Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ford Ford, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and engine categories. 33 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 1998 | 2 | 4 |
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 5 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 7 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 8 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 9 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 10 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 11 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 12 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 13 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 14 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 15 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 16 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 17 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH (ACCORDING TO INSURANCE FIRE INVESTIGATOR) - FORD CLAIMED THEY SENT 3 RECALL NOTICES, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY UNTIL 3 DAYS AFTER THE FIRE - I SUFFERED PERSONAL PROPERTY AND OTHER DAMAGES AND FORD HAS REFUSED LIABILITY. *TR
MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 4:00 AM BY ITSELF. IT WAS LAST DRIVEN 14 HOURS PRIOR TO CATCHING ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT IT MELTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FIRE INSPECTOR SAID IT STARTED WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS LOCATED.*AK
I WAS DRIVING FROM THE STORE ON 10/27/05 ,WHEN I STOP TO A RED LIGHT AND I SAW SMOKE COME FROM THE SIDE AND FRONT OF THE CAR. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED TO GO HOME ,WHEN I GOT HOME I RAN UP THE STAIRS TO WHERE I LIVE AND EXPLAIN TO MY BOYFRIEND SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE CAR HE WENT DOWN STAIRS TO CHECK AND THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER MY HOOD MY BOYFRIEND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE AND WE ALSO DROVE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH WE GOT NO ANSWERS. NOW ON 10/28/05 WE HAD A WRECKER TO TOW THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP SO THEY WOULD SEE THE DAMAGE THEY LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND WE WERE INFORMED THERE'S NO RECALL ON THE FORD WINDSTAR GL, BUT THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY, I ASK THE MANAGER WHAT DID HE SUGGEST HE SAID, CALL MY INSURANCE AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT I TOWED THE CAR TO A ELECTRITION AND HIS DESCRIPTION WAS THE PIGTALE WAS BURNT AND ALSO THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS BURNT UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS, BUT I KNOW THERE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A FIRE.*JB
MY WIFE WAS TEACHING AT THE LOCAL JR. COLLEGE HERE IN PENSACOLA FLORIDA. SHE PARKED THE TRUCK AT APPROX. 6:45PM ,HER CLASSROOM FACES THE PARKING LOT. FROM THE SECOND FLOOR SOME OF HER STUDENTS COULD SEE SOMETHING ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT, IT'S APPROX. 8:40PM BY NOW. THE CAR WAS SEEN BY THE GROUNDSKEEPERS AND SERCURITY TO HAVE WHAT APPEARED TO BE SMOKE AND SPARKS OF FIRE COMMING FROM THE HOOD. THEY ATTEMPTED TO USE FIRE EXTINGUSHERS BUT THE FLAMES AND FIRE BY THIS TIME WAS TO HOT.SOON AFTERWARDS THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. MOST OF THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THAT ENGULFED THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE INCLUDING THE ROOF DRIVER DOOR AND THE TIRE COMPLETLY MELTED AWAY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. WE'VE SPOKEN WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WE WHERE ASKED VERY POINTANTLY EXACTLY WHAT DID WE EXPECT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY.WE CAN'T IMAGION A MORE LUDACRIS QUESTION! WE WHERE TOLD THAT THE LEGAL DEPT. AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD GET BACK WITH US IN 24-48HRS. WE'VE EXCEEDED 48HRS + NOW...
