1998 Ford Taurus Engine 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

THIS IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN WHILE DRIVING MY TEENAGE SON'S VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECREASE IN SPEED. WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP, WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE ACCELERATE WITHOUT HITTING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY SINCE ITS A TEENAGERS VEHICLE. I SEE THAT NEWER TAURUSES HAD A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MANY WERE REPORTING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MY SON'S DID TONIGHT. ALSO, WHEN I PLACED HIS VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE REVVED UP TO 4000 RPM'S LIKE SOMEONE WAS HITTING THE GAS. I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF BEFORE IT BLEW THE ENGINE. IT WAS NERVE RACKING. THIS IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OF DEATH TO MY CHILD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648298

Incident

Oct 17, 2014

Mileage

175,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10472395

Incident

Aug 17, 2012

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.

NHTSA ID

10381034

Incident

Oct 1, 2010

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY EXHIBIT A NO-START CONDITION. SHE ALSO NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD BECOME EXCESSIVELY HOT. UPDATED 12/08/09*JB

NHTSA ID

10290804

Incident

Jul 16, 2009

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER HEARD A GUSHING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OIL WAS OBSERVED LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET. THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 42,000-44,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10267830

Incident

Apr 18, 2005

Mileage

42,000 mi

FORD TAURUS 1998 ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR (PLASTIC CONTAINER) SPRUNG A LEAK ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. NO INDICATION OF ANY RUBBING AGAINST ANYTHING. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT FROM AN ON-LINE INTERNET PARTS WHOLESALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD MANY ORDERS FOR REPLACEMENT FORD TAURUS ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR BOTTLES. I NEVER HAD SUCH A PROBLEM ON ANY PREVIOUS CAR THAT I HAVE OWED BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251798

Incident

Dec 10, 2008

Mileage

250,220 mi

ENGINE OIL IS LEAKING ON EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM BACK SIDE OF ENGINE. STRONG SMELL AND OIL ON GROUND' 81,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKETS. STILL LEAKING OIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214620

Incident

Oct 22, 2007

Mileage

82,000 mi

STUCK THERMOSTAT CAUSED A BOIL OVER. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE INTEGRATED PRESSURE/OVERFLOW BOTTLE CRACKED AND CAUSED A MAJOR LOSS OF COOLANT. THIS ALSO LEAD TO THE HEATER CORE BECOMING BLOCKED DUE TO THE LOSS OF COOLANT. UPDATED 12/07/07 *JB

NHTSA ID

10201877

Incident

Dec 31, 2004

SMOKE WAS RISING FROM UNDERNEATH CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND FOUND OIL WAS RUNNING DOWN AND HITTING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING THE SMOKE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY. REPAIR FACILITY FOUND THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS BULGED OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE ABOUT 3/4" THUS ALLOWING OIL TO RUN OUT OF THE OIL PAN. OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157177

Incident

Sep 17, 2005

Mileage

98,811 mi

1998 FORD TAURUS ENGINE FAILED. *TS THE VEHICLES ENGINE FAILED WHILE ON AN EXIT RAMP. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRUCK FOUR HIGHWAY SIGNS AND POLES. THE VEHICLE LEFT REAR DOOR, LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, LEFT REAR BUMPER AND RIGHT SIDE RUNNING PANEL WERE DAMAGED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10148639

Incident

Aug 14, 2005

NO HEAT. TOOK OUR 1998 FORD TAURUS 6CYL.,3.0L,182FI VEHICLE TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT OF NO HEAT. I AM TOLD FROM THE FORD SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THERE IS RUST IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM CAUSED BY A METAL ALLERGY REACTION FROM THE WATER PUMP IMPELLER BLADE AND THE ANTIFREEZE COOLANT IN THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSE RUST THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE, FREEZE PLUGS, HEATER CORE, THERMOSTAT AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/BREAKDOWN DUE TO LACK OF WATER/COOLANT CIRCULATION. FORD ANSWER: REPLACE WATER PUMP WITH UPGRADED WATER PUMP, FLUSH SYSTEM WITH ANTI-RUST CHEMICALS, REPLACE FREEZE PLUGS, REPLACE HEATER CORE, HOSES, THERMOSTAT AND REFILL WITH ANTI-FREEZE COOLANT AT A COST OF @ $1700.00. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT SINCE I'VE OWN IT 10/1999, IE. OIL CHANGES @5000K MI., COOLANT FLUSH @1/YR., BRAKES & TIRES CHECK/SERVICE @5000K MI. I BELIEVE FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM OR THEY WOULDN'T HAVE UPGRADED THE WATER PUMP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND RELATED COMPONENTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144671

Incident

Dec 7, 2005

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT THE GEARS SLIPPED OFF THE CAM, CAR COMPLETELY DIED

NHTSA ID

10119378

Incident

Feb 27, 2005

Mileage

101,000 mi

THERE WERE PARTICLES COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND ALL OVER THE CAR. THE CONSUMER'S CHILDREN HAVE BECOME SICK AND THE CONSUMER WEARS A MASK. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WITH NO SOLUTION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10101600

Incident

Nov 9, 2004

Mileage

95,000 mi

MY WHOLE COOLING SYSTEM HAS BECOME CORRODED BY THE COATING INSIDE OF THE HOSES THAT IS USED. I HAVE HAD MY HEATER CORE REPLACE 2 YEARS AGO AND MY RADIATOR FLUSHED. AND NOW IT IS FAILING AGAIN. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED, SO FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHY AM I LEFT HOLDING THE BAG FOR REPAIRS ON DEFECTIVE PARTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093886

