1998 Ford Taurus Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 3%of 545 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the visibility of the 1998 Ford Taurus, 3% of the 545 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1998 Taurus se has had problems with cooling system nov 2001.cutter Ford of aiea the agent for Ford made three attempts to repair problem spaning a year and a half. For the time being problem has been solved. However freeze plug has malfuctioned twice now and I am currently getting it repaired. Fuel injectors malfuctioned and where repaired april 2003. I have records of car's problems dating back to 2000”
NHTSA complaint #10070490, filed 2004-01, 48,787 miles“Whasher pump seem's to have shorted out while driving down the interstate and caused a short in wirng witch resulted in a under the hood fire! All I did was turn on washer pump to clean winshield and nothing happen soon after I smelled wires burning!soon after I seen fire shooting from under car and then it blazed out of hood between the cowl and firewall! The car stoped running I pulled off the sied of I-70 1 mile marker and then called 911......”
NHTSA complaint #10052304, filed 2004-01, 104,000 miles“Heater abruptly stopped working while driving last winter. Since then the cooling system has been flushed 6 times. Each time it will work for a week and then it stopped again. The car was taken to a dealership where they replaced the blend door motor, charged $230 for it and it did nothing. It was given a chemical flush for $125 which did nothing. Then the dealership informed me that it would need the heater core and blend door replaced. I was told by another dealership that this was a service bulletin in the first place and they should not have done the other work at all. …”
NHTSA complaint #10042934, filed 2003-10, 55,000 miles“The contact owns a 1998 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the heater was not working in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 177,000. Updated 10/30/14”
NHTSA complaint #10638637, filed 2014-09, 177,000 miles“I bought my 1998 Ford Taurus this past spring of 2003, and now that winter has arrived, I find that I have no heat or defroster. I took it to my mechanic and they told me it was my blend door, and they thought it was a recall item. When I contacted Ford, they told me it was not a recall item, and that it would cost over $900 to get it fixed. How is this not a saftey issue, and how are they getting away with not paying for it? Someone signed off on this cheap part that has obviously failed repeatedly on these vehicles. They need to be held responsible. …”
NHTSA complaint #10049483, filed 2003-12Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 6% |
| 2018 | 2 | 4% |
| 2015 | 4 | 1% |
| 2014 | 6 | 3% |
| 2013 | 7 | 1% |
| 2012 | 2 | 3% |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% |
| 2010 | 5 | 2% |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 4 | 3% |
| 2006 | 9 | 3% |
| 2005 | 12 | 2% |
| 2004 | 12 | 3% |
| 2003 | 196 | 16% |
| 2002 | 100 | 7% |
| 2001 | 39 | 4% |
| 2000 | 45 | 4% |
| 1999 | 59 | 7% |
| 1998 | 17 | 3% |
| 1997 | 57 | 7% |
| 1996 | 55 | 7% |
| 1995 | 38 | 3% |
| 1994 | 30 | 3% |
| 1993 | 157 | 10% |
| 1992 | 43 | 6% |
| 1991 | 19 | 3% |
| 1990 | 24 | 6% |
| 1989 | 14 | 2% |
| 1988 | 11 | 3% |
| 1987 | 10 | 4% |
| 1986 | 6 | 6% |
Other parts of the 1998 Ford Taurus
111 complaintsBrakes
81 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
69 complaintsEngine cooling
62 complaintsSuspension
59 complaintsSteering
40 complaintsAir bags
39 complaintsElectrical system
34 complaintsSeat belts
28 complaintsBody and structure
22 complaintsInterior lighting
15 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford Taurus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology