30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Taurus cite seat belts, 5% of all 570 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AND FAILED TO RETRACT, WHICH LEFT THE OCCUPANTS UNSECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BAYSHORE FORD OF PENNSYVILLE (200 S. BROADWAY ST, PENNSYVILLE, NJ). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER PRODUCED PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE AND IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED BY NOT RETRACTING AND LOCKING INTO PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS RIDING IN THE VEHICLE AS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD FAILED AND HE WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED DURING THE CRASH AND SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V198000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE) THAT WAS ISSUED IN 1998 BUT HE AS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.”
“I OWN A 1998 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON. THE REAR SEAT BELTS LAP AND BOTH SHOULDERS HAVE GOTTEN JAMMED IN THE SIDE COMPARTMENTS TWICE AND WERE UNUSABLE. I HAD IT REAPAIRED ONCE AT NO COST AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. BOTH REAR DOOR PANELS ARE COMING APART ALSO. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR WHERE DOOR STARTED TO SEPARATE. I BROUGHT THE ISSUE UP TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR IT FOR $300.00 AND UP EACH SEATBELT. I EXPLAINED IT WAS A SAFTEY ISSUE AND THEY SIMPLY SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE. I HAPPENED TO COME ACROSS YOUR WEBSITE AND DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME GET THIS REPAIR DONE. I CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AT THIS TIME AND I CAN NOT TRANSPORT MORE THEN 1 PERSON IN THE REAR SEAT, ONLY IN THE MIDDLE. THANK YOU.”
“I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 5 PASSENGERS, AND MYSELF AS THE DRIVER. WE REAR ENDED A CAR ON THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THAT IS A QUESTION FOR MYSELF. MY 4YR OLD IN BACKSEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME SITS IN A HIGH BACK BOOSTER, NOT USING THE 5 PT HARNESS. HE IS IN A REGULAR SHOULDER/LAP BELT. UPON IMPACT MY CHILD FLEW FORWARD SLAMMING INTO MY SEAT AND HAVING HIS GLASSES ALSO FLY FORWARD OFF OF HIS FACE. QUESTION ON SEAT BELT. PLEASE HELP!!!!!*AK”
“I OWN A 1998 FORD TAURUS WAGON. THE REAR SEATBELTS DO NOT WORK. I CAN NOT GET THEM TO PULL OUT AT ALL. FOR THAT MATTER, I CAN NOT BUCKLE MY CHILD IN. BOTH SIDES ARE AFFECTED. THE CENTER BUCKLE DOESN'T HAVE AN EXTRACTING BELT SO THAT IS THE ONLY USABLE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR. I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS. THE COVER WAS REMOVED IN ATTEMPT TO FIX THESE AND I AM STILL UNABLE TO GET THEM TO WORK.”
Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.