Model year record
1998 Ford F Series recalls & problems
The 1998 Ford F Series has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 20 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (7 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1998 Ford F Series.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine | 7 | 113,000 mi |
| TiresTread/belt | 4 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 4 | 130,500 mi |
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cruise control | 3 | — |
| Electrical systemIgnition › Anti-theft › Control module | 3 | 50,000 mi |
| StructureBody › Door; Body | 3 | — |
| EquipmentElectrical › Anti-theft devices | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 2 | — |
| Interior lighting | 2 | — |
| SuspensionRear | 1 | — |
| Visibility | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Structure › Body
THIRD DOOR JAMMED. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE #2 SPARK PLUG STRIPED ITS THREADS AND BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. THE PLUG REMAINED IN THE WIRING HARNESS CAP AND CONTINUED TO SPARK. THE REPAIR COST $220.00. I AM TOLD THIS IS AN ONGOING DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF SOME OF FORDS ENGINES. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling
SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT CRACKED THE COIL AND WAS SPARKING ON THE FUEL LINE WITH FUEL VAPORS COMING OUT OF THE HEAD AT THE SAME TIME. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE/EXPLOSION IF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN SHUT OFF QUICKLY ENOUGH. I WAS IDLE IN MY DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN LONGER TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. INTERNET RESEARCH RETURNED ASTONISHING AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
- Fuel system, gasoline
I HAD THE TRUCK ON A LIFT TO CHECK FOR A NOISE FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FUEL TANK STRAP WAS RUSTED THRU AND THE TANK WAS LOOSE. HAD TO MAKE A TEMPORARY REPAIR. I CHECKED THE VIN ON THE FORD WEBSITE AND THE INFORMATION WAS THERE WAS NO RECALL. *TR
- Fuel system, gasoline
MY FUEL TANK STRAPS ARE RUSTED OUT AND FALLING OFF MY TRUCK ALLOWING MY FUEL TANK TO BE LESS SECURE. *TR
- Electrical system
FORD HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CAB,OVER TIME IT HAS CORRUPTED THE WIRING,MAKING ELECTRICAL DEVICES FAIL TO HAVING A DEAD SHORT THAT CAUSES POWER TO DASH TO CONTINUE AFTER KEY IS REMOVED,THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AT BEST, TO THE FACT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME.THER ARE MANY TSB'S CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM 99133 98246 976011 98913 TO NAME A FEW.THIS ALSO CROSSES OVER TO SEVERAL MODELS AND YEARS AND IN CANADA THERE IS A RECALL FOR SOME OF THE F SERIES FORD TRUCK FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. MY PROBLEMS ARE TYPICAL OF ALL THE OUTHERS. THER IS RUST PRESENT UNDER DASH,DOOM LIGHTS,DOOR LIGHTS,CHIMES,POWER WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK.…
- Tires
I HAVE HAD 3 TIRE FAILURES DUE TO VALVE STEM FAILURE. ALL THREE TIMES WE WERE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND HAD SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE. THIS RESULTED IN REPLACING TWO TIRES ON 2 VEHICLES AND REPLACING STEMS ON THE REMAINING 6 TIRES. BOTH VEHICLES HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON ABOUT THE SAME TIME AT THE SAME DEALER. (APRIL 2007) I UNDERSTAND FROM CONSUMER REPORT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON DILL VALVE STEMS. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THESE STEMS WERE PART OF THAT RECALL. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling
I HAVE A 1998 FORD PICKUP WITH A 5.4L ENGINE AND JUST TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING IT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. AS SOON AS I HEARD THE POPPING SOUND I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE TRUCK DOWN. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS THE PLUG DANGLING THERE. I WAS ABLE TO INSTALL THE PLUG BACK ON BUT GOT 3 TURNS ON IT AND IT WAS TIGHT. NO WAY SHOULD A SPARK PLUG ONLY HAVE A FEW TURNS ON IT AND NO WAY SHOULD A PLUG FLY OUT OF AN ENGINE THAT IS SPEWING GASOLINE AND THE PLUG STILL SPARKING. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS COMPANY SIGN ME UP. NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A FORD PRODUCT. ALL THEIR VEHICLES CATCH FIRE( REMEMBER THE CRUISE CONTROL). THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE WHY THE US AUTO INDUSTRY SUCKS AND THEY…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADClosed
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY…