1998 Ford F-150 Body & structure Problems

1998 Ford F150 S/N 1FTRX18L7WNB03063 Mechanic said the frame is rusting badly. Suggested I not pull a heavy trailer or haul heavy loads in the bed.

NHTSA ID

11560757

Incident

Dec 18, 2023

I have multiple issues that hit all around same time. Body rusted and water leaks getting the bcm wet which causes the truck to go haywire, lights flashing, doors locking and unlocking, radio stays on, caused multiple things to stop working, fuel tank leaks when filling it up where the fuel tank fill hose rusted into the tank, causing multiple vacuum leaks and horrible running conditions and truck dies if not holding clutch, gas and brake at light. Rear trailer wiring plug when it's connected causes multiple lights to stay on even though vehicle not running and everything off. Also melted all wires on 2 trailers causing shorted out lights, replaced clutch 2 times since purchase on 3rd clutch and mechanics not sure why even after showing them I am properly using the clutch system, not pulling heavy loads, or driving it like a race truck. ABS system light won't shut off even though no codes or problems with abs system, multiple vacuum leaks and can't get rid of running lean and bad O2 sensors even after replacing them all.

NHTSA ID

11444287

Incident

Mar 9, 2021

WAS PARKING TRUCK AND BEFORE I EVEN KNEW IT THE WHOLE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE ! NO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSE IT.

NHTSA ID

10853118

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

FRAME SO RUSTED CAN'T GET A STICKER, ORIGINAL PAINT ON TRUCK. FORD WAS FACTORY UNDERCOATED WITH RUBBER TYPE UNDERCOATING. WHICH PEALED OFF AND LEFT LOTS OF RUST ON ENTIRE FRAME. NOT SAFE FOR INSPECTION. TOLD BY GARAGE, TO JUNK IT. BOUGHT NEW IN 1998.

NHTSA ID

10782259

Incident

Oct 14, 2015

IN 2012, I REPLACED MY GAS TANK BECAUSE SEVERE CORROSION HAD EATEN NUMEROUS SMALL HOLES INTO THE TOP OF THE TANK SO IT COULD NOT BE FILLED OVER 3/4TH WITHOUT LEAKING. FLAKES OF RUST WERE FALLING ONTO THE TOP OF THE TANK FROM THE FRAME X-MEMBER CAUSING THESE HOLES. THE FRAME X-MEMBER WAS NOT ADDRESSED AND THE NEW GAS TANK BEGAN TO LEAK WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF OF REPLACEMENT. THE ENGINE WAS JUST RECENTLY TUNED UP BY A FORD DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS INTERMITTENTLY VIBRATING. WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THIS TUNE UP, THE ENGINE LOST FULL POWER WITH FINDING OF GROSSLY CONTAMINATED FUEL. THE 2 YEAR OLD TANK WAS PULLED AND THE TOP OF THE TANK WAS REVEALED TO BE METALLIC SWISS CHEESE EQUIVALENT, THIS TIME WITH NUMEROUS VERY LARGE HOLES THAT RAIN WAS EASILY PENETRATING INTO THE TANK VIA THE CAB-BED SPACE OPENING. THE X-MEMBER FRAME SUPPORT WAS CORRODED IN HALF. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX IT AND I PAID FOR A SECOND NEW TANK AND FUEL PUMP($350 WITH SHIPPING TO HI), POR 15 COATED THE TOP OF THE NEW TANK MYSELF, AND PAID A LOCAL BODY SHOP$1042.00 TO PULL THE X-MEMBER AND REPLACE IT WITH A USED PART AS FORD NO LONGER STOCKS (LIKELY RUSTED TO BITS IN THEIR WAREHOUSE). THE NEW TANK AND USED X-MEMBER ARE NOW INSTALLED AND AWAITING AN ENGINE MECHANIC TO ADDRESS WHY THE ENGINE WON'T START UP DESPITE NEW TANK/FRESH FUEL/PUMP/FILTER. LIKELY ANOTHER $500 TO CLEAN FUEL INJECTION/ENGINE BRINGING 2 YEAR TOTAL FOR ROTTED X-MEMBER AND TWO GAS TANKS TO WELL OVER $3000. PERUSING YOUR DATA BASE, THE FRAME RUST ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING THEME PARTICULARLY FOR THE 1997 YEAR MODEL. MY ASSESSMENT IS THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY ROTTEN IN 1998 F150 FRAME COMPONENTS AND OR CORROSION PROTECTIONS USED. LESSONS LEARNED: DON'T FIX THE TANK UNTIL YOU FIX THE X-MEMBER PROBLEM FIRST AND FORD F150 FRAMES/CORROSION PROTECTIONS CIRCA 1998 ARE GETTING A BAD REPUTATION WHICH IS LIKELY DESERVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648523

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

7/14/2011 - MY MECHANIC REPLACED ROTTING GAS TANK STRAPS 10/3/2011 - FORD DEALER (AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE ON GAS TANK STRAPS) APPLIED REINFORCEMENT STRAPS ON GAS TANK STRAPS. NO INDICATION GIVEN TO ME THAT THESE WERE NOT SECURED ONTO FRAME. 10/12/2011 - BROUGHT MY TRUCK INTO MY MECHANIC FOR OIL CHANGE. HE NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK STRAPS AND REINFORCEMENT STRAPS WERE NOT CONNECTED ONTO THE FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR. 10/12/2011 - BROUGHT TRUCK BACK TO FORD DEALER TO FIX THE SAFETY RECALL THAT LAST WEEK THEY HAD APPLIED. I MEAN, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A WEEK LATER, AND THE STRAPS FAILED. WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY INSTALL THE GAS TANK STRAPS AND THAT'S IT. WHETHER THEY ARE CONNECTED TO FRAME OR NOT THAT IS RUSTING IS NOT THEIR CONCERN AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS. SINCE THE SAME METAL WAS PROBABLY USED THROUGHOUT THE TRUCK AND CAUSED THE RECALL OF THE GAS TANK STRAPS -- A SAFETY RECALL, SHOULDN'T THEY BE SURE TO APPLY THESE TO KNOWN GOOD STRUCTURE AND IF SUCH STRUCTURE SUFFERS FROM THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE GAS TANK STRAPS, SHOULDN'T THAT BE COVERED? I REALLY THINK FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS AND ITS SAFETY RECALL INSTALLATIONS AND TAKE CARE OF THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THESE ROTTING GAS TANK STRAPS. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE IS THE SAME. RUSTING FRAME IS SAME RUSTING AS THE GAS TANK STRAPS. *KB

NHTSA ID

10429975

Incident

Oct 12, 2011

Mileage

101,505 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,700.

NHTSA ID

10428845

Incident

Oct 5, 2011

Mileage

189,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE TWO REMAINING FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE EXPERIENCING CORROSION AS WELL, BUT WERE NOT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING). THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE ONLY THE FRACTURED STRAP WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, THEY WERE ONLY OBLIGATED TO REPLACE THE FRACTURED STRAP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACED THE STRAP WHICH FRACTURED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS FRACTURED AND PIERCED THROUGH THE TRUCK BED DUE TO CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE FRAME UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ALSO EXHIBITED RUST AND CORROSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID

10425541

Incident

Sep 8, 2011

Mileage

175,000 mi

I OWN A 1998 FORD 150 PICKUP AND THE GAS TANK STRAPS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND IT IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL FROM FORD BUT WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT IF A RECALL WAS ON THE NEWS THAT IT MANY BE A YEAR BEFORE THE RECALL LETTERS ARE MAILED. IS THIS TRUE? I WORRY BECAUSE HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY LOSE THEIR LIVES OVER THE YEAR IT TAKES TO GET THE LETTERS MAILED OUT... *TR

NHTSA ID

10415587

Incident

Feb 2, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN THE SOUND OF SOMETHING DRAGGING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICE THE FUEL TANK FEEL OFF FROM THE BRACKETS AND CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. THIS OCCURRED DUE TO RUST ACCUMULATING ON THE BRACKETS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRACKETS AND THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FUEL TANK AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF THE FUEL TANK FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE AND SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS HIGH MILEAGE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. JO

NHTSA ID

10384765

Incident

Feb 7, 2011

Mileage

166,000 mi

1998 FORD F-150; SIMPLY WAS DRIVING AND THE SPARE TIRE HOIST CABLE BROKE DROPPING THE SPARE. CABLE BROKE AT POINT WHERE LUG AND CABLE COME TOGETHER AT THE LUG THAT HOLDS THE BRACKET UNDERNEATH THE SPARE TIRE. NO OBVIOUS CORROSION NOTED AT THIS LOCATION OR ON THE REMAINDER OF THE CABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373792

Incident

Dec 30, 2010

Mileage

165,000 mi

THE STRAP ON MY GAS TANK ON MY 1998 FORD F-150 XL HAS RUSTED APART FROM THE WELD AND IS HANGING OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358008

Incident

Sep 12, 2010

WE JUST RETURNED HOME FROM A 15 HOUR DRIVE FROM NC, WE WERE LUCKY THIS HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN GOING ABOUT 20 INSTEAD OF ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE WE WERE DOING 75+, OUR CABLE HOLDING OUR SPARE TIRE BROKE AND THE TIRE FELL ONTO THE ROAD...THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS BEHIND US.! *TR

