AI Damage1998 Ford SHO (taurus) reliability: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Ford SHO (taurus) filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 25% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 25% of all complaints
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
It jumps gears, when stopping it shakes really bad, I have had to change the battery several times, now they tell me there is a busted bolt on the frame...... The auto shop did not tell me about the bolt until I paid $600+ $ on the ball joins, alignment, and oil change.........
I own a ford taurus sw, the seat belts in the back are unable to work. They will not unlock so they cannot be used. The only belt available is the middle lap belt. I tried all the manual has to offer.
When sitting at an intersection waiting for the traffic lights to change, the transmission fails to stay completely engaged. When pressing the accelerator the rpm goes way up and very little move of the vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,524 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SHO (taurus) has 5 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford SHO (taurus)?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (25%), transmission slipping (25%), vibration (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Ford SHO (taurus)?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Ford SHO (taurus) from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.