10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,819 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Ford F-150:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #28

Dec 182023

F-150

  • miles
1998 Ford F150 S/N 1FTRX18L7WNB03063 Mechanic said the frame is rusting badly. Suggested I not pull a heavy trailer or haul heavy loads in the bed.

- Social Circle, GA, USA

problem #27

Jan 222021

F-150

  • miles
My driver's side seat belt does not work at all for the past 6-8 months its been stuck and locked and it doesn't release the belt at all so I been driving without a seat belt for awhile now it needs to be repaired and as for the other issues unknown like bank-1 & bank-2 not working properly also evap-leaks and sensors not working

- Carson, CA, USA

problem #26

Apr 042020

F-150

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owned a 1998 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while parked with the vehicle running and inside for an extended period of time, the insulation on the roof melted causing a fire. The cause of the fire was unknown. The contact sustained third degree burns on the head. A police report was made filed. Fire department was contacted and came out to extinguished the flames. Medical attention was contacted and took the contact to the hospital where he stayed hospitalized from April 4 2020 to May 8 2020 for his burns. The vehicle was deemed a loss. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacture was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was not available.

- New Iberia, LA, USA

problem #25

Mar 072019

F-150 8-cyl

  • 156,828 miles
I HAVE CONTACTED MYSELF THE BF GOODRICH COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT SELLS BF GOODRICH TIRES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY TWO TIMES. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THESE PEOPLE AND IT HAS BEEN TWO TO THREE MONTHS. I AM WRITING YOU HOPING THAT I CAN GET SOME RESULTS. I BOUGHT TIRES ON LINE THRU MANDAN WALMART. THE DATE WAS MARCH 26, 2016. IT WAS FOR 4 TIRES. THE SIZE WAS P235/70R16. I HAD A FLAT REAR 3-5-2019. I TOOK THE TIRE IN TO BE REPAIR ON 3-7-2019. MANDAN WALMART WOULD NOT REPAIR THE TIRE BECAUSE IT HAD DRY ROT. THE MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 149312. WHEN I PURCHASED THE TIRE FROM MANDAN WALMART I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TIRES WERE GOTTEN FROM A THIRD PARTY CALLED DOTCOM TIRE. THEY SENT THE TIRES TO THE STORE AND THEY PUT ON AND BALANCED WITH NEW VALVE STEMS. WHAT I DID NOT KNOW IS THAT THE TIRE HAD A MANUFACTURE DATE OF 04/13. THEY WERE SOLD AS NEW TIRES AND THE WARRANTY ONLY HAD 3 YEARS ON IT. MANDAN WALMART SAID THEY DO NOT FIX FLATS WITH ROT AND THAT DID NOT SELL THE TIRES, THE THIRD PARTY DID. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES NOT THREE YEAR OLD TIRES AND MANDAN WALMART SHOULD TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES WERE THAT OLD. MANDAN WALMART TOLD ME ALSO "CUSTOMER NEGLECT" ON MY VEHICLE WHAT NONSENSE IS THIS" ALSO, MANDAN WALMART ALSO SAID "CUSTOMER NEGLECT" AND NOT TAKING PROPER CARE OF YOUR VEHICLE IS THE OTHER COMMENT THEY MADE AND THIS IS WHY THEY WILL NOT FIX MY TRUCK, THEY SHOULD NOT TELL CUSTOMERS BLUNTLY THERE IS NO NEGLECT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK NOW IS 156828. I TOOK THE TIRE TO OK TIRE AND THEY FIXED IT. WHAT WILL I DO ABOUT THE OTHER TIRES WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM" PLEASE CALL ME AT AREA CODE [XXX] ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).-??

- Mandan, ND, USA

problem #24

May 132015

F-150

  • 146,000 miles
Shock upper mount simply fell off causing driver side rear shock to drag ground. After further inspection also noticed at the location of the rusted out mount location that the rear wiring for the tail light were severed causing truck to now be stuck in park. Also while inspecting noticed rear frame is simply falling apart and other areas throughout the frame are weak as well. This is a huge safety concern after doing research I am finding many accounts of the same issue online but no manufacture recalls. Why isn't Ford doing anything about this issue? I've never seen frames do this. Truck needs full frame replacement.

- Monterey, TN, USA

problem #23

May 142011

F-150

  • 91,000 miles
Straps on gas tank broke, dropped front of gas tank on road while we were driving. Front of gas tank had hole when we pulled over spilling out 3/4 tank of gas, which almost went into drain at gas station we pulled over at, gas station attendant contained spill for us. Tow truck driver said we were lucky we didn't have a fire from dragging tank. I have 7 photos documenting scene at gas station and tank.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #22

Jun 142008

F-150

  • 37,000 miles
One day my 1998 Ford F-150 with only 37,000 miles (I am the original owner)was working just fine. Several days later I get into the truck and I noticed the electric windows wouldn't go down, I assumed it was a fuse. No luck on that, all fuses good except the lighter fuse, which I don't use. When I got to my destination I couldn't get it into 4-wheel drive. When I was getting ready to leave I couldn't get the windshield wipers on when it was raining. I had no choice but to drive 30 miles home with no wipers in the rain, extremely hard to see to drive and very dangerous. I found info on the internet that pointed to the generic electronic module. A lot of other people were complaining of the same problem and worse on a online forum. This problem goes back to 1994 when Ford first started using this device. I ended up paying $600 for the dealer to replace the GEM that was obviously defective from the start, not to mention the danger of driving in the rain with no wipers. Ford has a recall on the 99 on up 250 and 350 with the same device, but they wouldn't honor this on the 98. They have decided to retool the device by taking the 4-wheel drive control out of this device as a stand alone control. I feel Ford should have replaced this at their expense in light of all the problems this has caused. Some have reported that their trucks have jumped into 4-low while driving on the road, others have said that they can't disengage 4-wheel after using the feature off road.

- Galena, OH, USA

problem #21

Mar 012007

F-150 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
My 1998 Ford F150 as soon as it got to 100,000 miles the oil pump goes out and it starts to loose coolant but not leaking it any where. As I have found out these engines between 80,000 and 100,000 do this. Many forums read the same problem for every 4.2L does this. I believe Ford should do a recall on these engines. Please let me know what to do.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #20

Dec 232006

F-150 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 109,600 miles
No events leading up to failure'sudden failure of spare tire retaining cable on personal truck. Cable snapped suddenly and without warning causing spare tire to fall from its stowed position beneath the truck. This caused the truck to become airborne briefly as the spare tire caught the rear bumper and lifted it. Had the spare tire not been additionally secured by an anti-theft cable the tire would definitely have been sent into other traffic behind me or in the oncoming lane. New tire was purchased by me but no other corrective action;dealer and manufacturer refused.

- Rogers, AR, USA

problem #19

Jul 202006

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,500 miles
Nothing to warn me of the impending failure. The spare tire cable snapped causing the spare to drop, flipping underneath the trailer-in-tow, causing the trailer to buck. Fortunately, the trailer recovered and no one was behind me. Should this have happened at a higher rate of speed with someone behind me and while carrying a load, it could have turned fatal. The failing part, the spare tire winch, has been replaced. I have counted a minimum of 10 other reports on this site of this failure. I believe a recall is in order.

- Liverpool, PA, USA

problem #18

Sep 192004

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
See ODI 10091339 -in examining the failed part there was no evidence of corrosion causing a weakness of the cable. Rather, the retaining lug at the end of the cable appears to have sheared as a result of routine driving conditions over time. In purchasing a replacement part from Ford, I found that they have changed the design of the lift mechanism to add a tension relief spring to prevent the likely hood of a cable failure such as I experienced. Old part: F75Z*1A131 new part 2L3Z*1A131 this indicates their recognition that there was a design defect in the original part. As these vehicles age there will be increased chance of future failure from cable strain incurred during routine use.

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #17

May 152004

F-150 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles
The consumer heard a loud noise while driving 20-30 mph. The spare tire attached to the rear of the vehicle fell off. The cable securing the tire disconnected.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #16

Apr 152003

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles
I've had a problem with the doors cracking on both side and Ford tryed to fix them, but one side has crcked again and the finsh "'sucks". they put filler (bondo)in the doors and the passenger side has crcked again.I was not happy about the filler because there wasn't any filler when I bought the truck. Now the paint on the roof is cracking and peeling off the metal and starting to rush bad at the top of the windshield area. I took it in and the dealer told me or the factory rep. Said oh well we won't fix it. I was told the truck was not under any warranty.I have found several service bulletins on these problems but I guess Ford doesn't stand behind there product. I don't care how old a truck is or how long you have had it, the paint should never crack and peel off the metal like mine is doing.I've seen cars in junk yards with better paint then mine has.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #15

Sep 152003

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles
Paint showing crowsfoot all over the body, this vehicle came from Kansas City plant where there was a fault with the painting equipment( a factory defect). Ford aswell as the dealership ( franklin Ford, franklin N.C.)will not acknowledge it. I need to find out more about this equipment fault, can you please help me.

- Bryson City, NC, USA

problem #14

Jan 082003

F-150 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
The paint on the tail gate is coming off in sheets. Leaving just the primer coat. Not caused by rust or damage.

- Camp Lejeune, NC, USA

problem #13

Nov 192003

(reported on)

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles
The cable that holds the spare tire beneath the truck snapped and the tire bounced out onto oncoming traffic.

- Milwaukee, WA, USA

problem #12

Feb 152000

F-150

  • miles
The door ajar switch does not function properly. The door ajar dash light & interior lights remain on even when the door is fully closed. This causes a very dangerious situation, especialy at night when the interior lights are on and won't go off. I know that this is a wide spred problem and I have been adviced that Ford has a tsb on it. Everyone that I have talked to with a 97', 98', or 99' F-150 extended cab has had problems with this.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #11

Nov 062001

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles
I went to the dealer and he was very aware of the problem and that he is also an F150 owner and that he cannot get Ford to fix his problems either. Whe I call Ford at 1800 392 3673 the lady that assisted me told me that she never heard of such problems. Which goes to show that Ford is just trying to hide the problem. I have bought and extended warranty which the dealer says it wont cover this failures, and that Ford is only replacing doors on vehicles that their warranty hasnot expired. From what I have gather, I am one in thousands of F150 owners with this type of structural damage and all we want is to have our problem fix.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #10

Dec 202000

F-150

  • miles
Door ajar light, interior light, and cargo light stay on has if a door were open when all doors are all closed. If the key is in the ignition, and the ignition is off and the doors are shut, the chime/tone continues to go off.

- Belmont, NC, USA

problem #9

Sep 011998

F-150

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Floor mats slipped.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

Read the next 8 complaints »