1998 Ford Taurus complaints

SPEEDOMETER WOULD AGITATE WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO DETERMINE CORRECT SPEED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL START VIBRATING. ROTORS HAD BEEN RESURFACED FOUR TIMES ALREADY. *AK

APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR DURING A PANIC STOP. FELT LIKE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND CAUSED ME TO REAREND VEHICLE IN FRONT. *AK

WE'VE TRIED TO CONTACT FORD SEVERAL TIMES, BUT ONLY RECEIVE THE STANDARD COURTESY LETTER & "THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT". IN THE MEANTIME, ANYONE IN THAT CAR IS AT RISK DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM. OUR OWN CHILDREN CAN'T RIDE IN IT! WE HAVE TO HAVE A VEHICLE TO GET TO WORK, SO WE'LL HAVE TO TRY TO GET RID OF IT, SINCE FORD REFUSES TO RESPOND. ALL WE WOULD WANT IS IT FIXED! THERE'S ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT PEELING OFF OF THE FRONT BUMPER THAT WILL COST $250.00 TO FIX! *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED TWICE, AND WAS REPLACED MARCH 2000 AND 2001. LATEST INCIDENT WAS DUE TO PUMP NOT HAVING ENOUGH PRESSURE TO PUMP FUEL INTO ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. WHEN DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MAIN PISTON IN ENGINE WAS CORRODED AND HAD TO BE 'CLEANED'. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH GOOD BRAKES, WITH APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES WE HAVE REPLACED PADS 4 TIMES, AND ALSO HAVE REPLACED THE CALIPERS & ROTORS, AND NOW THE SPEED SENSOR. IS THIS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE? THE UNIT IS SMOKING WHEN DRIVEN.*AK

A "SQUEAKING" NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM LEFT FRONT END OF VEHICLE WHILE PARKING OR TRAVELING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT TIE ROD ON DRIVER'S SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED NEW. DEALER CUT ROTORS UPON INITIAL COMPLAINT AND PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN 3000 MILES. DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE ROTORS AT MY COST INFORMING ME THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ROTORS WERE AGAIN REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS AGAIN RETURNED ONLY 2,000 MILES LATER. THIS APPEARS TO ME TO BE A DESIGN FAILURE AS I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE IS PUT INTO PARK GEAR ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 3500 - 4000 RPMS. ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELING DOWN ROAD AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AFTER HE TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. BRAKES HAVE TO BE PRESSED TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN, HAPPENS RANDOMLY AS WELL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN WOULD VIBRATE MODERATELY TO VIOLENTLY. DEALERSHIP LOOKED INTO THIS DEFECT AND REPLACED FRONT ROTORS/ TIRES, AND BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

VEHICLE HAS NO COMPRESSION BRAKING, IT FREEWHEELS ON DOWNHILL GRADES BY AS MUCH AS 25MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE BRAKE REPLACEMENT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DISTANCE BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE DESIGNED POORLY. WHEN TRANSFERING FEET FROM ONE PEDAL TO ANOTHER, CONSUMER'S FOOT WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN THE PEDALS. *AK *TT

WHEN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION CAR SEEMS TO SURGE AT ANY GIVEN TIME .YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR IN THAT KIN OF TRAFFIC THAT THE CAR WILL DO THE SAME THING AND SURGE.THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SLOW THE CAR DOWN IS PUTTING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE.YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL SURGE. DEALERSHIP PUT A NEW TRANS , REPLACED AIR BY PASS VALVE,REPLACE SOME COMPUTER CHIP, REPROGRAMMED PCM. CAR HAS BEEN IN 4 TIMES IT STILL SURGES DEALERSHIP STATES CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AFTER KEEPIN CAR FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. .

THIS IS TO REGISTER THE ENGINE R.P.M. SURGING THAT OCCURS WHEN THE FORD TAURUS IS PLACED IN PARK FOLLOWING ROAD USE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER TAURUS OWNERS AND THEIR COMMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH MY EXPERIENCES OF THE ENGINE RACING TO 3,000 R.P.M. OR HIGHER. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED TO REVERSE OR DRIVE WITHOUT THE BRAKE FIRMLY APPLIED, CERTAINLY WHAT WOULD BE UNATTENDED ACCELERATION WILL OCCUR WITH LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES. I'VE BEEN TO MY FORD DEALER (MARSHALL FORD, INC. OF UNION, MS). THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TRIED THEIR BEST TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH. HOWEVER, MY COMMUNICATIONS WITH FORD MOTOR CO. REGARDING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM HAVE NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY. THEY HAVE DENIED ANY EXISTENCE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THE NUMBER OF TAURUS OWNERS WITH IDENTICAL ENGINE R.P.M. ACCELERATION COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE REFLECT A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND CONSULT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING THE ENGINE R.P.M. SURGING AS DESCRIBED, WHICH IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS.

