1998 Ford Taurus Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A REAR PROPORTIONING VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10660573

Incident

Nov 21, 2014

Mileage

138,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP AT A LIGHT ON A HIGHWAY ACCESS ROAD, THE VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE STOPPING. IT STARTED VIOLENTLY JERKING AND VIBRATING AND THE BRAKES WERE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE RPM'S READ IN THE 4'S. I PULLED OVER AND IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY REACHED 45 MPH WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS RELUCTANT TO HAVE IT REACH A GREATER SPEED SO I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. IT ONCE AGAIN DID NOT WANT TO RESPOND PROPERLY TO THE BRAKES. I CALLED FORD AND EPLAINED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING, THERE ARE NO RECALLS. I RESEARCHED ONLINE, AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THAT STICKS TO THE THROTTLE AND LEAVES IT OPEN. I ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED FORD FOR AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. I CALLED THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THAT PART IS AFTERMARKET AND IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS READING THE AOL VEHICLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED. I DON'T KNOW WHY FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS SERIOUS SAFET ISSUE IN A TIMELY MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499523

Incident

Feb 18, 2013

Mileage

140,920 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10475398

Incident

Sep 14, 2011

Mileage

102,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10393721

Incident

Nov 10, 2008

Mileage

142,392 mi

WHILE GOING TO WORK BOTH BRAKES LINES ON DRIVERS SIDE WENT BAD AFTER CHECKING WITH MECHANIC. WAS TOLD BOTH LINES WAS ROTTED AWAY. I DO HAVE TO ORDER PARTS FROM FORD. WHICH IS GOING TO CAUSE ME 265.00 TO FIX . MY CAR HAS 49000 MILES. NO REASON WHY BRAKES LINE FAIL NOT A OLD CAR ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF. *JB

NHTSA ID

10175705

Incident

Nov 7, 1998

Mileage

49,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LENS LOCATED ON THE HATCH OF THE VEHICLE, SEPARATED AND FELL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, AND THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10171222

Incident

Oct 18, 2006

Mileage

21,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE ABS SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10160123

Incident

Jun 19, 2006

Mileage

63,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 15 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS SPONGY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AND MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR HAS NOT DISCLOSED THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10155245

Incident

Apr 11, 2006

Mileage

129,660 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10124628

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

TOOK 1998 FORD TAURUS (DURATEC 3.0) IN FOR COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND TRANSMISSION FLUSH. WITH ONLY 54,000 MILES, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND A REAR STABILIZER BAR WAS BROKEN, AND A FRONT AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. THOSE ARE CLEARLY MATERIALS DEFECTS, AS WE TAKE EXPERT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS SINCE WE DROVE THE CAR OFF THE LOT. THE POOR QUALITY ROTORS THE FACTORY INSTALLS ON THESE CARS CONTRIBUTES TO WARPING, WHICH WOULD BE NOTICEABLE BY A PULSING WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112705

Incident

Mar 8, 2005

Mileage

54,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKESTHE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN HOUSING SHAFT UNIT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10074406

Incident

May 27, 2004

BRAKES IN THE REAR ARE GRINDING REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054410

Incident

Sep 5, 2003

BRAKES: FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUE TO WARP IN SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE ON 26 FEB 99, WITH 14622 MILES ON IT, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISC ROTORS 3 TIMES AND ALSO HAVED THEM TURNED (CUT) 3 TIMES. THIS TIME (AUGUST 03) I HAVE HAD THEM DONE BY A MECHANIC. AT LEAST 40% OF THE MILEAGE THAT I HAVE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIGHWAY MILEAGE. OTHER: VEHICLE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY. THIS HAPPENED APROX. 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM DEALER, WHICH WAS DELIVERED DO TO A RECALL, MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAME VERY DIME AND WERE OF NO BASIC USE. UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, IT WAS FIRST STATED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE DYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS, ONCE THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED, THEY THEN IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM TO SOME ELCTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. DO TO THE COST, APROX $250.00, I CHOSE NOT TO HAVE IT FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10070660

Incident

Aug 15, 2001

Mileage

79,150 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE PEDAL BECAME SOFT WHEN DEPRESSING. THIS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10046129

Incident

Oct 27, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10034068

Mileage

64,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10027290

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

Mileage

56,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10031677

Incident

Jul 30, 2003

BRAKE FAILURE ON 1998 FORD TAURUS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030318

Incident

Jul 22, 2003

Mileage

71,200 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10008390

Incident

Sep 10, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

10004043

Incident

Nov 18, 2002

Mileage

65,500 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING LOSS BRAKING ABILITY, LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. CONSUMER GREY SMOKE STARTED TO FILL CAB AREA, POWER WINDOWS WERE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER FEELS LUCKY ONE OF THE WINDOWS WAS HALF WAY DOWN, AND CONSUMER CRAWLED TO SAFETY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8021077

Incident

Sep 7, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING LOSS ALL BRAKING ABILITY, CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF CAR FLIPPED OVER. CONSUMER STATES THAT GREY SMOKE FILLED CAR, POWER WINDOWS LOCKED UP. TS

NHTSA ID

8021072

Incident

Sep 7, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AND WIT NO WARNING WHEN TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017569

Incident

Aug 23, 2002

THE CRUSE DOSENT HOLD WHEN GOING DOWN HILL IF SAT A 60 , IT WILL INCREASE TO 75 OR MORE .ALSO THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE THAT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF CAR THE FASTER AND IN INCLINE IT GETS VERY VERY LOUD. AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES A LOT.ALSO FORD HAS GRINDED DOWN THE HUBS THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE BRAKES ARE GOING BAD AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

765972

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ON EXIT RAMP BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER ,WHO STATED THAT BRAKES WERE FINE. CONSUMER WAS SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE.*AK *TS

NHTSA ID

8015562

Incident

Jul 26, 2002

Mileage

46,000 mi