Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 29 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 29, in the owner's own words
A SEAT BACK FAILURE HAPPENED TO MY MOTHERS FORD TAURUS DURING A REAR END COLLISION, WHICH CAUSED HER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T REACH THE BRAKE OR STEERING WHEEL AFTER THE SEAT BACK BROKE. WHAT SHOULD OF BEEN A MINOR ACCIDENT TURNED INTO A VERY MAJOR ACCIDENT. AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD MAKE CARS THAT'S SEATS DON'T BREAK WITH THE SMALLEST REAR COLLISION. *JB
MY DOOR AJAR LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE ALL SHUT. SOMETIMES I AM ABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE A DOOR AND THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT, BUT OTHER TIMES THE LIGHT STAYS ON NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO. THE DOME LIGHT WILL STAY ON DUE TO THIS AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BULB OUT IN ORDER TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR QUITE AWHILE NOW AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND TWO BATTERIES WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE CAUSED FROM THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A DEFECT SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE AND IF SO WILL THE DEALER FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME? *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY TO 20 MPH WHILE IN REVERSE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN FULL ACCELERATION ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AFTER THE COLLISION UNTIL THE CONTACT SHUT THE IGNITION OFF. THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE WITH BRAKING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTRACTED THE 3 INJURED PASSENGERS FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. UPDATED 09/15/06. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE REAR LEFT DOOR OPEN ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1998 FORD TAURUS WITH 49,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. AFTER I GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES THINKS THAT MY DRIVERS DOOR IS STILL OPEN. THE DOOR IS AJAR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINS LIT AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR SOME TIME. I CAN MANUALLY TURN OFF THE DOME LIGHT BUT THE UNDER-DASH LIGHTS STAY ON. I DON'T NOTICE IT DURING THE DAY BUT IT IS SOMEWHAT DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. THE DOOR-OPEN DETECTOR IS NO LONGER A BUTTON BUT IS INSTEAD SOME SORT OF ELECTRONIC SENSOR BUILT INTO THE HINGE-SPRING MECHAMISM FOR THE DOOR. IT WILL ALSO NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK THE DRIVERS DOOR. I HIT THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS BUTTON AND ALL FOUR DOORS LOCK THEN THE DRIVERS DOOR UNLOCKS ALL BY ITSELF. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW. IT IS THE INTERIOR UNDER-DASH LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT THAT IS DISTRACTING. *NLM
GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT LINE UP CORRECTLY WHEN IN ANY GEAR. AJAR DOOR LIGHT AND INSIDE DOME LIGHT STAY ON AND THE DRIVERSIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. ALSO, WHEN GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE CAR EACH PASSANGER GETS SHOCKED IF YOU TOUCH ONE ANOTHER OR THE DOORS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW. THIS HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASES.
WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AS NORMAL AND THEN SHOULD GO OUT WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOORS. CONSUMER STATES LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO LOOK LIKE MIRRORS. CONSUMER STATES' VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED BY THIS MIRROR LIKE IMAGE, MAKING IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER.
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHTS UNDER THE DASHBOARD WILL STAY ON AND THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS UNLESS VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED ON A CAR CRASH AND HER DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NLM
CONSUMER STATES WAS HIT FROM THE REAR IN A COLLISION. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WELD BROKE AND THE SEAT COLLAPSED. NLM
INTERIOR LIGHT TO ALERT ANY DOOR IS OPEN, COMES OFF AND ON WITHOUT ANY DOORS BEING OPEN.*AK
DOME AND DOOR LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY STAY ON. *AK DEALER REPLACED DRIVER DOOR SWITCH. BUT PROBLEM REOCCURED IN ADDITION TO THE WARNING BELL CHIMING WHEN KEYS ARE IN IGNITION WITH THE DOORS CLOSED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TT
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL CLOSE. CONSUMER HAS TO PUSH DOWN LOCK AND CLOSE DOOR SO IT WILL STAY SHUT. IF DOESN'T PUSH DOWN LOCK DOOR WILL NOT SHUT. HAVE TO CONTACT DEALER.*AK