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 1998 FORD TAURUS ARE EXTREMELY INSUFFICIENT REGARDING THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF ILLUMINATION. THIS IS A RESULT OF POOR HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR DESIGN. OTHER TAURUS OWNERS I HAVE TALKED WITH EXPRESSED THE SAME GRAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS. I'VE DRIVEN A 2000 FORD FOCUS, WHICH DID NOT EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS CAR, A 1996 FORD CONTOUR, HAD EXCELLENT HEADLIGHTS. THE LIGHTS ON THE TAURUS ARE EASILY "OVER DRIVEN" AT ANY SPEED OVER 35 M.P.H. AT NIGHT. THIS RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE TAURUS DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM? I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD OFFER AN IMPROVED REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT FOR DEALER RETROFIT TO CORRECT THIS VERY HAZARDOUS SAFETY DEFICIT.

THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON WENT OUT CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE INTO GEAR ONCE STOPPED. *SLC

HUBS ON THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN CHAFED SEVERAL TIMES. VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

EVER SINCE I STARTED USED CRUISE CONTROL ENGINE ACCELERATES-RPM AT 2 1/2 WHILE PARKED

PASSANGER SEAT RESTRAINT LOCKS WHEN A LARGE PERSON IS IN THE SEAT. EVERYTIME THE BELT REALS IN A BIT IT STAYS LOCKED, RESULTING IN A VERY TIGHT AND UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE. REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT BELT SOME MONTHS AGO RESOLVED THE ISSUE FOR A WHILE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS RE-EMERGED, AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE UNIT AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO BE UNSAFE RIDING IN A CAR WITH THE SHOULDER BELT SO TIGHT THAT MOVEMENT IS IMPOSSABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO MY FAT STATURE THE SEAT BELT IS MAL FUNCTIONING, BUT WHEN NORMAL SIZED PEOPLE ARE IN THE SEAT THE RESTRAINT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY.

STEERING GOT TIGHT, WHEN TURNING WHEEL, IT MADE NOISE. RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND BALLJOINTS ALL FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *AK

RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS 1998 FLEET VEHICLE WITH 70,700 MILES. TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK, APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES DRIVEN VEHICLE HAS LUNGED FORWARD DURING A STOP. BOTH TIMES IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ENGINE FAILING TO REDUCE RPMS DURING DECELERATION. AGAIN, IN BOTH CASES I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR JUST PRIOR TO APPROACHING THE STOP SIGNS. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY APPLYING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO BRAKE, AND ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. I CAME TO THIS WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR SIMILAR REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND FOUND WHAT MAY BE A RELATED PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN CARS NOT REDUCING RPM DURING DECELERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY CAR DOES THIS ALSO. THAT WAS THE FIRST DIFFERENCE I NOTICED BETWEEN THIS VEHICLE AND THE 1999 FORD TAURUS I USED TO DRIVE AS MY FLEET CAR. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS ONLY RANDOM, I WAS RELUCTANT TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER FOR INVESTIGATION AS THEY WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY OBSERVE THE PROBLEM. WHAT SHOULD I HAVE THEM CHECK? *AK

AFTER CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK ENGINE ACCELERATED, ENGINE REVVED. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED, AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT SHINE AT SAME TIME. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT CONSUMER WANTED TO REPORT IT. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PART NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO FORD CHANGING DESIGN, TRYING TO GET PART. *AK TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YH

ON 01-19-01 SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN IT STRUCK THE REAR BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THOUGH MY VEHICLE SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL FRONT END DAMAGE, NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SPEEDS UP AND CANNOT SLOW DOWN WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON BRAKES. THIS MAY CAUSE A CRASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK THE LEFT FRONT DRIVE WHEEL MAKES ROARING NOISE. THE VEHICLE ALSO TRYS TO PULL OFF WHEN BRAKING TO STOP. THE DEALER NEITHER CAN FIX IT NOR TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK. *YH

WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES SENCE WE BOUGHT IT. WE'VE ONLY PUT 12000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND MY WIFE IS SCARED TO DRIVE IT! NO AFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. LOSS OF POWER STEERING BOOST. NO INJURIES. *AK

HIGH PRESSURE HOSE RUPTURED WHILE PARKING. NO STEERING BOOST AFTER FAILURE. VEHICLE DRIVEN TO DEALER WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. *AK

POWER STEERING SYSTEM NOISY AFTER PREVIOUS REPAIR. REPLACED PUMP TWICE, WITH NO NET GAIN. DEALER INDICATES CONDITION NORMAL. SUBSEQUENT PROBLEMS INDICATE DEALER IN ERROR. *AK

STEERING GROANS IN THE AM OR AFTER A LONG TRIP. SYSTEM LACKS BOOST. DEALER INSTALLED PS SERVICE KIT. NET RESULT NOISY SYSTEM AND NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL FAILURES. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO HOLD WHILE DESCENDING A HILL. IF CONTROL SET TO 55, UNLESS YOU APPLY THE BRAKE YOU CAN BE DOING 75-85 MPH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. DEALER SAYS CONDITION NORMAL AND THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT WILL HOLD SPEED ON AN INCLINE, DESPITE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN PREVIOUS VEHICLES TO THE CONTRARY. *AK

IN INITIAL FAILURE, BROKEN LINKS CAUSED VEHICLE TO FAIL TO TURN AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. IN THE SECOND FAILURE, SUSPENSION BECAME LOOSE. *AK

WITH IN LAST MONTH WHEN THE CAR WAS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL ENGINE WOULD RUN UP TO ABOUT 3000RPMS. ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO TURN IT OFF WITH THE KEY. IT HAS NOT DONE THIS IN GEAR. *AK

GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN FULL, DIGITAL MILES LEFT GAUGE READ 0, THREE OF FOUR TAURUS'S WITHIN THE FLEET HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS GAUGE. *MJS

A GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT THE REAR DISC BRAKES ALONG WITH THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT IT SHOULD BE. *SLC

CAR CAME EQUIPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FROM FACTORY. AT THIS TIME THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS I DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT EFFECTED THE BACK LIGHTS IN ANY WAY. THEY ARE CONTROLLED WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH, BUT NOT THE HEAD LIGHTS. PLEASE ADVISE. *AK

I WAS AT A STOP WHEN THE ENGINE LUNGED AHEAD AND DIED,AT THE TIME I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT REPEATED THIS 3 OTHER TIMES. THE REPIRING DEALER SAID THE GROUND CABLE FOR THE PCM WAS LOSE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE CONTROL. THE LUNGING WAS QUITE VIOLENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE GENERAL TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *CJ

TURNING CORNER AT APPX 20MPH HEARD LOUD CLONK NOISE UNABLE TO STEER VECH,RACK & PINION SNAPPED, LIFTED HOOD BELT HAD CAME OFF WHEEL WAS ON THE GROUND, FORD MECHANIC TOLD WARRANTY REP THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I RAN LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID. I DROVE A 24FT TRACTOR AND 53FT TRAILER COMBINATION FOR 6 YEARS ACROSS THE US CANADA AND MEXICO AND HAD TO DO MY OWN MAINT. AND MINOR REPAIRS TO MY TRUCK DOES THIS SOUND LIKE SOMEONE THAT JUMPS IN AND OUT OF A CAR WITHOUT CHECKING FLUID LEVELS,OR DOING PROPER MAINT ON THEIR VECH?? I ONLY HAD THE VECH FOR 38DAYS BUT ALWAYS KEEP ALL FLUID LEVELS CHECKED, BEFORE THIS HAPPENED I WOULD HEAR A LOW HUMMING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE POWERSTEERING FLUID WAS AT THE NORMAL LEVEL.

WHILE DRIVING FROM 35 MPH AND ABOVE GRINDING AND PULSATION FROM FRONT BRAKES LEAD TO REPLACMENT OF BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS THREE TIMES AT 40,000 MILES ABS "ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT" REPLACED 50,000 MILES $700 REPAIR. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY / JERKS FORWARD WHEN PLACED IN PARK / SKIPS GEARS. *AK

WHEN TURNING A CORNER VEHICLE MADE A SQUEAKING SOUND, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT.*AK