Ford F-150 Complaints (1998)
1,381 consumer complaints on file.
- #10267940May 7, 2009VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SWINGS VERTICALLY, WHICH PREVENTS HEAT AND/OR AIR TO CIRCULATE PROPERLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $700 TO REPLACE THE COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 05/13/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER AND DEFROSTER WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. UPDATED 05/13/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267265April 29, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL ONTO THE GROUND. HE STRAPPED IT BACK ON BECAUSE IT WAS STILL FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE GASOLINE WAS DRAINED AND THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW TANK AND STRAPS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10265928April 18, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE EXHAUST HEADER BOLTS ON MY 1998 F150 PICKUP RUSTED AND FAILED. TO REPLACE THESE $2 STUDS, A LENGTHY REPAIR IS REQUIRED WHERE THE HEADS HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE STUDS THAT HAVE BROKEN FLUSH WITH THE ALUMINUM HEADS HAVE TO BE DRILLED OUT. AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM INDICATED THAT THOUSANDS OF FORD VEHICLES WITH THE 5.4 ENGINE AND ALUMINUM HEADS ARE AFFECTED. THE EXHAUST LEAK FUMES COME INTO THE VEHICLE AND ARE A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FIRE. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF REPAIR BILLS REACHING $2000. I'M COLLECTING INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPAIR THIS MYSELF AS I DO NOT HAVE $2000 TO GIVE TO THE DEALER. THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE THAT SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10265620April 16, 2009TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, TIRES:VALVE
SINCE AUG. OF 2008 I'VE HAD FOUR FLATS ALL AT THE VALVE STEM. TIRES WERE REPLACED BY A FORD DEALER IN MAY OF 2007. ONE TIRE WAS DESTROYED,TWO OTHERS HAVE DAMAGE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10262890March 24, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 1998 F150 PICKUP WITH A 5.4 ENGINE THAT IS KNOWN TO HAVE A DEFECT IN GETTING THE #4 SPARK PLUG REMOVED. THIS IS A $1200 TO $2200 REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE BY FORD NOT THE CONSUMER. THIS PLUG HAS IS SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD FOR A 100K MILES, I HAVE 97K. ALL MECHANICS KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE TO BUY A SPECIAL TOOL TO TRY TO REMOVE THIS PLUG. PROBLEM IS IF IT DOESN'T WORK THEN THEY HAVE TAKE THE ENGINE APART TO DO THIS. THIS IS WERE THE PROBLEM LIES. FORD IS ACTING LIKE IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AND/OR I SHOULD GET OVER IT BECAUSE IT IS A 1998 OUT OF WARRANTY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T KNOW THIS UNTIL THEY REACH 100K MILES AND WANT TO REPLACE THIS PLUG. IN ALL MY YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ON ANY VEHICLE. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO MAKE THIS A MANDATORY RECALL SO THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KEEP GETTING SCREWED FOR SUCH A HUGE REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258088February 9, 2009TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE PEP BOYS (COOPER TIRES) ON MY 1998 F-150 FORD. FUTURA ADVENTURE H/T P265-70R17 AND WITH 55 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM THE RADIAL BELT HAS SLIPPED ON 2 OF THE TORES AND IS CAUSING A VERY RUFF BUMPY RIDE. THE TIRES HAVE PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED 70 THOUSAND MILES. WHAT A SHAME THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RECALL FOR BEING DEFECTIVE. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A FORD DEALER AND THEY PUT ON THE NEW TIRES. I DO NOT HAVE A RECEIPT. THE DESIGN NUMBER IS 9351 ANOTHER NUMBER I TOOK OFF THE TIRE IS 29122-1 AND 1135. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258107February 9, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT A 1998 FORD F150. THE DRIVER FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL AND, THE NEXT MORNING WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT OF THE GAS TANK FELL ONTO THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE GAS TANK CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED GAS TO SPILL OVER THE ROAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT A NEW FUEL TANK AND STRAP WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 93,000. UPDATED 08/12/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO FIRE. UPDATED 08/17/10*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10257754February 6, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS TANK FELL OFF TRUCK WHILE DRIVING CAUSING FIRE. FAULTY BRACKETS?*TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10256923January 30, 2009VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON FRIDAY 1/23/09 AND AROUND 3PM IT WAS REPORTED TO ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS IN FIRE. THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE IN THE BACK RIGHT AREA IF YOU ARE STANDING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CAR, WHICH APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT W/ DAMAGE TO THE WIRING IN THE AREA AND DESTROYED THE BRAKE FLUID CANISTER. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REPORT THIS ISSUE AND WAS INFORMED I WOULD HEAR SOMETHING WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS VIA MAIL. IN LATE 2005 OR EARLY 2006 I BROUGHT THE 1998 F-150 TO SAWGRASS FORD IN SUNRISE, FL TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL LOOKED AT. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS FINE AND THEY WOULD CALL ONCE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE IN STOCK. I NEVER RECEIVED A CALL AND UNFORTUNATELY I NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT AGAIN. WHEN I SPOKE WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE FIRE THEY FOUND NO RECORD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE RECALL INSPECTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10255545January 19, 2009VISIBILITY
I HAVE AN 1998 FORD F-150 ,THE BACK GLASS IS LEAKING WHEN IT RAINS . NOW I HAVE WATER DAMAGE TO MY SEATS AS WELL AS MY ROOF LINER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10248236November 10, 2008TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES APPROXIMATELY JUNE 2006 FROM NTB. ONE YEAR LATER HAD BLOW-OUT AND PURCHASED NEW TIRE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER HAD 3 FLAT TIRES AND NTB SAID THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THE BLOW-OUT THAT I HAD WAS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE VALVE STEM, BUT THERE WAS NO WAY TO PROVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10248050November 9, 2008POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE
I PURCHASED A 1998 FORD F-150 IN 2000 FROM CARMAX IN ARLINGTON, TX. I HAVE HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS UNTIL NOV. 7TH 2008. I WAS DRIVING AND APPROACHED A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS MY BRAKES WHEN THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND SPUN SIDEWAYS AT THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE I FOUND THAT MY DRIVERSIDE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD BROKEN LOSE AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLAMP HAD BROKEN OFF ALLOWING THE ENTIRE DRIVERSIDE DIFFERENTIAL TO FLY OFF OF THE VEHICLE. % MINUTES EARLIER I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. IF THIS WOULD OF HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10247543November 3, 2008TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS TOYO OPEN COUNTRY AT TIRES, SIZE P235/70/R16. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000. UPDATED 12-01-08 *BF UPDATED 12/02/08. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10244269October 2, 2008TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
THIS IS FOR DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES FROM MAVIS TIRE CORP. IN NOVEMBER 2006 AND IN JUNE 2008 I HAD 1 VALVE STEM FAIL. IT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. I BROUGHT IT BACK AND HAD TO INSIST TO HAVE IT REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. AT THAT TIME I DID NOT KNOW OF THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTED WITH THE STEMS. NOW I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF THE OTHER 3 VALVE STEMS WILL FAIL AS WELL. I AM SURE THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE WITHOUT A RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10243934September 29, 2008POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PLACE IT INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN INTO PARK. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PARKING LINKAGE AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10242914September 19, 2008STEERING
STEERING SHAFT CRACKED AT THE BASE WHERE CONNECTED TO THE STEERING BOX. I LOST MY STEERING COMPLETELY. THANKFULLY I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND WAS NOT DRIVING ON A ROAD OR TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. I HAVE THE OLD PART AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC WHO IS FIXING THE VEHICLE TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AS IN THEIR OPINION IT IS A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT MAY HAVE HAD DEADLY CONSEQUENCE. MY VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD F150 AND HAS APPROX 99,000 MILES ON IT. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS OLDER, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE OLDEST VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT AND HAVE NEVER USED THE VEHICLE FOR ANY OFF ROAD OR HARD USE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10242190September 15, 2008TIRES:VALVE
I HAVE HAD 2 VALVE STEM, BREAK CAUSING THE TIRE PRESSURE TO DECREASE. ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS APART. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10235037July 20, 2008SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SUDDEN AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON CROWDED FREEWAY WHILE GOING 70 MPH TOWING A 2,000 LB TRAILER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10233496July 8, 2008TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS GENERAL GRABBER AW TIRES, SIZE P275/60/R17 (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS, ALL THREE TIRES (EXCLUDING THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE) HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY BLOWN OUT. THE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRES, HE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRES AND THE WIRES WERE STICKING OUT. HE INSPECTED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND NOTICED A LARGE BUBBLE FORMING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE SIDEWALL. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT, AND STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10233209July 4, 2008VISIBILITY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 $600.00 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. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0