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1998 Ford F-150Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1,381 owner complaints about the 1998 Ford F-150, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. It is covered by 8 safety recalls.

40
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.5× the F-150 median · #12 of 42 years by complaints
Safety recalls8Free fix at dealersOwner complaints1,381215 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage140kFuel system, gasoline, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 18, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Ford F-150 has problems

1,381 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline1777
Engine and engine cooling17413
Tires1527
Structure1383
Suspension1324
Vehicle speed control11649
Service brakes, hydraulic11018
Steering9610
Electrical system8741
18 other systems34551

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

8 recalls

1998 Ford F-150 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Tank assembly: mounting

Recall 11V-385 · Jul 29, 2011 · 1,100,000 vehicles

Risk. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY FAIL ALLOWING THE FUEL LINES TO SEPARATE FROM THE TANK, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSING THE TANK TO CONTACT THE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 4 more recalls
–no report yet

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Recall 98V-095 · May 13, 1998 · 1,520,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Recall 98V-007 · Jan 21, 1998 · 45,000 vehicles

Risk. INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)

Recall 97V-171 · Oct 7, 1997 · 866,000 vehicles

Risk. THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Mileage at failure

When do fuel system, gasoline problems start?

140kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 158 fuel system, gasoline complaints. 18% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 40% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
0under 30k miles28under 100k miles130100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

23 owners mentioned a cost

$3,000median

Middle half: $2,100 – $3,550

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other F-150 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-150 median. How we score

'73'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1998 Ford F-150 safety ratings

1998 Ford F-150 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1998 Ford F-150 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
11 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Ford F-150, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  2. SPARE TIRE MOUNTINGDP99002 · closed Mar 17, 1999
    No recall
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    Led to recall 05V-388
  4. Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to CorrosionEA11006 · closed Aug 19, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-385
  5. ALLEGED LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROLEA98018 · closed Sep 30, 1999
    No recall
  6. STEERING COLUMNPE01033 · closed Feb 6, 2002
    No recall
  7. Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion/RustPE10036 · closed May 23, 2011
    No recall
  8. TIE ROD END FAILURESPE98024 · closed Jul 21, 1998
    No recall
  9. SPARE TIRE WEARPE99019 · closed Jul 27, 1999
    No recall
  10. BLOW BACK DURING REFUELINGPE99047 · closed Sep 23, 1999
    No recall
  11. REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGERQ98022 · still open
    Led to recall 98V-161
In owners' words

What F-150 owners report

Recent fuel system, gasoline complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS EXHIBITED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST CORROSION. IN 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED…
Complaint 10588260 · May 14, 2014 · 173,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS…
Complaint 10458469 · May 14, 2012 · 150,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DUAL FUEL TANK. AFTER REFUELING, THE FRONT FUEL TANK WOULD OVERFLOW AND CAUSE THE FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE FILLER CAP AND ONTO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A FAULTY FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE. THE…
Complaint 10455111 · Apr 13, 2012 · 199,500 miles

Own a 1998 F-150?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.