35 of the
680 complaints about the 1998 Ford Taurus are about the
electrical system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
118,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,230.
NHTSA complaint #10672756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 148,230 milesHouston, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,230.
NHTSA complaint #10672756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 133,000 milesKnoxville, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DOOR ADJAR SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. ALL DOORS ARE SHUT BUT LIGHT STAYS ON.WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AND ALSO THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN AND ALSO FOR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO OPEN CAR DOORS WHEN MOVING BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK. I HAVE TAKEN THE BULBS FROM THE INTERIOR OUT TO PREVENT RUNNING BATTERY DOWN. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE SENSORS IN DOORS.
NHTSA complaint #10221097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,598 milesLexington, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1998 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON BEGAN LOW POWER ACELERATING AT STOP TIMES 2. A THIRD INCIDENT OCCURED FROM A COMPLETE STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKES AN THIS TIME IT COULD NOT BE STOPPED WITH BOTH FEET ON BREAKS. IT RAN FOR ABOUT 75 FEET AND THEN QUIT ON ITS OWN. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DELEARS SHIP AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I ASKED IF THIS WERE COMMON AND WAS TOLD THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH THING. KEEP CAR TWO DAYS I CONTACTED THE TAURUS CLUB OF AMERICAL AT THEIR WEB LINE AND IT SEEMS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCIDENTS SUCH AS THIS AND THEY CALLED IT SURGING.
NHTSA complaint #10114289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesAU Gres, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND LET THE ENGINE IDLE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DAMAGEED TOTAL THE VEHICLE. HOW THE FIRE STARTED? WAS NOT DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10114970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 159,350 milesPulaski, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING. WHENEVER I PUSH THE BUTTON TO LET MY WINDOWS UP, TURN OFF MY READ DEFROST, OR HOLD ANY BUTTONS TOO LONG THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL FLASH. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I TURNED OFF MY REAR DEFROST AND MY BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED, THEN MY HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND MY CAR ALMOST SHUT DOWN, THEN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THE NEXT DAY, IT WAS NIGHT TIME, AND I SAW ANOTHER TAURUS DO THE SAME THING. BEING THAT TIME IS CHANGING AND I NEED MY HEAD LIGHTS, I WOULD HATE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT I CANT SEE. I HAVE HAD MY CAR CHECKED TO SEE IF THE ALTERNATOR OR BATTERY WAS GOING OUT, BUT ALL THE CHECKS WERE GOOD. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10098019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,000 milesMartins Ferry, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES WITHIN SECONDS. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE SMOKE AND FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #10092901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livonia, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH IT FAILED TO TURN OR AND START. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO START OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE MORNING FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10092367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bristol, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TURN SIGNALS WOULD ONLY WORK AT TIMES. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD START TO BLINK/ILLUMINATE. THEN, STOP BEFORE THE TURN WAS COMPLETE, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT BLINK AT ALL. THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY LATE 1990 FORDS.
NHTSA complaint #10043065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Monticello, AR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10040715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Knob Noster, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN THE FUSE WAS REMOVED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10019385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homosassa, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYED ON AFTER THE MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE LIGHTS SO THE BATTERY WON'T GO DEAD. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kingston, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHEN DRIVING (OVER HEAD AND REAR COMPARTMENT PLUS THE COURTESY LIGHTS ON THE FLOOR), LOCKS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hopkinsville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN POWER DOOR PREVENTED DOOR FROM LOCKING. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10009115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fayetteville, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, ALL THE LIGHTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10007009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,000 milesLandover, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
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.
NHTSA complaint #10005388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
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
NHTSA complaint #8021143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Slatington, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ROTOR SERVICE ON FRONT END OF VEHICLE ONCE EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TIRES SHAKING, CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING, AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN REAR END WHEN BRAKING. THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER MAKE A BUZZING NOISE, THE BRAKES PULSATE. THE REAR RIGHT BRAKE AND ROTORS FAILED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE MAKES A BUZZING NOISE WHEN START. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #8014309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chelsea, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
AFTER SITTING FOR 3 DAYS THE BATTERY IS DEAD, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO 2 DEALERS, ONE DEALER REPLACED A MODULE AND IT STILL GOES DEAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW.
NHTSA complaint #763985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lincoln, NEFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FIRE INSPECTOR AND PRIVATE INSPECTOR UNABLE TO DETERMINE EXACT CAUSE OF FIRE ALTHOUGH LOCATION DETERMINED TO BE NEAR FIREWALL, CENTER REAR OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #763150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pain, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #8006947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
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.
NHTSA complaint #751403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
River Grove, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION CAR SEEMS TO SURGE AT ANY GIVEN TIME .YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR IN THAT KIN OF TRAFFIC THAT THE CAR WILL DO THE SAME THING AND SURGE.THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SLOW THE CAR DOWN IS PUTTING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE.YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL SURGE. DEALERSHIP PUT A NEW TRANS , REPLACED AIR BY PASS VALVE,REPLACE SOME COMPUTER CHIP, REPROGRAMMED PCM. CAR HAS BEEN IN 4 TIMES IT STILL SURGES DEALERSHIP STATES CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AFTER KEEPIN CAR FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. .
NHTSA complaint #742256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Miami Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
INTERMITTENT BATTERY DISCHARGE...BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR...UNSATISFACTORY FUEL ECONOMY -ONLY 9 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #723799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nixa, MOFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHLE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING UNDERNEATH DRIVER'S SIDE, AND FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND WITHIN MINUTES VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. INVESTIGATOR ADVISES FIRE CAUSED BY FAULTY FUEL LINES. DAMAGE TOO EXCESSIVE TO HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL.
NHTSA complaint #861306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mulberry, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN IGNITION VEHICLE DOES NOT START. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #857957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mulberry, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN PUTTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION VEHICLE DID NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER HAS SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES FOR SAME PROBLEM , AND CANNOT FIND SOLUTION. *AK
NHTSA complaint #857959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rocky Mount, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND THE DOME LIGHT STAY ON. ALSO, DOORS DO NOT LOCK WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE. AT NIGHT THE DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY. THE DEALER WAS CALLED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. AN APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #856242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
DESIGN LOCATION OF THE STARTER IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE OIL FILTER RESULTING IN FIRE WHEN CHANGING OIL FILTER, ELECTRICAL SHORT FROM TOOL BURNED FILTER HOUSING AND IGNITED THE OIL STREAM. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brunswick, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THE FUSE BOX IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL . EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED, FOOT WOULD HIT THE FUSE BOX. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE COVER OF THE FUSE BOX TO COME OFF. THEN THE FUSES WERE KNOCKED OUT & WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE NOT HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS. HAS TAKEN VEHICLETO DEALER & SO FAR THE MECHANIC HAS REPAIRED IT 5 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #852239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.