NHTSA ID

10343332

Incident

Jul 13, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HIS FATHER'S 1999 OR 2000 F-150 WAS RUSTING ON THE FRAME AND WAS ABOUT TO RUST IN TWO, A SCREWDRIVER COULD BE STUCK THROUGH THE METAL. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK RUSTED AND THE GAS TANK WAS ALMOST TOUCHING THE GROUND. SO I ASKED HIM TO LOOK AT THE FRAME OF MY 1998 F-150, AND HE DISCOVERED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MAIN CROSSMEMBER OF THE FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED IN TWO. THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK ARE SEVERELY RUSTED. ONE OF THE BED CROSSMEMBERS IS ALREADY IN TWO, AND TWO OTHERS SHOW SEVERE RUSTING. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT IF THE CROSSMEMBER BREAKS, I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IF I WERE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS THREAT. THE BODY OF MY TRUCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE. IF YOU DID NOT KNOW OF THE FRAME PROBLEMS, YOU WOULD NOT KNOW TO CHECK THESE OUT. I FEEL THAT IF NOTHING ELSE, THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THEIR VEHICLES CHECKED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331996

Incident

May 20, 2010

Mileage

260,000 mi

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF ON HIGHWAY DUE TO RUSTED HANGER CABLE. THE VEHICLE IS A FORD F-150 PICK-UP WITH 105,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326102

Incident

Oct 30, 2009

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE STARTER WOULD ENGAGE AND SEEM TO RESTART ITSELF AS IF SHE WERE TURNING THE IGNITION. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DOME LIGHTS INSIDE WOULD TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE RADIO COMPARTMENT ALSO MADE A LOUD CLICKING SOUND. WHEN SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, THE HEATER WOULD STILL RUN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THROUGH THE FIREWALL. HE SPECULATED THAT THIS COULD BE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE (ACCORDING TO SIMILAR VEHICLES HE REPAIRED). SHE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AT A GLASS COMPANY BUT REALIZED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT THE CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC WHO INSTALLED THE WINDSHIELD TOLD HER THAT HE COULD SEE DAYLIGHT WHERE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS LOCATED AND HE BELIEVED THAT WAS THE LOCATION WHERE THE WATER WAS COMING IN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 174,000. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF UPDATED 02/19/10

NHTSA ID

10296197

Incident

Oct 22, 2009

Mileage

174,000 mi

FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS RUSTED AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286722

Incident

Oct 8, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 1998 FORD F-150 IN 2000 FROM CARMAX IN ARLINGTON, TX. I HAVE HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS UNTIL NOV. 7TH 2008. I WAS DRIVING AND APPROACHED A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS MY BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND SPUN SIDEWAYS AT THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE I FOUND THAT MY DRIVERSIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD BROKEN LOSE AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLAMP HAD BROKEN OFF ALLOWING THE ENTIRE DRIVERSIDE DIFFERENTIAL TO FLY OFF OF THE VEHICLE. % MINUTES EARLIER I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248050

Incident

Nov 7, 2008

Mileage

112,000 mi

WHAT ISN'T WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK? WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT...SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN, INTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY STAY ON, BOTH DOORS ARE RUSTING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM, KNOB TO REGULATE TEMPERATURE FELL OFF AND ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT, FRONT BRAKES CALIPERS STUCK AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS RUSTED OFF TWICE, TRANSMISSION WENT UP AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES, RADIATOR RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE HEADLINER IS FALLING DOWN OFF THE CEILING. I'VE PROBABLY MISSED SOMETHING BUT CAN TELL YOU THAT I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229214

Incident

May 29, 2008

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ONTO THE HEADS AND THE BOLTS HAS RUSTED. THE FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN AN EXHAUST LEAK, WHICH HAS BEGUN TO LEAK INTO THE CAP OF HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE BOLTS MUST BE DRILLED OUT IN ORDER TO BE REMOVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10192228

Incident

Jan 3, 2006

Mileage

84,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR BODY WORK, IT SAT FOR 2 WEEKS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FOLLOWING THE 2 WEEKS, THE ENGINE NOISE WAS LOUDER THAN NORMAL, AND THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. A PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED, WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. ALSO, THE DOORS HAD CRACKED ONE HALF INCH FROM THE CORNER OF THE WINDOW SEAL. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CRACKS WERE DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR.

NHTSA ID

10165618

Incident

Sep 27, 2005

Mileage

47,000 mi

CRACKS IN DOORS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152417

Incident

Mar 10, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998 F-150 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW MY DOORS ARE SPLITTING AND STARTING TO RUST I KNOW ITS HAPPENING QUITE A BIT I WORK IN THE INDUSTRY AND SEE THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS ALSO THE FORD DEALERS DO HAVE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER PAYS IT IS NOT COVERED WHY?*JB

NHTSA ID

10132433

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

CRACK , DRIVERS DOOR BESIDE LOWER WINDOW OPENING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10106357

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

130,000 mi

WATER SEEPED INTO THE REAR WINDOW. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED, THE REPAIR SHOP SEALED THE GLASS, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD PROGRESSED OVER TIME. NOW THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW HAS TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE AUTO GLASS SHOP INDICATED IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WINDOW FRAME . THEY ALSO INDICATED IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THE REAR WINDOWS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10103425

Incident

Aug 20, 2000

Mileage

38,000 mi