Total Complaints
6 filings
FORD SHO (TAURUS) · model year
1998 FORD SHO (TAURUS)
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998FORDSHO (TAURUS) carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 SHO (TAURUS) is engine and engine cooling with 1 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (1) and seat belts (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1998 SHO (TAURUS), and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130506SERVICE BRAKES
I PUT OVER $800 IN TO MY CAR ON THE ALIGNMENT, TIRES, OIL, AND BALL JOINTS. 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 DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP PUTTING IN TO THIS CAR...... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, THE SHAKING IS VERY BAD, SO BAD ITS LIKE THE CAR DON'T WANNA STOP....... *TR
20130506STEERING
I PUT OVER $800 IN TO MY CAR ON THE ALIGNMENT, TIRES, OIL, AND BALL JOINTS. 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 DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP PUTTING IN TO THIS CAR...... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, THE SHAKING IS VERY BAD, SO BAD ITS LIKE THE CAR DON'T WANNA STOP....... *TR
20130506ENGINE
I PUT OVER $800 IN TO MY CAR ON THE ALIGNMENT, TIRES, OIL, AND BALL JOINTS. 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 DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP PUTTING IN TO THIS CAR...... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, THE SHAKING IS VERY BAD, SO BAD ITS LIKE THE CAR DON'T WANNA STOP....... *TR
20130213SEAT BELTS
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. *TR
Mileage: 125,000
20050928POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WHILE SITTING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC LEAVING ME VULNERABLE TO BE STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION DOES EVENTUALLY COMPLETELY ENGAGE. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED, BUT THAT FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I KNOW A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME TYPE OF CAR AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHEN I CONSULTED AN AUTO MECHANIC, HE AND OTHER MECHANICS HAD INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE, AND DON'T KNOW WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. *NM
Mileage: 68,000
20030815ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAMSHAFT FAILURES IN 1996-1999 FORD TAURUS SHOS.*AK
Compare 1998FORDSHO (TAURUS) to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 FORD SHO (TAURUS) have?▼
The 1998 FORD SHO (TAURUS) has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD SHO (TAURUS)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD SHO (TAURUS) is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SEAT BELTS.
Is the 1998 FORD SHO (TAURUS) safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.