DRIVING 1998 FORD EXPEDITION V8 5.4 LITER... DOWN THE HIGHWAY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THE # 4 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD, CAUSING A VERY LOAD BANG FOLLOWED BUY LOAD EXHAUST, ESCAPING FROM THE PLUG HOLE AND HIGH VOLUME OF FUEL VAPOR AND SOME FUEL, THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME A SMALL FIRE STARTED WHICH MY HUSBAND PUT OUT IMMEDIATELY, I AM CURRENTLY A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO CHILDREN AND CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AT ABOUT 600.00 AN OCCURRENCE... NOR CAN I AFFORD THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH MYSELF AND CHILDREN. THIS TIME THE MECHANIC IS SAYING THE WHOLE HEAD MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAS TORN UP THE TREADS.(ALUMINUM HEAD AS WELL) THIS WILL COST ME ABOUT $1500-2$000. TO HAVE REPAIRED. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND TONS OF MECHANICS AND THEY ARE ALL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4 LITER !!! WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE? WHO'S SUPPOSE TO WATCHING OUT FOR THE LITTLE POEPLE. *AK
I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 5 PASSENGERS, AND MYSELF AS THE DRIVER. WE REAR ENDED A CAR ON THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THAT IS A QUESTION FOR MYSELF. MY 4YR OLD IN BACKSEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME SITS IN A HIGH BACK BOOSTER, NOT USING THE 5 PT HARNESS. HE IS IN A REGULAR SHOULDER/LAP BELT. UPON IMPACT MY CHILD FLEW FORWARD SLAMMING INTO MY SEAT AND HAVING HIS GLASSES ALSO FLY FORWARD OFF OF HIS FACE. QUESTION ON SEAT BELT. PLEASE HELP!!!!!*AK
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS GALORE--I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD, PERIOD--LET ALONE A WINDSTAR. TAILGATE LOCK NEVER OPENED WITH KEY. DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED OPENING WITH KEY 6 MONTHS LATER. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STOPPED OPENING WITH KEY 3 WEEKS AFTER THAT. DOWN TO SLIDER ONLY THAT OPERATES WITH KEY AND IT TURNS VERY HARD. INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON....AND STAYED ON. REMOVED FUSE AND WINDOWS SHARING FUSE ALSO WOULDN'T GO UP--WAS WORTH IT TIL I HAD TIME TO GO AROUND AND REMOVE EVERY SINGLE INTERIOR BULB IN THE VEHICLE. REPLACED FUSE JUST TO HAVE WINDOWS OPERATE. DOOR AJAR SENSOR GOES OFF WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED SECURELY AND ACCOMPANYING WARNING BELL CONTINUES TO GO OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEN IT DROPS TO GOING OFF WHEN I SLOW TO A CERTAIN SPEED AND THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN WHEN I SPEED UP. ABSOLUTELY THE WORST VEHICLE I'VE EVER OWNED IN MY LIFE. POS -- DOES NOT MEAN POINT OF SALE. HINT: FIRST WORD MEANS "PIECE" AND SECOND WORD MEANS "OF." YOU GET THE IDEA. *NM
'98 FORD EXPEDITION - CAR FIRE - CAR DESTROYED. DROVE 1.8 MILES FROM MY HOME AND WENT INTO A STORE. 5 MINUTES LATER I COME OUT TO THE CAR ON FIRE. IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD BUILT A CAMPFIRE ON THE ENGINE HOOD RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. INSURANCE DID INVESTIGATION BUT COULD NOT PROVE ANYTHING - NOT ENOUGH LEFT TO FIGURE IT OUT. *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FOR HIGH OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE (P0132 AND P0152). CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC MAY RESULT IN PREMATURE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPUVALVE. *TT *JB
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONCERNS WITH THROTTLE STICKING AFTER STEADY STATE DRIVING IN EXTREME COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ON VEHICLES BUILT 12/21/1997 THORUGH 7/15/1999. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
SUBJECT REGARDING INADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *JG
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SUBJECT REGARDING 2.5L AND 3.0L 24-V DURATEC ENGINE DISASSEMBLY GUIDELINES. *TT
WHEELS
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT WHEEL / TIRE RELATED VIBRATION THAT IS DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. *TT
SUSPENSION
SUBJECT REGARDING WHEEL VIBRATION DIAGNOSIS - SERVICE TIP. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 34.1 |
| 2002 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 39.4 |
| 2001 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 35.9 |
| 2000 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 43.1 |
| 1999 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 40.4 |
| 1998Viewing | 17 | 0 | 0 | 47.1 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 36.8 |
| 1996 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 38.5 |
| 1995 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 31.7 |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.