VehicleVerdict

1998 Ford Taurus transmission problems

The 1998 Ford Taurus has 71 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

71

Transmission complaints

10%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Taurus transmission complaints by model year418 complaints1981: 1 complaints1985: 1 complaints1986: 23 complaints1987: 29 complaints1988: 42 complaints1989: 57 complaints1990: 46 complaints1991: 280 complaints1992: 115 complaints1993: 183 complaints1994: 291 complaints1995: 418 complaints1996: 190 complaints1997: 228 complaints1998: 71 complaints1999: 98 complaints2000: 104 complaints2001: 61 complaints2002: 39 complaints2003: 319 complaints2004: 74 complaints2005: 124 complaints2006: 33 complaints2007: 18 complaints2008: 44 complaints2009: 5 complaints2010: 36 complaints2011: 18 complaints2012: 2 complaints2013: 44 complaints2014: 12 complaints2015: 17 complaints2016: 3 complaints2017: 1 complaints2018: 6 complaints
Taurus transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO RESPOND TO ANY OF ITS FUNCTION. ALSO, BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER FAILED; AND KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COAST INTO A TREE AND THEN FLIP OVER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 4, 1999 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1998 Ford Taurus have?

NHTSA has 71 complaints about the 1998 Ford Taurus transmission — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.