Model year report

1998 Ford Taurus: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 1998 Ford Taurus

On the 1998 Ford Taurus, the failure owners report most often is other speed control problem, and the reports cluster around 90,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other suspension problem, reported by a median of 70,000 miles. Overall it scores 68 out of 100, high risk for a 1998.

High risk for a 1998 — 84th riskiest of the 271 1998 vehicles we can rate. 680 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.

The failures owners actually file about

Owners have reported 59 named failure modes on the 1998 Ford Taurus, and the three most-reported carry 24% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.

Other speed control problem leads with 75 reports, about 1.2 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 74k to 110,000 miles.

Other powertrain problem follows with 53 reports, usually reported between 55k to 115,000 miles.

Cruise control failure follows with 35 reports, median 140,000 miles.

By system, the reports fall mostly into adas (110), brakes (104) and transmission (67).

When these failures get reported

173 of the reports on the 1998 Ford Taurus came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 90,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 14% by 50,000 miles, 59% by 100,000 miles and 89% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 5 filed above the top of the chart.

The busiest stretch is between 70,000 and 80,000 miles, which alone holds 13% of the dated reports.

7% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, so this is mostly a story about older, higher-mileage cars.

In the order they tend to show up: other suspension problem around 68k, loss of braking around 70k, other powertrain problem around 83k and other speed control problem around 90k.

Median

Other speed control problem

90k
Other powertrain problem

83k
Cruise control failure

141k
Other engine problem

98k
Strut, shock or spring failure

93k
Other electrical problem

118k
ABS module or sensor failure

64k
Other body or interior problem

74k
Seat belt or retractor failure

75k
Other brake problem

76k
Loss of braking

70k
Other suspension problem

68k

Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens

Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 59. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 90k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 5 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.

Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Dashed the median reported mileage

How bad it is when it goes

Across the named modes, 56 mention a crash, 16 a fire, 38 an injury and 1 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.

The average severity weight across every report on this year is 5.29, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.

What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other speed control problem at $250–$2,000, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, cruise control failure at $200–$1,400 and other engine problem at $300–$4,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

19% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.

Every reported failure mode

Mileage figures are percentiles of owner-reported readings. Click a column to sort.
Failure mode	System	Reports	With reading	25th	Median	75th	Per 1,000	Typical repair	Severity
Other speed control problem	adas	75	13	74k	90k	112k	1.2	$250–$2,000	Critical
Other powertrain problem	transmission	53	14	55k	83k	117k	0.8	$400–$4,500	High
Cruise control failure	adas	35	3	—	141k	—	0.6	$200–$1,400	High
Other engine problem	engine	32	8	65k	98k	118k	0.5	$300–$4,000	High
Strut, shock or spring failure	suspension	30	25	68k	93k	115k	0.5	$500–$2,000	Moderate
Other electrical problem	electrical	30	6	—	118k	—	0.5	$250–$2,000	Moderate
ABS module or sensor failure	brakes	28	2	—	64k	—	0.4	$500–$2,400	High
Other body or interior problem	body	28	7	—	74k	—	0.4	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	27	5	—	75k	—	0.4	$200–$900	High
Other brake problem	brakes	27	2	—	76k	—	0.4	$300–$1,800	High
Loss of braking	brakes	26	11	68k	70k	112k	0.4	$400–$3,000	Critical
Other suspension problem	suspension	20	8	55k	68k	93k	0.3	$350–$2,000	Moderate
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure	steering	19	7	—	142k	—	0.3	$700–$2,600	High
Other lighting problem	lighting	17	2	—	95k	—	0.3	$120–$1,200	Moderate
Premature brake pad or rotor wear	brakes	16	2	—	37k	—	0.3	$300–$1,400	Moderate
Other steering problem	steering	15	2	—	57k	—	0.2	$350–$2,400	High
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	12	3	—	128k	—	0.2	$200–$1,500	High
Complete transmission failure	transmission	11	3	—	135k	—	0.2	$2,800–$8,000	Critical
Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure	electrical	10	5	—	79k	—	0.2	$700–$3,000	High
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash	airbag	10	3	—	85k	—	0.2	$1,000–$5,000	Critical
Fuel pump failure	fuel	9	2	—	58k	—	0.1	$600–$2,600	High
Other visibility problem	glass	9	1	—	49k	—	0.1	$150–$1,400	Moderate
No-start or intermittent start failure	engine	8	1	—	142k	—	0.1	$200–$1,800	Moderate
Air conditioning failure	hvac	6	2	—	70k	—	0.1	$400–$2,800	Moderate
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure	suspension	5	4	—	116k	—	0.1	$400–$2,200	High
Other fuel system problem	fuel	5	2	—	54k	—	0.1	$300–$2,200	High
Engine bay fire	engine	4	1	—	60k	—	0.1	$4,000–$20,000	Critical
Oil leak	engine	4	3	—	82k	—	0.1	$250–$2,200	Moderate
Heater core failure	cooling	4	3	—	55k	—	0.1	$700–$2,400	Moderate
Parking brake failure	brakes	4	0	—	—	—	0.1	$250–$1,300	Moderate
Steering column or shaft failure	steering	4	0	—	—	—	0.1	$600–$2,500	Critical
Power steering pump or fluid leak	steering	4	1	—	35k	—	0.1	$350–$1,600	Moderate
Headlight failure or clouding	lighting	4	1	—	168k	—	0.1	$150–$1,800	Moderate
Tail light, brake light or signal failure	lighting	4	2	—	62k	—	0.1	$100–$900	Moderate
Head gasket failure	engine	3	1	—	76k	—	0.0	$1,400–$4,000	Critical
Radiator or coolant leak	cooling	3	2	—	155k	—	0.0	$350–$1,900	High
Audio or connectivity failure	infotainment	3	0	—	—	—	0.0	$150–$900	Low
Master cylinder or brake booster failure	brakes	3	0	—	—	—	0.0	$450–$2,200	Critical
Loss of power steering	steering	3	1	—	68k	—	0.0	$600–$2,800	Critical
Tire blowout or tread separation	wheels	3	2	—	68k	—	0.0	$200–$1,500	Critical
Thermostat failure	cooling	2	1	—	98k	—	0.0	$250–$900	Moderate
Fuel gauge or level sensor failure	fuel	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$300–$1,200	Moderate
Alternator or charging system failure	electrical	2	1	—	159k	—	0.0	$450–$1,600	High
Instrument cluster or gauge failure	infotainment	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$350–$1,400	Moderate
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault	airbag	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$300–$1,600	High
Rust or structural corrosion	body	2	1	—	118k	—	0.0	$500–$6,000	High
Door latch or handle failure	body	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,200	High
Turbocharger or supercharger failure	engine	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$1,500–$4,500	High
Water pump failure	cooling	1	1	—	105k	—	0.0	$500–$2,200	High
Cooling fan failure	cooling	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$350–$1,300	Moderate
Transmission will not engage a gear	transmission	1	1	—	87k	—	0.0	$1,500–$6,000	Critical
Torque converter failure	transmission	1	1	—	44k	—	0.0	$1,100–$3,200	High
Transmission fluid leak	transmission	1	1	—	175k	—	0.0	$300–$1,800	Moderate
CV axle or driveshaft failure	drivetrain	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$450–$2,200	High
Parasitic battery drain	electrical	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$200–$1,200	Moderate
Wiring harness or short circuit	electrical	1	1	—	104k	—	0.0	$400–$3,500	High
Alignment fault and uneven tire wear	suspension	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$150–$1,200	Moderate
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin	emissions	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$2,000	High
Other seat belt problem	airbag	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$200–$900	High
Unclassified problem	other	41	5	—	139k	—	0.6	—	Moderate

Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.

How often, against how many were built

Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 1998 Ford Taurus draws about 11 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 88th percentile of complaint rates among 1998 vehicles we can rate.

That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.

The working figure is 63,533 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 1998 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.

What owners wrote

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.

Cruise control failure

Cruise control will not hold the vehicle at a set speed when going down hill. Vehicle continues to accelerate well beyond preset speed. Vehicle will accelerate 15 MPH over preset speed. Brakes rotors warp constantly. Rotors have been resurfaced or replaced over 5 times. Engine speed will not decrease when accelerator pedal is not released. Dealer claim all taurus with 3.0l duratic engines have this problem. They claim no technical bulletins have been issued to resolve any of these issues. This requires constant braking and certainly contributes to accelerated brake wear and possibly the rotors warping so often. All of these problems have been reported to the dealership and none have been resolved. Nhtsa has countless complaints in your electric files regarding these same issues, yet no recalls have been issued. Why? *ph *nlm **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**751827

19,000 miles NHTSA complaint 404662 filed 2003-04-28

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…

140,920 miles NHTSA complaint 964260 filed 2013-02-21

Recalls on the 1998 model year

NHTSA has issued 4 recall campaigns covering the 1998 Ford Taurus, affecting an estimated 65,486 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.

The campaigns cover exterior lighting, seat belts:front:anchorage and exterior lighting:headlights. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.

Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.

09E012000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

16,270 vehicles 2009-04-07

Defect: Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Consequence: Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

61,944 vehicles 2006-03-23

Defect: Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Consequence: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on april 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

98V198000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

7,000 vehicles 1998-08-25

Defect: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual seat tracks. The front seat belt buckle attaching stud may have been improperly heat treated. This heat treatment may have resulted in cracks developing in the stud.
Consequence: If the stud is cracked, in the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle mounting bracket and stud assembly.

98V028000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

571,800 vehicles 1998-02-10

Defect: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence: If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may be confused by the aiming instructions provided in the owner guides causing the headlamps to be improperly aimed.
Remedy: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.

Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.

How it ranks in the 1998 field

The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.

Risk score against the rest of the 1998 field

Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.

Left fewer and less serious reports
Right more, or worse
Marker this vehicle

Where 1998 sits in the model line

High risk for a 1998 — 84th riskiest of the 271 1998 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.

Across the 24 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2019 comes out best at 56 and 2010 worst at 76, with 1998 itself at 68.

If the model year is negotiable, 2019, 2002 and 2003 score lower than 1998 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.

Within the 1996–2003 generation specifically, 2002 is the strongest year at 62 and 1997 the weakest at 71.

Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.

Risk score by model year, out of 100

Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.

Within the 1996-2003 generation, 2002 Ford Taurus scores best at 62 and 1997 Ford Taurus worst at 71.

What to look at before buying one

The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other powertrain problem from about 55k, other suspension problem from about 55k, other engine problem from about 65k and loss of braking from about 68k.

On a 1998 Ford Taurus with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other powertrain problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.

None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.

The limits of complaint data

680 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.

Of those 680 reports, 173 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 25% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".

Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.

And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.

Questions this page answers

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford Taurus?

The most-reported failures are other speed control problem (75 reports, median 90,000 miles), other powertrain problem (53 reports, median 85,000 miles) and cruise control failure (35 reports, median 140,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.

At what mileage do 1998 Ford Taurus problems start?

Other suspension problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 70,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 55,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 90,000 miles.

Is the 1998 Ford Taurus reliable?

It scores 68 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 84th riskiest of the 271 1998 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 1998 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.

Which year of the Ford Taurus is best?

Within the 1996–2003 generation, 2002 scores best at 62 out of 100 and 1997 worst at 71. Same body, same engines, different luck.

Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.

What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car

Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt 20 August 2026 Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed