Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. 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. 22 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
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. *TR
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. *TR
IN JUNE 2008 I STARTED MY REGULAR YEARLY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE OF MY 1998 FORD TAURUS WAGON. I HAD MY OIL CHANGE & ROTATED/BALANCED MY TIRES. IN OCTOBER 2008 I HAD TWO TIRES REPLACED (ALL OF MY SERVICE WAS DONE @ A FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY CITY) AND A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION FOR MY VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT MY CAR NEEDED REAR SHOCKS, AS THE OUTER CASING WAS ROTTED! LEFT INNER TIE ROD WAS LOOSE & FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN. I WENT IN ON OCT 23, 2008 AND HAD ALL OF THE WORK DONE!,$417.45 FOR FRONT BRAKES, RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS; REPLACED FRONT INNER TIE ROD. THEN ON 11/10/08 I WENT IN TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS ADVISED THAT IT FAILED, THE ROCKER PANELS WERE ROTTED OUT! I MADE AN APPT FOR 11/19/08 TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO FIX THIS & LEARNED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FROM FORD & THAT I NEEDED TO FABRICATE NEW ONES! MY CAR, WHICH HAD 142,555 MILES ON IT, WHICH I THOUGHT TO BE IN PERFECT CONDITION, DID NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF SUB-FRAME ROT! THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS, WHO HAD JUST POCKETED $621.45 OF MY MONEY TO PERFORM WORK ON A CAR THAT THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT! IN SEARCHING FOR ESTIMATES TO REPAIR THIS DAMAGE I LEARNED THAT ALL TAURUS' RUSTED IN THE SAME PLACE! UNDER THE ROCKER PANEL COVERS, RIGHT WHERE MINE WAS ROTTED. I WAS TOLD BY EVERY COMPANY TO JUNK MY CAR! I CALLED FORD TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS AND WAS ONLY TOLD "YOUR CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY". I JUST LEARNED TODAY ABOUT RECALLS ON FORD VEHICLES DUE TO SUBFRAME ROT! MY CAR IS STILL SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT AND HAVE NOT JUNKED IT YET BECAUSE I AM SO SADDENED THAT IT WAS NEVER FIXED BY FORD. I HAVE EVERY RECEIPT FOR ALL THE WORK PERFORMED ON MY CAR AND WOULD LIKE MY CAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE UPDATED RECALLS ON FORD VEHICLES! THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
TL*THE 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 *CN UPDATED 12/16/08. *JB
TL*THE 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.
TODAY, FEB. 26,2007 I WAS SUMMONED BY THE MECHANIC WHERE I WAS GETTING THE OIL CHANGED. WHILE DOING THE SAFETY INSPECTION HE SHOWED ME THAT THE FRONT END SUPPORT RAILS OF THE CAR WHICH HOLDS THE ENGINE ARE RUSTING THROUGH! THE WHOLE CRADLE IS IN DANGER OF BREAKING OFF DUE TO THE RUST. THIS WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION HE TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT GETS FIXED! THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE STEEL I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. *NM
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
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. *AK THE FRONT FRAME WAS NOT BUILT PROPERLY. *SC *JB
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.
THE REAR END MOUNT WAS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. *JB
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
ROTOR SERVICE ON FRONT END OF VEHICLE ONCE EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TIRES SHAKING, CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING, AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN REAR END WHEN BRAKING. THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER MAKE A BUZZING NOISE, THE BRAKES PULSATE. THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE AND ROTORS FAILED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE MAKES A BUZZING NOISE WHEN START. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. *YH
VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN DUE TO A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. DEALER REPAIRED FOR 5TH TIME BY REPLACING STABILIZER BAR AND SWAY BAR. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER WAS DISTORTED WHEN PLAYING TAPES, THE HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN.*JB *TT
THE DOOR AJAR SWITCH STAYED ON PROHIBITING THE POWER LOCKS TO PERFORM AND KEEP THE DOME LIGHT ON. WHEN TRYING THE LOCK THE DOOR WITH THE POWER LOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR CONSOLE, THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK AS THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR READ A DOOR WAS OPEN. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH COASTAL FORD, THE REPAIR IS WAS NOT COVERED. I CONTACTED FORD AT (800)392-3673. I WAS TOLD BY ESSENCE, THE PROBLEM WITH NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL; THEREFORE, I AM NOT ENTITLED TO THE REIMBURSEMENT. I PAID COASTAL FORD $101.34 FOR THIS REPAIR. I SAW ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE COME IN WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINT BY OTHER FORD OWNERS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE TO RECEIVING COMPENSATION. THANK YOU.*AK
TRUNK WILL NOT REMAIN OPEN, IT WILL CLOSE ON CONSUMER'S HEAD, TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE WEIGHT OF THE SPOILER WILL NOT HOLD IT UP. *AK
THIS IS AN SE MODEL WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED SPOILER ON THE TRUNK. THE SPRINGS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN IT'S FULLY OPEN POSITION. THIS HAS HIT MYSELF AND MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY SEVERAL TIMES. HOW LONG BEFORE ONE OF MY KIDS GET SERIOUSLY HURT GETTING SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK!! THE DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ADDED WEIGHT OF THE FACTORY INSTALLED SPOILER. THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NONSENSE. THE SERVICE REPORT STATED THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND!!*AK
HOOD INTERNAL RELEASE ISN'T WORKING, HOOD RELEASE IS JAMMED OR STUCK. CONSUMER CAN'T OPEN IT TO PUT ANTI -FREEZE. *AK *ML
THE TRUNK HAS A SPOILER ON IT AND IT DOES NOT STAY UP WHEN LIFTED. THE TRUNK HAD FALLEN ON THE OWNER NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER SAU\YS THAT IT IS NORMAL AND CANNOT BE FIXED. *AK
WHILE REAR TRUNK LID WAS UP IT BECAME INOPERATIVE/ FALLING DOWN AND STRIKING OWNER. POSSIBLE CAUSE DEFECTIVE TORSION BAR, MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK
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
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