Model year record

1998 Ford Taurus

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 680 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V198000

Seat belts: front: anchorage

Component
Seat belts: front: anchorage
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
7,000
Reported to NHTSA
1998-08-25
Owners notified
1998-09-04

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V028000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
571,800
Reported to NHTSA
1998-02-10
Owners notified
1998-03-23

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Vehicle speed control8690,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission4787,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip3171,200 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs3177,143 mi
Air bags: frontal28100,013 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2198,811 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine1782,000 mi
Interior lighting1549,000 mi
Suspension: front1599,511 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1446,000 mi
Electrical system12133,000 mi
Unknown or other1279,150 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal12
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1119,000 mi
Seat belts1098,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc10
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1035,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion9
Vehicle speed control: linkages977,000 mi
Air bags885,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor87,300 mi
Engine and engine cooling770,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic779,150 mi
Steering743,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system697,787 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights6167,959 mi
Structure: frame and members6125,000 mi
Suspension6142,392 mi
Tires6127,582 mi
Power train5170,000 mi
Structure: body570,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch4
Electrical system: wiring497,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system495,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner4106,023 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch4
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly4
Seat belts: rear/other475,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads4
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar4
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump4
Tires: tread/belt437,472 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control419,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core455,000 mi
Wheels4140,655 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery3
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash3103,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump393,500 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines3
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)3103,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch3
Power train: manual transmission3
Seat belts: front: anchorage350,000 mi
Seats3
Seats: front assembly: recliner373,990 mi
Service brakes3138,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections3
Structure3107,000 mi
Structure: body: door3
Structure: body: trunk lid3
Suspension: front: macpherson strut314,980 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system3
Visibility: windshield3
Air bags: side/window2
Electrical system: ignition: module2
Electrical system: starter assembly2
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood260,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers2
Engine2138,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys270,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (PCV)2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe2
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.2
Exterior lighting2140,655 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch2
Fuel system, gasoline222,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly2
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: lock2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings249,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages2
Structure: body: hood2
Vehicle speed control: cables290,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear2
Visibility: power window devices and controls248,787 mi
Air bags: on-off switch assembly1
Child seat1
Electrical system: horn1148,230 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor1
Equipment185,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices1
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift1
Exterior lighting: brake lights121,000 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights1
Exterior lighting: turn signal1
Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit1103,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system158,598 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1
Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump1
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system1
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch1
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift1
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter144,328 mi
Power train: axle assembly1
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal154,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)1
Power train: driveline: driveshaft1
Seats: front assembly: head restraint1
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light164,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: interconnecting assembly(wiring)1
Service brakes, air: disc: caliper1
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light163,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: drum1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1
Steering: column1
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device1
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)1
Steering: linkages1
Steering: rack and pinion: rack1
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields170,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm1
Suspension: front: springs: leaf spring assembly1
Suspension: front: springs: torsion bar1
Suspension: rear154,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring1104,000 mi
Wheels: rim1

The 1997 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.