1998 Ford F-150 Engine Problems

FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT IN PISTON BORE HYDROLOCKED MOTOR OVER NIGHT

NHTSA ID

11217667

Incident

May 31, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10824277

Incident

Feb 3, 1999

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F-150 V6 4.2 LITER WITH 92435 ORIGINAL MILES. I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND STARTED MY TRUCK UP AND THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE MOTOR. MY ANTI-FREEZE WAS LOW. I NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS EARLIER POSTS OF A BENT ROD AND NEED A NEW MOTOR. I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS MOTOR RECALLED AND PROPERLY FIX THE PROBLEM. GLAD THEY HAVE THE JOB BECAUSE I AM ABOUT TO LOSING MINE. WALKING 6 MILES TO WORK TODAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693898

Incident

Mar 12, 2015

Mileage

92,435 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED ANTI FREEZE INTO THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER AS A RESULT THE ENGINE BLEW APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10618224

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

77,000 mi

TRAVELING HOME TOWING MY BOAT AND ANOTHER SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT. TRIED TO FIX ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 3 HOURS IN 90 DEGREE HEAT. HAD TO WAIT TO GET MY TRUCK TOWED AND THEN ANOTHER FOR MY BOAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615960

Incident

Jul 23, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT. IT LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.STRANDED. THEN YOU HAVE A COST OF TOWING THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE. THEN THE REPAIR COST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615958

Incident

Oct 11, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

I HAVE NOW HAD 3 SPARK PLUGS EJECT THEMSELVES FROM THE MOTOR. TO ME THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE BEING THAT THE PLUG IS EXPOSED AS WELL AS FUEL/FUEL VAPORS SINCE THE PLUG IS OUT OF THE HEAD. THERE IS ALSO A MANIFOLD EXHAUST LEAK DUE TO THE STUDS BREAKING OFF IN THE MOTOR. THESE HEADS ARE OF POOR QUALITY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588108

Incident

May 12, 2014

Mileage

145,555 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH THREAD AND SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ID

10548368

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

INCIDENT #1 INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN ENGINE BAY AFFECTING CHARGING SYSTEM, EMISSIONS, AND DRIVE SYSTEMS. FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED AS "BAD ALTERNATOR" AND "BAD WIRING HARNESS". AFTER I BROUGHT IT BACK WITHOUT HAVING REPAIRS DONE, I CLEANED AND LUBED ALL CONNECTORS. ALL PROBLEMS WENT AWAY. I ENDED UP HAVING TO BUY A NEW BATTERY DUE TO DAMAGE DONE BY THE FAULTY CONNECTIONS. THE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN INTERMITTENT AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE BEFORE I CLEANED AND LUBED ALL CONNECTORS, THIS PROBLEM COST ME A BATTERY, AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK AS THE BATTERY DIED AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. WITH NO BATTERY AND NO ALTERNATOR, THE VEHICLE STALLED, LIGHTING DIED, ETC. INCIDENT #2 LEAKING TIMING COVER GASKET AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS. AT THIS MOMENT THE VEHICLE HAS 127K APPX MILES ON IT, AND IT IS CURRENTLY SITTING AS I WILL NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED, ALL MILES PUT ON VEHICLE HAVE BEEN "LIGHT" MILES (NO HEAVY TOWING, NO OVERLOADING OF VEHICLE, NO EXCESSIVE SPEED, ETC). FORD ISSUED A BULLETIN STATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH GASKETS UP UNTIL ROUGHLY 1/16/98. THEY THEN ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION REMEDY THAT DID NOT COVER THE FULL GASKET SET OR ALL AFFECTED ENGINE MODEL YEARS. ACCORDING TO THE BULLETIN, MY ENGINE (MFG DATE PRIOR TO 9/97) IS AFFECTED, ACCORDING TO THEIR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION REMEDY IT IS NOT ELIGIBLE. IN MY BOOK, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE THE BASIS OF A RECALL. ENGINES HAVE DIED WITH AS LITTLE AS 50K MILES ON THEM, I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT I WAS HONESTLY SCARED TO DRIVE UNTIL NOW. I WILL MOST LIKELY BE PERFORMING MY OWN REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE DUE TO FORD'S INCOMPETENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543335

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A NORMAL SPEED I STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO MISFIRE.THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN KNOWN TO FORD, BECAUSE OUR MECHANIC RECEIVED AN E-MAIL BULLETIN FROM FORD DIRECTLY. WHICH STATED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE F-150. I HAVE COPIES OF THIS BULLETIN. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY SON AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. BECAUSE THE TRUCK JUST LOST TOTAL POWER.

