RoadVitals

1998 Ford Ford Truck Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Dec 2, 2016
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 23, 1998

What this page shows

Our database holds 25 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ford Ford Truck. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 25

Body & structure
Filed Dec 2, 2016

FRAME RUST REAR. SPRING MOUNT BROKE OFF. REAR OF TRUCK LOOSE. REPAIR DONE. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS TRUCK. LARGE RUST HOLES IN FRAME. ONLY 90000. MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10929628
Incident
Nov 22, 2016
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 9, 2010

WHILE RIDING BACK HOME FROM WALMART, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BOOM THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A CONSISTENT ROARING LOUD NOISE. FRIGHTENED I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT THE GIRL OUT AND AWAY FROM THE TRUCK BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE , BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE. CAUGHT A RIDE HOME AND HAD A FRIEND DRIVE IT TO MY HOME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FEW SHOPS TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WAS WRONG . THERE WASN'T ANY LEAKS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN IT TOO. THREE MONTHS BEFORE I HAD OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP DONE FOR THE TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAD HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN BECAUSE I HAVE TWO OTHER CAR GOES ON GAS. THE BOSS WHO CHECK THE MOTOR SAID REASON THE MOTOR WENT BAD WAS BECAUSE THE SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM ITS COMPONENT, WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR TO THROW A ROD. I WENT TO AUTO ZONE FOR THE BEST GASKETS AND PARTS SO MY TRUCK COULD BE BACK THE SAME AGAIN LIKE BEFORE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD EXHAUST WORK DONE BEFORE THE MOTOR , BY ANOTHER SHOP FOR EXHAUST BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE DOES IT,SO WHEN THE JOB WAS DONE I WOULDN'T HAVE TO STILL WAIT. I JUST WANTED IT LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THE ROD BROKE. THE PROBLEM WASN'T SOLVED RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I HAD TO FIND A MOTOR FIRST. I MADE SURE I STARTED IT UP DAILY SO BATTERY WOULDN'T DIE. MY TRUCK WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. UNTIL THE SPARK PLUGS RUINED IT. AT THAT POINT THE OIL SUDDENLY WAS BLACK AND BURNT LOOKING. ALSO ONE OTHER TIME I WAS DRIVING FROM OUT OF STATE FAR AWAY WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING SEVENTY FIVE . THE CAR SMOKED, BUT I CONTINUED GOING I DIDN'T WANT TO GET STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO BUY A MOTOR AND PAY FOR LABOR AND PARTS NEEDED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE TRUCK AND GET OUT WITH THE KIDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10324621
Incident
Apr 7, 2010
Mileage
154,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 25, 2008

TRUCK OVER HEATED THE ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR IS LEAKING WATER THAT IS THICK AND OILY. OIL IS PASSING INTO RADIATOR A HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS DONE AND THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED. A LOUD CRANK NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE REAR BOTTOM AXLES WHEN I STOP. CONSTANTLY NEEDING JUMP START ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF UNEXPECTATLY WHILE DRIVING NEW BATTERY BUT IT WAS STILL TURNING OFF A RELAY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION BOX WAS REPLACED NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10216032
Incident
Oct 12, 2007
Mileage
146,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 14, 2007
Fire reported

1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. RECALL WAS COMPLETED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208971
Incident
Jun 11, 2007
Mileage
229,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 2, 2005

PROBLEM WAS SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, POWER WINDOWS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. IDIOT LIGHTS ON DASH WOULD COME ON AND OFF. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THAT THE SEAL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING AND DAMAGED THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX. DEALER COULD NOT REMOVE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT DOING DAMAGE TO IT. HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AND MODULES AT A COST OF $1,040. LIVE NEAR MORRO BAY, CA WHERE CLIMATE RANGES FROM 35 TO 85 DEGREES (NO EXTREMES) AND TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE. NO EXCUSE FOR SEAL TO FAIL. OLD WINDSHIELD WAS FINE. WOULD LOVE TO SUE BUT OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE A HUGE WASTE OF TIME. NEXT TIME, WILL PURCHASE A JAPANESE BUILT TRUCK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131111
Incident
May 10, 2005
Mileage
109,436 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 30, 2005

ON FEBRUARY 25, 2005, I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN TO LEAK OIL AND SLOW DOWN. AFTER SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I INSTRUCTED EVERYONE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SMOKEY SMELL. I THEN CALLED KEYSTONE AAA MID-ATLANTIC MY EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICE. NEXT, THE KEYSTONE AAA MID-ATLANTIC TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AND HE COMMENTED ON THE NUMBER OF FORD WINDSTARS THAT HE PICKS UP ON A DAILY BASIS. AFTER OBSERVING MY VEHICLE, HE STATED THAT IT IS PROBABLY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT IT COULD NOT BE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I JUST GOT A BRAND ?NEW TRANSMISSION? TWO YEARS AGO. HE THEN TOWED MY VEHICLE TO SPRINGFIELD FORD IN SPRINGFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA (6 MILES AWAY). ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2005, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF SPRINGFIELD FORD AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE BECAUSE OF THE LEAKING OIL. INDEED, IF SPRINGFIELD FORD INSTALLED A ?NEW TRANSMISSION? TWO- YEARS AGO AND I NOW NEED ANOTHER ?NEW TRANSMISSION?, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE 1998 FORD WINDSTARS ARE DEFECTIVE. MOREOVER, I WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THIS SECOND MALFUNCTION OCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10116074
Incident
Feb 28, 2005
Mileage
77,345 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 22, 2003

BOTH REAR TIRES ON VEHICLE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. *MR *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HE FELT THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AND MANAGED TO PULL OVER, THE TIRES WERE NOT FOUND. *JB

NHTSA ID
10052183
Incident
Sep 10, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 26, 2002

UNDERSTAND TIRE VALVES ARE BEING LOOKED AT, FORD DEALER IN FT. MYERS REPORTED THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. *DT *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770146

NHTSA ID
10009408
Incident
Apr 4, 2002
Mileage
31,789 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 27, 2002

WHILE TAKING A SHORT TRIP THIS WEEKEND. (UNDER 70 MILES) I NOTICED A SUDDEN VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR OF OUR MOTOR HOME AND WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SEVERAL OTHER NOISES AS THE MOTOR HOME ROCKED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO DISCOVER THE ENTIRE TREAD OF MY RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY MISSING AND THE SIDEWALL OF WHAT WAS LEFT BLOWN OUT IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE TWO PLACES. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL RECREATIONAL VEHICALS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. DT

NHTSA ID
768977
Incident
Oct 24, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 11, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TREAD SEPARATED FROM FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HAD TIRES REPLACED. GOODYEAR SENT RECALL ABOUT TIRES, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED TIRES. EQUIPMENT FOR 1998, FORD 15 PASSENGER VAN ,GOODYEAR, WRANGLER TIRE SIZE LT245/75R16. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID
8007444
Incident
Aug 10, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 9, 2002

TREAD SEPARATION ON LOAD RANGE E TIRE ON REAR OF 1TON VAN. 4 PLY 2 POLY 2 STEEL.*AK (TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)

NHTSA ID
759132
Incident
Mar 6, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 11, 2001

THE TREAD CAME OFF, BUT THE TIRE ITSELF DID NOT LOSE ANY AIR.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 1PT TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

NHTSA ID
752053
Incident
Sep 10, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 26, 2001

VIBRATION IN STEERING,DEALER CHECKED & FOUND PLY SEPARATION IN BOTH FRONT TIRES. REPLACED ALL SIX TIRES FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY REASONS. FIRESTONE WOULDN'T RESPOND UNLESS THERE WAS A BLOWOUT, CRASH OR A FATALITY. READING OTHER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE ON AN RV FORUM. BLOWOUTS AS LOW AS 300 MILES. MY TIRE DEALER SAID THIS PLANT HAS SINCE BEEN CLOSED.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDIL018 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)

