1998 Ford SHO (TAURUS) problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
96,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 25.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
2003: 1; 2005: 1; 2013: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10138054 · 2005-09-28 (September 28, 2005)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510724 · 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)
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.....…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10510724 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 337.5%ODI 10787469WATER IS LEAKING FROM HOUSE ALONG FIREWALL. I BARELY CAN GO ANYWHERE AND IM AT RISK OF LOSING MY JOB. I'M HAVING ACCELERATION PROBLEMSS. MY CAR IS NOT CATCHING UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT. KEEPS TICKING AND I GOT A FULL TUNE UP. IT SMOKES EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT RUNNING DUE TO WATER SPRAYING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. EVERYTINE I STOOL I HAVE TO LET THE HOOD UP SO IT CAN COOL AND I HAVE TO PUT WATER IN IT AFTER EVERY SINGLE DELIVERY I MAKE. SMOKES REALLY BAD WHEN I'M IN PARK AND STALL OUT SOMETIMES |
| Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10510724I 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.....… | 112.5%ODI 10787469WATER IS LEAKING FROM HOUSE ALONG FIREWALL. I BARELY CAN GO ANYWHERE AND IM AT RISK OF LOSING MY JOB. I'M HAVING ACCELERATION PROBLEMSS. MY CAR IS NOT CATCHING UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT. KEEPS TICKING AND I GOT A FULL TUNE UP. IT SMOKES EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT RUNNING DUE TO WATER SPRAYING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. EVERYTINE I STOOL I HAVE TO LET THE HOOD UP SO IT CAN COOL AND I HAVE TO PUT WATER IN IT AFTER EVERY SINGLE DELIVERY I MAKE. SMOKES REALLY BAD WHEN I'M IN PARK AND STALL OUT SOMETIMES |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0% | 112.5%ODI 10033160 · 53,000 miI OWN A 1999 FORD TAURUS SHO WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE CAM FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER AFFIXING OF THE SPROCKET TO THE CAM. MINE HAS FAILED RENDERIND MY CAR USELESS. ALL OF THIS IS PLACED ON V8SHO.COM. THE REPAIR PRICE OF THIS DEFECT IS ASTRONOMICAL, ANY WHERE FROM $6,000 TO $15,000.*AK |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1100.0%ODI 8005789WHEN DRIVING ENGINE'S CAMSHAFT WOULD FAIL. EACH TIME THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN OR STALL OUT. OIL WOULD LEAK AND CAUSE OVERHEATING. ENGINE MANUFACTURED BY YAMAHA AND DISTRIBUTED BY FORD. VEHICLE AND PARTS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 10043454 · 46,000 miENGINE PROBLEMS ON A 1999 FORD TAURUS SHO WITH A 3.4L V8 - MANY OTHERS HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND ENGINE. *LA |
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10510724I 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.....… | 112.5%ODI 11020582I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. I WENT TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THERE WERE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT. I TRIED TO AVOID HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE CAR AND JUMPED THE CURB. I WENT INTO SOME BUSHES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I FINALLY HIT A TREE AND THE CAR FLIPPED OVER ON THE SIDE. I HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10510724I 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.....… | 112.5%ODI 11174902 · 144,000 miGEAR SHIFT CABLE BROKE AND NOW THE CAR WON'T GO INTO PARK. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN LOW GEAR AND DOORS UNLOCKED. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 225.0%ODI 10787469WATER IS LEAKING FROM HOUSE ALONG FIREWALL. I BARELY CAN GO ANYWHERE AND IM AT RISK OF LOSING MY JOB. I'M HAVING ACCELERATION PROBLEMSS. MY CAR IS NOT CATCHING UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT. KEEPS TICKING AND I GOT A FULL TUNE UP. IT SMOKES EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT RUNNING DUE TO WATER SPRAYING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. EVERYTINE I STOOL I HAVE TO LET THE HOOD UP SO IT CAN COOL AND I HAVE TO PUT WATER IN IT AFTER EVERY SINGLE DELIVERY I MAKE. SMOKES REALLY BAD WHEN I'M IN PARK AND STALL OUT SOMETIMES |
| Exterior Lighting | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 10810657 · 30 miTHE CAR HAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND IS DRIVING VERY RECKLESSLY, JERKING THE WHEEL VERY HARD. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Too few reports for a range | 68,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10138054 · 68,000 miWHEN 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… |
| Seat Belts | Too few reports for a range | 125,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10497978 · 125,000 miI 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 |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 0 complaints · 1999: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Engine | Engine And Engine Cooling | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Seat Belts | Service Brakes | Steering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10510724I 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.....… | 1ODI 10510724I 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.....… |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1ODI 10510724I 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.....… | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1ODI 10510724I 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.....… |
| Steering | 1ODI 10510724I 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.....… | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10510724I 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.....… | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.