Ford F-150 Complaints (1998)

1,381 consumer complaints on file.

#10199658August 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1998 FORD F-150 ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL-MAINTAINED. ON 8/10-07, THE COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I ARRIVED HOME. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL IMMEDIATELY AND THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR. I FILLED THE RESERVOIR AND PLANNED TO TAKE THE TRUCK IN TO THE MECHANIC WHEN HE WAS OPEN DURING THE WEEK. I ONLY DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 20 MILES THAT WEEKEND AND I MONITORED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND TEMPERATURE. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THAT MONDAY MORNING, LOUD KNOCKING CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT I'VE THROWN A ROD AND NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A TSB REGARDING DEFECTS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE (WHICH WOULD CAUSE A THROWN ROD), BUT CONSUMERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED, ONLY DEALERS. TSB99-20-7 WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED AS AN OWNER? NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE, BUT I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR DONE OR THE ENGINE CHECKED OUT IF I HAD SIMPLY BEEN NOTIFIED BY FORD. WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL NOTIFICATION, INSTEAD OF A TSB? TO DEALERSHIPS. UNACCEPTABLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199392August 13, 2007
WHEELS:RIM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150 LD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ALUMINUM RIM BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THE WHEEL LIP RIM DETACHED AND CAUSED A BLOW OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO MORE RIMS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO CORROSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198635August 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I LEFT MY 1998 FORD F150 PICK-UP TRUCK IN PARKING LOT AT WORK WHILE I WAS AWAY ON BUSINESS. I LEFT ON MONDAY JULY 30. I WAS CALLED TUESDAY NIGHT AROUND 9:00PM AND NOTIFIED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE REPORT SUSPECTED EQUIPMENT FAILURE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT, BUT VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS AND TOWED FROM PROPERTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198411August 3, 2007
EQUIPMENT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE SNUG TOP COVER THAT IS USED TO SECURE THE CARGO AREA FELL DOWN THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS. HE FELT THAT THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE FALLEN ON HIS HEAD. THE CURRENT MILEAGES IS 45,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195400July 5, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
STRAPS RETAINING THE FUEL TANK FAILED RESULTING IN THE FUEL TANK DRAGGING ON THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY RETAIN TANK WITH RATCHETING TIE DOWN STRAP AND GET VEHICLE HOME SAFELY. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED, AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY AS THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FIRE AND OR INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193817June 20, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WE OWN A 1998 FORD F-150 THAT WE BOUGHT USED FOR MY SON. MONDAY HE CALLED ME FROM INDIANA WHERE HE IS WORKING AND SAID HIS TRUCK STARTED ON FIRE. THE FIREMAN TOLD HIM ABOUT THE RECALL, WE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE ON THIS RECALL. NO ONE WANTS TO TOUCH THE TRUCK OR GIVE US AN ESTIMATE BECAUSE OF THE FORD RECALL. HE HAS THE EXPENSE OF A RENTAL CA. HOW DO I HANDLE THIS ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193777June 19, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE 1998 FORD F150 PICK UP TRUCK 4.2 LITER V6 ENGINE THREW A ROD DURING STARTUP ONE MORNING. THE ENGINE HAD 70,000 EASY MILES ON IT. NO TOWING, RACING OR HARD DRIVING. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4200.00 WITH A JASPER ENGINE AT MR. ENGINE BECAUSE FORD WOULD NOT HELP AT ALL UNLESS I PAID THEM $7500.00 FOR A NEW FORD ENGINE. I HAD ALREADY REPLACED TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS SAME VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT COST ME $2200.00 AT 50,000 MILES TO REBUILD THE ORIGINAL, AND THE SECOND TIME $1800.00 TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL WITH A REMANUFACTURED JENNINGS TRANSMISSION AT 160,000. FROM ALL I HAVE HEARD FORD KNEW ABOUT THE ENGINE GASKET DEFECT AND STILL HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION ,AND BELIEVE THIS NEEDED TO BE REMEDIED BY FORD. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF 4.2 LITER 1997 THROUGH 1999 ENGINE FAILURES. I LOVE MY TRUCK, BUT WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193119June 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 1998 FORD F 150 WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST , NO WARNING TRUCK WOULDN'T START FINALLY STARTED, BUT IT WAS KNOCKING YOU COULD SMELL ANTI FREEZE, CALLED TOW TRUCK AND THE ENGINE WAS GONE, ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192228June 1, 2007
STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ONTO THE HEADS AND THE BOLTS HAS RUSTED. THE FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN AN EXHAUST LEAK, WHICH HAS BEGUN TO LEAK INTO THE CAP OF HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE BOLTS MUST BE DRILLED OUT IN ORDER TO BE REMOVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188348April 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188254April 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HEAD GASKET FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188297April 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO POOR QUALITY PARTS. COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDER, CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE, CAUSING A BENT ROD, MEANING $3000. ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF FORD WOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUED A RECALL AND FIXED A SIMPLE GASKET, $400 PROCEDURE MAXIMUM. FORD CONTINUES TO DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT HELP! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188115April 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION INDICATOR KEPT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION. ALSO, HE STATED THAT WHEN THE INDICATOR WAS IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION IT READ A DIFFERENT GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL . THE CONTACT FELT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.*AK UPDATED 05/04/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187994April 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 FORD F-150 4.2L V-6 125,000 MILES . NO KNOWN EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. IMMEDIATE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE , BROKEN CONNECTING ROD, DUE TO HYDRAULIC LOCK, WHERE COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TECHNICAL BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WHICH INDICATED THAT AN IMPROPER GASKET WAS USED TO SEAL THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FROM COOLANT WHICH ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, CAUSING THIS FAILURE . ONE KNOWN IS AERA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AND ISSUED BY JASPER ENGINES. *AK ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED. ENGINE WAS REPLACED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188071April 16, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH IGNITED SEPARATELY. THERE MAY BE A RECALL BUT THE CONTACTWAS UNFAMILIAR OF WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WERE IF THE RECALLWAS NOT REPAIRED. THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER FROM THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187759April 13, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
I STEPPED INTO MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK, AND THE TORSION BAR BROKE. SNAPPED INTO TWO PIECES. WAS THANKFUL I WAS NOT DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE MECHANICS, THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND THAT A PIECE OF 1" ROUND STEEL SHOULD NOT JUST SNAP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187594April 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT USED VEHICLE FROM THE BO'S AUTORAMA ON 6/2004 AND USED IT ONCE OR TWICE IN THE FIRST YEAR. I STARTED TO USE IT REGULARLY IN APRIL 2005. FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS/WIRES BECAUSE OF WATER GETTING INTO THEM, AND CAUSING A MISS IN THE ENGINE ON 4/2005. THEN I HAD THEM SEALED ON 9/2005, THEN, REPLACED ON 12/2005 , AND THE PROBLEM TO THIS DAY, HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED, BUT I SPENT OVER $900 TRYING. THE TRANSMISSION AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES ON 5/2005, 6/2005, AND 7/2005. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED IN 8/2005, THE BATTERY DIED IN 10/2005, THE FRONT BRAKES WENT OUT IN 11/2005. SO LESS THAN 14,000 MILES FROM PURCHASE I HAD SPENT OVER $5OOO IN REPAIRS, AND STILL COULD NOT DRIVE IT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO BO'S BEUCKMAN FORD AND WILL NEVER DEAL WITH THEM AGAIN. THEY OVER CHARGED ME FOR LOUSY WORK. ALSO, FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE FIRST FAULTY REAR DIFFERENTIAL BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE FORD INSTALL IT. WHY WOULD I? THEY COULD NOT FIX THE ENGINE MISS AFTER 2 TRIES, AND CHARGED ME BOTH TIMES, AND IT TOOK THEM 3 TIMES TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186719April 2, 2007
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RECALL 98V09500/NSA#111PAW FOR THE LUGS:NUTS. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185689March 20, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CAUSING THE MANIFOLD TO SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 115,000.*AK UPDATE 04/30/07*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185050March 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
UPON STARTING VEHICLE ON MY DRIVEWAY A LOUD BANG AND SUBSEQUENT KNOCKING SOUND EMITTED FROM ENGINE. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT ENGINE FOUND WATER IN INTAKE CHAMBER AND BROKEN ROD AND PISTON. MECHANIC ADVISES AN ENGINE REBUILD WILL BE REQUIRED AND IS FAMILIAR WITH A HYDRO LOCK PROBLEM WITH THE 4.2 L FORD V6 ENGINES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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