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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,535 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Ford Taurus engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Ford Taurus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #86

Oct 172014

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 175,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Atwood, CO, USA

problem #85

Feb 182013

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 140,920 miles
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.

- Selma, TX, USA

problem #84

Jan 042001

Taurus

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that when shifting from reverse to park or from drive to park, the vehicle would rapidly accelerate. The engine rpms increased excessively and the contact shifted into park as he turned the engine off in order to stop the failure. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic or to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #83

May 312007

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Taurus. The contact was driving 10 mph when the throttle became stuck, causing the vehicle to abnormally accelerate without warning. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by shifting into neutral and applying the brakes. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer to have the cruise and throttle cable replaced but the dealer did not have the necessary parts. The dealer lubricated the components but that did not remedy the issue. The contact also replaced the cruise control module but to no avail. The contact had experienced the failure numerous times. The failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 07/25/12 the consumer stated the vehicle would accelerate on its own. Each time, the accelerator pedal would go down on its own, and the consumer had no way of controlling the vehicle. As the consumer stepped on the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to go faster. The dealer fixed the problem. However, it returned months later. The dealer informed the consumer, parts were no longer being made. They sprayed the cables, but the sudden acceleration returned weeks later. Updated 07/25/12

- Cool Rapids, MN, USA

problem #82

Oct 022006

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Vehicle has had two incidents that may be related to faulty acceleration. Perhaps you need to investigate older Ford Taurus for problems currently under review on 2006, etc. Dates and mileage are approx. I do not have reports available. Vehicle had speed control. While attempting to park the accelerator suddenly revved up when I hit the brakes. Happened so suddenly the car went out of control bounced over parking lot bump and hit other vehicles causing damages to those as well as my vehicle and injury to me as well as cost me a ticket. That was in 2006 as I recall. In January, 2009 or December, 2008 the accelerator suddenly revved up again when I was pulling into traffic from a parking lot on to the highway. I shut off the engine and volunteers helped push the vehicle off the road. I had it towed and have had it stored in my driveway since. No one has ever scanned, etc. To determine what was wrong. Is it safe to even sell to anyone? mileage for the second incident was approx. 147000. I have a mandate from the city to remove the vehicle by may, 2012 or face fines therefore if you need anything test needs done before then. Message phone only included.

- El Dorado Springs, MO, USA

problem #81

Mar 252010

Taurus

  • 112,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the vehicle would accelerate and then decelerate for approximately a quarter mile. The driver was able to safely drive the vehicle home at very low speeds. The vehicle had not been diagnosed by a dealer when the complaint was filed. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were 112,000.

- Dover, NJ, USA

problem #80

May 082008

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On a couple of occasions, after I brought my 1998 Ford Taurus to full stop, with the gear in park, the engine continued to accelerate rapidly, very rapidly. I am taking it to my mechanic to check out.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #79

Sep 062007

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,615 miles
Two separate times brought vehicle to normal stop and engine began to race on its own. Had to keep brakes applied full strength. RPM were approx 2000 to 2500. Had to shut the engine off both times to stop the surging.

- Saco, ME, USA

problem #78

Aug 072006

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,990 miles
: 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.

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

problem #77

Jun 142006

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles
: the contact stated while the brake pedal is depressed the vehicle accelerates at various speeds. An independent repair shop determined the throttle sensor control needs to be replaced.

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

problem #76

May 212005

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 154,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Uncontrolled rapid acceleration experienced while backing up. Due to slow speed at time of incident was able to engage brakes fully to slow vehicle, shift to neutral and turn off engine avoiding accident. Throttle had returned to normal upon restart.

- Jefferson, ME, USA

problem #75

Jan 012004

Taurus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
I have a 1998 Ford Taurus station wagon. On 5 occasions the car went into a sudden acceleration while I was stopped with my foot on the brake or while I was slowing down to stop. In each case I would press hard on the brake in order to hold the car and immediately shift out of gear. In the first two incidents, brake pressure would hold the car until I got it out of gear. In the later incidents brake pressure would only slow the forward motion. The engine rush was so great that the car would not stop until it was out of gear. On 2 of these 5 occasions I narrowly avoided an accident. The dealer has been looking into this and has been trying to find the cause, so far without success. The date given below is an estimate of the first time that this occurred.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #74

May 092004

Taurus

  • 75,000 miles
Idle control module malfunctioned.

- Kew Gardens, NY, USA

problem #73

Apr 022004

(reported on)

Taurus

  • miles
Request for assistance in repairing 1998 Taurus wagon. The consumer experienced sudden acceleration while attempting to park the vehicle. This problem recurred when the vehicle was being parked at the dealer for a repair estimate. The consumer noticed that the vehicle horn and cruise control were inoperative and believes this may be caused by a defective clock spring.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #72

Jun 262003

Taurus

  • 12,000 miles
When vehicle is put into reverse the vehicle suddenly accelerates.. when the vehicle was placed in reverse, it suddenly accelerated out of control and crashed.

- Teaneck, NJ, USA

problem #71

May 272003

Taurus

  • 90,000 miles
When the consumer removed his foot from the gas pedal, the vehicle accelerated more. Vehicle seemed to "run" from driver which caused him to brake more often than necessary, especially when going down hill.

- Olney, MD, USA

problem #70

Jan 082003

(reported on)

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
There is a problem with the speed control sensor.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #69

Aug 242002

Taurus

  • miles
Consumer experienced a period of sudden acceleration. The consumer was able to steer the vehicle into a parking lot where he lost control and hit a brick wall, as a result the vehicle was totaled and the consumer sustaining multiple bruises to body.

- Whippany, NJ, USA

problem #68

Aug 242002

Taurus

  • miles
Consumer experienced a period of sudden acceleration, which overpowered the vehicles brakes. The consumer was able to steer the vehicle into a parking lot where he lost control and hit a brick, as a result the vehicle was totaled and the consumer sustaining multiple bruises to body.

- Whippany, NJ, USA

problem #67

Aug 242002

Taurus

  • miles
Whwn I removed my oot from the gas pedal the car suddendly accelerated (full throtle). I could not stop the car by applying brakes. The car got out of control and ran into awall.

- Whippany, NJ, USA

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