RoadVitals

1998 Ford Navigator

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.
5
Latest Jun 19, 2006
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.
1
Latest Jun 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.
1
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Ford Navigator, most frequently naming the body & structure, driver assistance and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 18 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

  • Body & structure233.3%
  • Driver assistance233.3%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

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

1 campaign 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
00V168000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Jun 19, 2000
20,637 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.
The risk: THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 00S14View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA05005ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Mar 22, 2005
Closed Aug 2, 2006

EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLed to recall 05V388000

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistance
Filed Jun 19, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DID ORIGINATE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND IT WAS ORDERED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE SWITCH WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10160124
Incident
Dec 14, 2005
Mileage
85,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 14, 2005
Fire reported

ON 9/25/2005 ABOUT 2:30 AM MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT THE TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BY FORD. APPARENTLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ON IT WAS JUST SITTING IN FRONT OF MY TOWNHOUSE VILLA AND IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE. I NOTIFIED FORD COMPANY THEIR REPLY "GET A LAWYER". *NM

NHTSA ID
10139712
Incident
Sep 25, 2005
Mileage
112,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 23, 2005

WHILE OPENING THE REAR DOOR, THE HINGES BROKE CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE REAR DOOR. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOUND. *JB

NHTSA ID
10112924
Incident
Feb 22, 2005
Mileage
140,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 10, 2003

THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION.*JB

NHTSA ID
10006904
Incident
Feb 10, 2003
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Dec 6, 2001

BRAKES DEFECTIVE AND FRAME RUSTED

NHTSA ID
9002486

Manufacturer communications

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

15122

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION AT IDLE AND/OR ENGINE DROANING NOISE ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. *SLC

15152

INTERIOR LIGHTING

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT COURTESY RAIL LAMPS ABOVE THE 2ND ROW SEATS THAT DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY OR CAUSE A BATTERY DRAW. *ET

15123

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A DRIVELINE VIBRATION AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-70 MPH. *SLC

981613

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS AT RADIATOR. YD

98169

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING -ALIGNMENT-TOE SET PROCEDURE SERVICE TIP. YD

98168

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION- E40D/4R100-1989-99-MAIN CONTROLS, SEPARATOR PLATES AND SEPARATOR PLATE GASKETS USAGE CHART. YD

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 Navigator by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009000—
2003500—
2002101—
2001512—
2000421—
1999301—
1998Viewing511—
1997000—

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.