Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 39 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 39, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,230.
I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM THIS COMPANY. I EXPECT THAT ALL PARTS BE IN SAFE WORKING CONDITION... I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT JUNE 3, 2005 IN WHICH WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH MY CAR STRUCK THE SIDE OF A FORD TRUCK THAT HAD PULLED OUT PERPENDICULAR INTO MY LANE. MY CAR WAS WEDGED BENEATH THE TRUCK AND THE FRONT END WAS DEMOLISHED WHILE THE DASH HAS EVIDENCE OF MOVING BACK AS WELL INCLUDING THE BRUISES ON MY KNEES AND LEG. MY CAR WAS DETERMINED "TOTALED" AND I AM IN THERAPY FOR MY INJURIES TO INCLUDE PORTIONS OF MY BODY FROM HEAD TO TOE. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY!!! THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME IN LESS THAN SAFE DRIVING CONDITION AS THE AIRBAG WAS ONE OF MANY REASONS I AGREED TO BUY THE CAR. FORD SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE RESALE OF THEIR PRODUCT UNLESS IT IS SAFE. *NM
FRONT AIR BAGS ON 1998 FORD TAURUS DID NOT DEPLOY IN HEAD ON COLLISION.
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. *AK
CONSUMER SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH IN WET CONDITIONS. CONSUMER STRUCK THE GUARD RAIL WITH FORCE HEAD ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING 1998 TAURUS WAGON.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED AT THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE AND BELIEVES THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. *NM
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
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 WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HILL TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND WENT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 TO 40 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, CONSUMER HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER CONSUMERS HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD.DRIVER WAS INJURED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK *MJ
THE VEHICLE WAS GOING 35MPH AND REAREND ANOTHE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION.*JB
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. DRIVER WAS HIT IN THE STOMACH AND REQUIRED SURGERY TO CORRECT INTERNAL INJURIES. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE REASON FOR UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. *AK THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED INJURIES AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. IT ALSO DAMAGED THE SUNVISER AND MIRROR. *YH
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30MPH. UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB
FRONTAL COLLISION AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BOTH CARS TOTALED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A 1993 FORD, PROBE. AT AN IMPACT OF 45 MPH, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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 WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ANOTHER DRIVER HIT CONSUMER AT ABOUT 50 MPH, AND CONSUMER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
ALTHOUGH I HAVE STATED MY VEHICLE WAS GOING AT A LOW MPH, THE VEHICLE THAT HIT MY BACK PASSANGER SIDE WAS GOING AT ABOUT 45 MPH FOR IMPACT, AT WHICH POINT MY CAR WAS SENT SPINNING AROUND, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN IT CAME TO A STOP AND I HAD TO MANUALLY SHUT IT OFF.*AK
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM RIGHT REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR, GOING AT A SPEED OF APROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AND BOTH PASSENGER' SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEFECT WAS COSTING CONSUMER TO REINSTALL THE AIRBAGS. *AK
THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM REPLACED A BATTERY ON 05/20/00. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT NEEDED A NEW AIRBAG MODULE. SINCE THIS LIGHT HAD NEVER COME ON BEFORE, I BELIEVED IT HAD TO DO WITH THE NEW BATTERY REPLACEMENT. I REFUSED THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW AIRBAG MODULE TO SEE IF THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF ON ITS OWN. AFTER THREE WEEKS IT HAS NOT. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG MODULE. MY SECOND CONCERN IS WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL). THEY HAVE OCCASIONALLY GONE ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AND HAVE STAYED ON AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AS WELL. I CAN MAKE THEM GO OFF BY TURNING THE HEADLAMPS ON AND OFF. THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NO CAUSE FOR THIS. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIRBAGS DURING HEAD ON IMPACT AT 35 MPH, INJURIES DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .