1998 Ford Taurus: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 680 complaints
680
Total Complaints
90,000mi
Median Mileage
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Top Issue
75
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

63,000 25th Percentile
90,000 Median Mileage
120,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
86
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
47
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
31
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
31
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
28
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
21
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
17
INTERIOR LIGHTING
15
SUSPENSION:FRONT
15
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
14

Severity Assessment

75
Crashes
17
Fires
89
Injuries
4
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS BURNED CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO REMAIN ON WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF."
"HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS BURNED CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO REMAIN ON WHEN THE SWITCH WAS OFF."
"WHILE REAR TRUNK LID WAS UP IT BECAME INOPERATIVE/ FALLING DOWN AND STRIKING OWNER. POSSIBLE CAUSE DEFECTIVE TORSION BAR, MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28