD TAURUS; 78000+ MILES: RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. OWNERS MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY NOT BE REFERRING TO A MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT WILL AFFECT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. OUR LIGHT CAME ON ONE MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. IT WOULD GO OFF WHEN WE CHANGED FLUIDS OR BRAND OF GASOLINE. ON JUNE 28TH THERE WAS A NOTICABLE CHANGE IN DRIVABILITY AS THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT FROM LOW GEAR. THE ENGINE WOULD REV TO 5000 RPMS TRYING TO SHIFT BUT COULD NOT. I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE TRYING TO MANEUVER IN 55 TO 65 MPH TRAFFIC. AAMCO NOW TELLS ME THAT IT WILL COST 1500 T0 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I RAN A 1993 FORD VAN TO 270,000 MILES BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS MODEL HAD A 12 YEAR HISTORY OF SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES.*MR *TS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED. *JB

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, THAT THE VEHICEL HAS PROBLEMS WITH GASKET LEAKS.MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED MORE. VEHICLE SEEMED TO "RUN" FROM DRIVER WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BRAKE MORE OFTEN THAN NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. *AK *PH *JB

MY CAR PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS. WHEN I HIT A PUDDLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THOUGH THE ENGINE RUNS FINE. WHEN I HIT THE WATER IT SPLASHES UP AND GETS THE BELT TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WET AND ALL POWER STEERING GOES OUT FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE IN TRAFFIC. *AK

EXHAUST PROBLEMS WITH 1998 FORD TAURUS. NAR 07092003 *MR FORD DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART, HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. THE CONSUMER HOPED THAT A NATIONAL RECALL WOULD BE INITIATED TO INSPECT THE POTENTIAL DEADLY CONDITIONS. *CB *JB

TODAY, WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH ON RTE 1, MY 1998 FORD TAURUS WAGON SUDDENLY STARTING TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS LOUD NOISES LIKE BOTTOMING OUT ON SEVERAL BOULDERS EMANATED FROM BENEATH THE CAR. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN SMOOTHLY AND THE A/C PUMPED OUT COOL AIR, BUT WHEN THE CAR CAME TO REST AT A STOP LIGHT IT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL THE RPM GOT QUITE HIGH AND ONLY THEN AT A VERY SLOW, HERKY, JERKY PACE. THE CAR SMOOTHED OUT AT AROUND 25-30 MPH, BUT THE PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I NOTICED BLUE-GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND PARKED THE CAR IN A RELATIVELY SAFE PLACE. I NOTICED LIQUID DRIPPING FROM BENEATH THE CAR NEAR THE REAR OF THE OIL PAN. MY HUSBAND CHECKED ON THE CAR ON HIS WAY HOME FROM WORK TO ASCERTAIN THAT THE LIQUID IS TRANSMISSION FLUID. WITHOUT HUMOR I RECALLED A WOMAN TELLING ME JUST TWO WEEKS AGO THAT SHE HAD A CAR JUST LIKE MINE THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN RECENTLY, AND I TOLD HER AT THE TIME THAT MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ON RTE 1 AND NOT ON I-95, AND IN THE DAY TIME ON A HOT SUNNY DAY AND NOT ON A COLD, WET NIGHT. *NLM

WHEN MAKING LEFT OF RIGHT TURNS A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING ON 6/17/2003. *AK

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.

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

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN HEARD A TAPING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE CAM SHAFT SPROCKET FAILED. *JB

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

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

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

THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. *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

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYED ON AFTER THE MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE LIGHTS SO THE BATTERY WON'T GO DEAD. *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

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

THE REAR END MOUNT WAS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. *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

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN POWER DOOR PREVENTED DOOR FROM LOCKING. *AK *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

THE REAR WHEELS MADE A NOISE.*JB

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

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK.*JB

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.

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

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

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

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. *JG *JB

1998 FORD TAURUS TRANSMISSION FAILURE

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

INTERMITTENLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECOME INNOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS. REAR BRAKES SQUEALING AND MOANING FAILED CAUSED BY THE ROTORS. ROTOR WHICH WENT BAD CAUSING DAMAGES THE REAR BRAKES AND PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

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

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.

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

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ACCELERATOR AND THE RPM WILL RAISED UP TO MORE THEN 3 RPM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING BUT YES IT WAS TURN ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED TO BRING THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP BUT CONSUMER REFUSED TO DO IT BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE. MR

AFTER ABOUT 60000 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT THAT DRIVES THE POWER STEERING STARTED SLIPPING WHEN WE HIT A PUDDLE, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO STOP. BELT REPLACED AT 68,000, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED STARTING AGAIN AT ABOUT 85000 MILES. VERY DANGEROUS, UNEXPECTED FAILURES. DT