NHTSA ID
751130
Incident
Aug 15, 2001
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
747146
Incident
Jun 19, 2001
Visibility
Filed May 29, 2001

THE TUBES TO THE REAR HEATER RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT CAUSING ME TO ABANDON THE VEHICLE IN THE WINTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
746099
Incident
Mar 10, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed May 11, 2001

FIRESTONE REFUSSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE, THEY SAY IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD BLOW OUT. THE TIRE CLEARLY HAS A DEFECT. NOW WHAT DO I DO WE LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN ON 99% IN TOWN DRIVING FOR WE WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE IN ON A TRIP. THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE ANOTHER VECHICLE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS MY VERY FIRST NEW TRUCK AND NOW THIS. THANK YOU,PLEASE REPLY.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1PY TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

NHTSA ID
745210
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 8, 2000

I HAD A TIRE GO FLAT ,WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK IT OFF AND COULD'T FIND ANY THING IN THE TIRE . I PLUGED THE LEAK .IFILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR ,PUT IT BACK ON THE TRUCK . IN ABOUT AN HOUR IT WAS DOWN AGAIN. I TOOK IT OFF AGAIN , IT WAS LEAKING NEXT TO THE PLUG. I PUT ANOTHER PLUG IN IT AND THIS TIME I CHECKED IT . IT WAS STILL LEAKING IN THE SAME AREA ,I PUT THE NUMBER 3 PLUG IN IT.IT STILL LEAKED AND IT LOOKED AS IF THE TIRE WAS TRYING TO COME APART. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WENT TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER AND TOLD HIM I HAD A BAD TIRE . HE SAID THEY WEREN'T HAVING ANY TROUBLE [A BIG LIE ] .HE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA HOW I SCREWED THE TIRE UP. THE TIRE COULD NOT BE PATCHED .WE ARGUED HE COULDN'T DO ME ANY GOOD.I ASKED HIM WHY A TIRE RATED AT 65000 MILES WOULD GO BAD AT 22000 MILES ? HE SAID I WAS LUCKY AS HELL TO GET THAT MUCH OUT OF IT. THE TIRE LOOKED AS IF THEY LEFT A PART OF . IT SEEMED MUSHY. I GOT MAD AT HIM ,AND WENT TO A LOCAL TIRE DEALER ,AND ORDERED NEW WILDERNESS TIRES LIKE A FOOL ! I EMAILED FIRESTONE AND COMPLAINED THEY ANSWERED THAT I SHOULD GO TO THEIR DEALER, THEY DIDN'T DO BUSINESS OVER THE INTERNET . I HAD BEEN THERE @DONE THAT THEY SAY THE 16 INCH TIRES ARE ALLRIGHT THEY ARE WRONG ------DEAD WRONG-----( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

NHTSA ID
730818
Incident
Jan 7, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 8, 2000

LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPERATED AND I ALMOST ROLLED THE VAN.( DOT NUMBER: W2MO IPI TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

NHTSA ID
730767
Incident
Sep 27, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 30, 2000

FORD V-10 ENGINE SPARK PLUG AND COIL PACK BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. MOTORHOME

NHTSA ID
729608
Incident
Aug 20, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 25, 2000

CASING SEPERATED/FIRESTONE REPLACED TIRE AT NO CHARGE.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID
729120
Incident
Aug 24, 1999
Filed Jan 9, 2000
Crash reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
717124
Incident
Sep 13, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Oct 1, 1999
Fire reported

METAL PLATFORM FELL OFF OF VEHICLE STRIKING OTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSING DAMAGE / (OTHER VEHICLE-FIRE FROM FUEL LEAK). (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS

NHTSA ID
548811
Incident
Aug 4, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 1, 1999

PLASTIC LEVER COVER BROKE ON THE BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT. *YC

NHTSA ID
607725
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

HORN FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
606744
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Dec 23, 1998

SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT AND ARE TOO TIGHT. *TT

NHTSA ID
608621

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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