Incident

Oct 8, 2004

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW, 2000 MILES TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING WAS REBUILT UNDER WARRANTY BY FORD. TRANSMISSION IS OUT AGAIN CAR WILL NOT MOVE WITHOUT INCREASING RPMS TO 2,500, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. MAKES LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. ESTIMATED $2,500 REBUILD NEEDED. HEAD GASKETS WENT OUT AT 80,000 MILES AND WERE REPLACED FOR $600, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TAURUS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10068133

Incident

Jan 28, 2003

Mileage

102,000 mi

HEAD GASKET AND HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING, TOTAL COST OF JOB WAS 1400. DOLLARS

NHTSA ID

10071296

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

76,000 mi

LAST SUMMER, MY 1998 FORD TAURUS BLEW AN ENGINE. IT WAS ABOUT 4000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. THE GARAGE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT I HAD DONE. THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY' A FAILURE IN THE OIL PUMP, THAT MY CAR HAD EXPERIENCED OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY REGRETTED THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE A NEW ENGINE. THEY SENT IN A REBUILT ENGINE, REPLACED THE BAD ENGINE, AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES. THEN, THIS JULY (JULY 25,2003) I WAS DRIVING THE SAME 1998 FORD TAURUS WITH THE PREVIOUSLY BLOWN ENGINE. THE ADD COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR. WATER WAS POURING FROM EITHER THE RADIATOR OR HOSE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME (ABOUT A DISTANCE OF 60 MILES). I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. ON MONDAY MORNING, THE MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID THAT I HAD MANY MORE PROBLEMS THAT JUST A LEAK. HE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. HE COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR TO START. BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE BOWLING GREEN LINCOLN & MERCURY IN BOWLING GREEN OH. THIS IS WHERE I HAD ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE CAR AND THE PLACE THAT HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE THE PREVIOUS SUMMER. AFTER WAITING NEARING TWO WEEKS TO GET PERMISSION FROM DETROIT (?) TO FIX IT, AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT DOWN TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. HIS REPORT INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FROM A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, BUT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION. THEY VOIDED THE WARRANTY. I ASKED WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION MEANT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSPECTOR HAD DECIDED THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN IN A FLOOD. I WAS TAKEN BACK. MY CAR HAD NOT BEEN IN A FLOOD. THE MECHANICS, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, AND SERVICE MANAGER ALL CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT THE CAR WAS IN A FLOOD. I PERSONALLY HEARD THE SERVICE MANAGER TALK TO SOMEONE IN DETROIT CONFIRMING THAT THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN IN A FLOOD. DETROIT SENT OUT ANOTHER INSPECTOR WHO TOOK FLOOD SAMPLES FROM THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10070737

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

1998 TAURUS SE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH COOLING SYSTEM NOV 2001.CUTTER FORD OF AIEA THE AGENT FOR FORD MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR PROBLEM SPANING A YEAR AND A HALF. FOR THE TIME BEING PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED. HOWEVER FREEZE PLUG HAS MALFUCTIONED TWICE NOW AND I AM CURRENTLY GETTING IT REPAIRED. FUEL INJECTORS MALFUCTIONED AND WHERE REPAIRED APRIL 2003. I HAVE RECORDS OF CAR'S PROBLEMS DATING BACK TO 2000

NHTSA ID

10070490

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

Mileage

48,787 mi

DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE BLOCK THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO SETTLE AND ACCUMULATE IN CERTAIN SPOTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK.*MR TWELVE MONTHS AFTER THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXHIBITING A LOST OF HEAT AND THAT WAS WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE RUST AND SEDIMENT TO ACCUMULATE OVER TIME IF THE COOLANT REMAINED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10054018

ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR SPRANG A LEAK ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. THERE IS ABOUT A 1-INCH GAP BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE AND THE FENDER SO RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING WAS NOT THE CAUSE. I CALLED A PARTS HOUSE WHO SAID THEY HAD REPLACED 3 OF THEM IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS. SEEMS LIKE AN ODD COINCIDENCE THE BOTTLES LEAK. I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE LEAK ON ANY CAR I'VE EVER OWNED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052492

Incident

Jan 6, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10047998

Incident

Nov 14, 2003

SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF VENTS WHEN AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON. IF I TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES, THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD WORK AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I TRIED TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONING. IN SEPTEMBER, WHEN I TRIED USING THE HEATER, IT DID NOT WORK. I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT AND HAD ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED. HOWEVER THIS STILL DID NOT RESOLVE MY PROBLEM. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP,. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 98 TAURUS. THE ENGINE COOLANT FORD MAKES YOU USE CLOGS THE SYSTEM AND TURNS THE COOLANT INTO SLUDGE. THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT ON AVERAGE I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE EVERY OTHER YEAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043474

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

97,787 mi

1998 FORD TAURUS; 78000+ MILES: RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. OWNERS MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY NOT BE REFERRING TO A MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT WILL AFFECT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. OUR LIGHT CAME ON ONE MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR. IT WOULD GO OFF WHEN WE CHANGED FLUIDS OR BRAND OF GASOLINE. ON JUNE 28TH THERE WAS A NOTICABLE CHANGE IN DRIVABILITY AS THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AND THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT FROM LOW GEAR. THE ENGINE WOULD REV TO 5000 RPMS TRYING TO SHIFT BUT COULD NOT. I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE TRYING TO MANEUVER IN 55 TO 65 MPH TRAFFIC. AAMCO NOW TELLS ME THAT IT WILL COST 1500 T0 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I RAN A 1993 FORD VAN TO 270,000 MILES BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS MODEL HAD A 12 YEAR HISTORY OF SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030294

Incident

Jun 28, 2003

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS. ALSO, THAT THE VEHICEL HAS PROBLEMS WITH GASKET LEAKS.MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10027327