FIRST THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ON FOR HOURS. WE WERE IN THE ACT OF MOVING TO LA. I CALLED THE1-800 NUMBER IN OWNER'S MANUAL. WAS TOLD PROBLEM USED TO EXIST WITH MERCURY BUT NOT WITH TAURUS. ARE NOT THE TWO CARS THE SAME, EXCEPT FOR THE NAMESASSIGNED TO THEM? AT ANY RATE,I WAS TOLD TO PULL OUT BULB OR GET TO PANEL FOR FUSE. I PULLED OUT BULB. THEN THE TURBO COMPONENT IN ENGINE GAVE OUT AFTER I ARRIVED IN LA. AAMCO HAD TO TOW IT AWAY BECAUSE, AT BEST, IT LURCHED FORWARD OR BACKWARD A FEW FEET. AAMCO REPLACED TURBO UNIT FOR 1400.00 THEY REPLACED BULB INTERIOR. WITHIN A WEEK THE OLD PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. THE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF, THE DOORS WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, AND ANOTHER PROBLEM STARED--THE SYMBOL FOR A DOOR NOT CLOSED WOULD STAY ON. NO MATTER IF I RE-RE-RE- CLOSED THE DOORS. I TOOK IT BACK TO AAMCO. THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP THAT SPECIALIZED IN THIS PROBLEM. WELL, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THE DEALER HERE IS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AT NO COST. I'M GUESSING --NOT --BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL. AT ANY RATE, I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR IN BECAUSE I DID/DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY. THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT AND SYMBOL WENT AWAY, BUT A NEW PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED. THE ANTENNA WILL NOT GO DOWN. THANKS FOR READING THIS.*AK
MY DOOR LATCH AND/OR 'DOOR AJAR' LIGHT LATCH IS NOT WORKING, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON ALL THE TIME AND MY BATTERY STAYS RUN DOWN(I'VE HAD TO REPLACE IT ONCE ALREADY), AND NOT ONLY IS IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON, IT IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ON THIS. THANK YOU, MS. [XXX]. FRAME. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
INSIDE COURTESY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR 25 MINUTES OR UP TO AN HOUR BEFORE GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
VEHICLE CAN BE IN DRIVE AND MOVING, OR IN PARK AND SITTING STILL, THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO HESITATE AFTER RUNNING FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS GET EXTREMELY HOT, THE LIGHTING WILL DIM ON ITS OWN. ALL ELECTRONICS (I.E. RADIO, AIR CONDITIONING ETC...) WILL FAIL. THE CAR WILL THEN CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE ALSO LUNGES FORWARD IF IN PARK OR STOPPED WHILE IN DRIVE, IF IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR 10-15 MINUTES OR MORE.
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
CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AFTER CAR IS PUT INTO PARK, NOW IT IS DOING IT WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND NOT GO OUT, RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF BY IT'S SELF, ELECTRIC SEAT ONLY WORKS HALF THE TIME, GOES BACK THEN WILL NOT GO BACK UP, CAR WILL INCREASE IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE IN PARK AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP UNLESS YOU TURN OFF ENGINE, STARTING TO CLIMB IN RPM'S WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT.*AK
TRUCK CARGO LIGHT BURNED HOLES THROUGH 3 LAYERS OF FABRIC, COULD HAVE CAUSE A FIRE, THIS IS A VERY HIGH POWERED HALOGEN BULB AND CAN GET QUITE HOT WHILE THE TRUCK IS OPEN, THE LIGHT HAS NO PROTECTIVE COVER.
1. NEED COMPLETE NEW TRANSMISSION, 2ND GEAR BURNED UP WITH ONLY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. 2. DOON AND DOOR AJAR LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF, INTERIOR PANAL LIGHTS WON'T COME ON AND I GET SHOCKED EVERY TIME I CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER EXITING. 3. GEAR SHIFT COLUMN BROKE WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK SHIFTING TO DRIVE.
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH STOPPED FOR SIGN, AND WHILE CROSSING OVER, GOING WEST, THE HOOD BENT, WINDSHIELD BROKE AND FRONT LEFT WHEEL BROKE FROM THE FRAME ,AND THE CONSUMER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD, AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
TRUNK LID WILL NOT STAY UP WHEN OPENED. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND INFORMEDCONSUMER THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE SPOILER WAS THE CAUSE AND NOTHING ELSE WAS MENTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM... CONSUMER HAD THE TRUNK LID HIT HER IN BACK OF HEAD ON FOUR OCCASIONS. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . *AK
THERE WAS A FIRE WITHIN THE TRUNK WHEN SLEEPING BAG CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT. HOWEVER, SMOKE CAUSED ALOT OF DAMAGE. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *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
Data on this page last refreshed .