RoadVitals

1998 Ford Louisville

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
2
Latest Jan 22, 2008
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Oct 19, 2000
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ford Louisville, most frequently naming the brakes and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 44 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes150.0%
  • Electrical150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
00V335000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Oct 19, 2000
8,400 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY TANDEM REAR AXLE TRUCKS WITH ABS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS PLUMBED SO THAT COMPLETE AIR RESERVOIR ISOLATION WAS NOT PROVIDED. SOME VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN AIR LINE FROM THE SYSTEM ECU RELAY VALVE MODULE TEE FITTING, INCORRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE SYSTEM SUPPLY TANK, RATHER THAN THE SYSTEM AUXILIARY PRIMARY TANK.
The risk: A LEAKAGE OR FAILURE CAN CAUSE A PRESSURE LOSS IN THE SECONDARY TANK RESULTING IN THE DRAINING OF THE PRIMARY TANK ALSO, AND THUS A COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE SYSTEM AIR PRESSURE, DIMINISHING BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE HAS THE INCORRECTLY ROUTED AIR LINE. THOSE WITH THE CONDITION WILL BE CORRECTLY PLUMBED AND THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM TESTED TO VERIFY PROPER RESERVOIR ISOLATION.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 00S34View on NHTSA.gov
99V050000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Mar 15, 1999
1,687 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL WABCO AIR DRYER. THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS PLUMBED SO THAT THE SYSTEMS DID NOT PROVIDE AIR RESERVOIR ISOLATION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS."
The risk: THE AIR BRAKE RESERVOIR PRESSURE COULD BE DEPLETED, ACTIVATING THE EMERGENCY SPRING BRAKE. WITH THE EMERGENCY SPRING BRAKE DEPLOYED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP AND COULD NOT BE MOVED UNTIL THE BRAKE AIR SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AIR LINE PLUMBING TO INSTALL A CHECK VALVE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 99S05View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Jan 22, 2008
Fire reported

1998 FORD CONVENTIONAL LOUISVILLE TRUCK. CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAB. WHEN HE PULLED OVER HE TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *KB THE FIRE CHIEF BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE DASHBOARD. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-90-0943. *JB

NHTSA ID
10216118
Incident
Dec 16, 2007
Brakes
Filed Mar 22, 2001

THE CONSUMER IS NOT HAPPY WITH RECALL 00V-335, THE CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE A HEAVY TRUCK DEALER NEAR HIM AND HAS REQUESTED THAT FORD COME TO HIM TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND MAKE ANY NECESSARY REPAIRS. NLM

NHTSA ID
560485

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

99196

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT

991210

FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A PRIVATE LABELED MATERIAL TO BE USED FOR IRON PARTICLE / ACID RAIN SERVICE REPAIRS. *TT

99102

STRUCTURE:BODY

INFORMATION REGARDING HIGH FLOOR HEAT DURING IDLE WITH PTO IN OPERATION. *TT

9944

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

PROCEDURES ON REPAIRING BROKEN RADIATOR COOLANT SUPPLY TANK VENT HOSE NIPPLES. *TT

982520

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRAME-MOUNTED VERTICAL MUFFLER SUPPORTS MAY EXHIBIT A CRACK ALONG THE PIPE BEND. *YC

98257

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

CONCERNS WITH THE FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT ( FEAD )-FEAD BELT MAY WEAR AND/OR COME OFF. *YC

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Louisville by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998Viewing220—
1997030—
1996010—
1995000—
1994000—
1993000—
1992000—
1991000—

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.