One problem related to axle shaft seal has been reported for the 1998 Ford Taurus. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Took 1998 Ford Taurus (duratec 3. 0) in for cooling system flush and transmission flush. With only 54,000 miles, I was surprised to find a rear stabilizer bar was broken, and a front axle seal was leaking. Those are clearly materials defects, as we take expert care of this vehicle. I have also had problems with rotors since we drove the car off the lot. The poor quality rotors the factory installs on these cars contributes to warping, which would be noticeable by a pulsing when braking from highway speeds.