Two problems related to noises during shifting have been reported for the 1998 Ford Taurus. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
As I was pulling away from my driveway about 5 mph I heard a loud noise between hood and front seats. I soon realised that when I steped on the acceleration pedal the car won't go foward. I parked the car immidiately and turned off waited for a couple of minutes I got off from the car and I personally inpected the car from the exterior of the motor, and underneath of it and no oil was spilled (motor or transmission). I turned the car back on steped on the break and shifted to drive, and steped on accelaration pedal, but car wont move. I alo tryed reverse and did not move aswell. When u putted the car into 2nd gear it took a couple of seconds for the car to move. I also tryed 1st. Gear and it did not move as well.
When consumer traveled on the highway rpms registered as high as 4 . Then, rpms went back down to zero when consumer shut the vehicle off. Also, consumer noticed a loud noise underneath the engine when shifting gears. Noise sounded like something was going to drop from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle accelerated as high as 4000 rpm's when in park. It appears that the transmission or the engine falling out. The vehicle is still under warranty but can't be fixed.