NHTSA ID

10542325

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

Mileage

154,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING, AND THE TRUCK STARTED LOSING POWER, AND SPUTTERING, I FINALLY GOT IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE 3 CRACKED COIL PACK ASSEMBLIES. THESE WERE REPLACED AND IT RUNS FINE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD DEAL IF I HAD BEEN IN A SITUATION PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, CROSSING A RR TRACK OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. THIS IDEA OF INDIVIDUAL COILS ON EACH SPARK PLUG IS NOT A GOOD IDEA, AND DANGEROUS. I REALIZE THERE ARE A LOT OF MILES ON MY TRUCK, BUT THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513594

Incident

May 22, 2013

Mileage

394,056 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MISFIRE AND A LOSS OF POWER TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED WHERE THE SPARK PLUGS WERE LOCATED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ID

10487157

Incident

Nov 25, 2012

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY THROWING WATER ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ID

10457945

Incident

May 7, 2012

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SPARK PLUG DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD AND HE PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10442371

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

HAD THE 7 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SHOOT OUT OF THE HEAD AND STRIP THE THREADS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442366

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE ROTTED, CAUSING THE EXHAUST TO LEAK INTO THE CABIN. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10438016

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

NHTSA ID

10436097

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

188,000 mi

FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE, FORD F150 FUEL TANK STRAPS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPARENTLY THE TANK STRAPS GAVE WAY AND THE FUEL TANK DROPPED. BEFORE COMING TO A STOP AND AFTER CATCHING SOME UNEVEN PAVEMENT, FUEL TANK WAS PEALED OPEN AND LOSING ABOUT 8 GALLONS GAS. FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND THEY CLEANED UP SPILL. BOTH STRAPS BROKE AND FUEL TANK IS UN-REPAIRABLE. UPDATED 08/05/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS A LEAKING POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE GEAR BOX, THE MUFFLER HANGERS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS AND SHOCKS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 08/11/1*JB *TR

NHTSA ID

10410380

Incident

Jul 4, 2011

Mileage

174,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUALLY LOUD KNOCKING. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY TO EXAMINE THE NOISE. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD FRACTURED AND POPPED SHOT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD NEED TO BE THREADED AND COILED. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED UNDER AT OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ID

10351464

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

# 5 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MY 1998 FORD F-150 5.4 LTR ENGINE. RETURNING HOME FROM ALABAMA. I HAD JUST GOTTEN THROUGH CHARLOTTE, NC WHEN I HEARD THE SOUND OF A VERY BAD EXHAUST LEAK. WHEN I STOPPED AND LIFTED THE HOOD I COULD SEE THE COIL PACK BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. I HAD TO PAY A TOW TRUCK OPERATOR $420.00 TO TOW ME HOME. TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS JUST TO FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THE 5.4. IT WILL COST ABOUT $300.00 OR MORE TO REPAIR WITH A HELI COIL. (THAT'S IF IT IS REPAIRABLE WITH A HELI COIL). HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE FINAL BILL YET. ALSO, FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE PLUGS WHERE REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2009 BY THE CARLOT GARAGE WHICH I PURCHASED THE TRUCK FROM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332744

Incident

May 26, 2010

Mileage

177,489 mi

I AM THE UNHAPPY OWNER OF A 1998 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V6 ENGINE. IT SLUNG A ROD THIS MORNING AS SOON AS I STARTED IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AN FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 98 4.2L'S DUE TO FAULTY GASKET. I'VE READ ALOT OF STORY'S ABOUT THE SAME TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ENGINES. THERE IS A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE GETTING READY TO SPEND 3 OR 4 GRAND FOR FORD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES. ISN'T FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECTS THAT THERE TRUCKS HAD COMING OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332277

Incident

May 24, 2010

Mileage

125,000 mi

04/17/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 AM OUR FORD F-150 XLT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF IN OUR DRIVEWAY OF A SINGLE DWELLING HOME. WE AND NEIGHBORS HEARD MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS THAT SHOOK OUR HOUSE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS ALREADY ENGULFED IN FLAMES SHOOTING UP 12+ FEET. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF OF THE TRUCK WAS GONE, BURNT INTO THE FIBERGLASS TOPPER, BLEW OUT ALL BUT TWO BACK WINDOWS AND MELTED ALL WIRING BACK TO THE REAR SHELL WINDOW. THE ONLY THING THAT REMAINS IS THE BACK HALF OF THE TRUCK AND BACK TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326129

Incident

Apr 17, 2010

Mileage

169,000 mi

NEW SPARK PLUGS WERE INSTALLED AT 70,000 MILES ON MY 1998 FORD F150. A FEW WEEKS LATER A SPARK PLUG (CYLINDER #4) WAS EJECTED FROM ITS THREADS, CAUSING GAS VAPORS TO FILL THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VEHICLE CABIN. AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER AND THE NEED TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG (THE SPARK PLUG SEEMED TO BE REINSERTED WITHOUT PROBLEMS), IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE UNTIL 5 WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND ANOTHER MISS FIRE WAS RECORDED BY THE CODE READER. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON (CODE READER SHOW CYLINDER #4 MISS FIRE) WITH A LOSS OF POWER. NOW A HELICOIL KIT WILL HAVE TO BE INSTALL AT A COST OVER $117. IF THE HELICOIL KIT DOES NOT WORK, THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE TO BE SOLD FOR AT FRACTION OF WHAT ITS VALUE WOULD BE WITHOUT THE FOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS, OTHERWISE IT COULD BE USED AS MY REGULAR DRIVER- THANKS FORD! *JB

NHTSA ID

10306053

Incident

Dec 22, 2009

Mileage

71,506 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD F-150 WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE SPARK PUG HAD BLOWN OUT. CYLINDER #3 ORIGINAL PLUGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295501

Incident

Dec 10, 2009

Mileage

96,000 mi