1998 Ford Taurus SE from North America - Comments

The radio display would intermittently go blank. The entire assembly was replaced twice under warranty and once out. When Ford finally fixed the display issue on the third try they made me pay 10% of the cost. The defect began under warranty. I am furious I was forced to pay anything when it was finally fixed.

Both rear taillight assemblies and bulb connectors were replaced twice under warranty.

I bought the car in the town I commuted to. When I tried to have service work down in the town I lived the local dealership refused to do the warranty work. I called Ford. Ford called the dealership. Ford called me back and said there was nothing they could do. I had to hunt around each time I needed warranty work done.

At 54000 miles the transmission shift cable broke. When I first describe the symptoms to the Ford dealership they immediately said broken shift cable. I then called a transmission shop. After describing the symptoms they immediately said broken shift cable. I see another review hear of a 98 Taurus with a broken shift cable. From the immediate diagnoses from the repair shops and the review I assert there is a defect with the shift cable on 98 Taurus's. This type of failure leaves the car useless and stranded wherever it occurs.

It is completely unacceptable for a car with only 50,000 - 60,000 miles to have this type of failure.

I've got a 99 Taurus with 105000 mostly highway miles and the shift cable just broke for me also :<

Also, make sure you change coolant often - recently had to replace heater core ($700) - after 3 years :<

I bought a 1996 Ford Taurus in 1999 with 24,000 miles. At 60,000 miles in 2002, I also replaced the transmission shift cable. I still have the cable in my basement - it's not frayed, but rather appears as if it was crimped or sheared off (I'm still not sure how this happened).

2001 Taurus SE. I have replaced the alternator twice, the first time the Ford dealer thought it was the battery cable and replaced that. My passenger side front seat belt stopped extending, replaced by dealership as no one else would/could do it. My heater core is going, this is a common problem on Tauruses and is going to be expensive to replace. My shifter cable just broke. Seems like everything that should last the life of the car breaks randomly.