Home
Ford
E-250
1998 problems

FaultScore report

1998 Ford E-250 problems

Owners have filed 30 complaints about the 1998 Ford E-250 with NHTSA between 1998 and 2010. The largest single group is the steering. Across this model's run it ranks 12 of 17 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Ford E-250 All 1998 cars

FaultScore 51/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford E-250.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

78,150 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

25%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 75: Against the median year of the Ford E-250. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 17: 3.3% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 43: 25% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1998 compares with every other Ford E-250

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 11 30 7 14 19 24 31 30 56 21 18 18 22 14 12 14 7 10 2 12 9 13 13 7 2 3 1

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 16 17 22

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1998 Ford E-250

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Steering 6 20.0%

Brakes 5 16.7%

Median failure at 128,085 miles

Engine & Cooling 4 13.3%

Median failure at 92,300 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 3 10.0%

Median failure at 15,000 miles

Seat Belts 2 6.7%

Suspension 2 6.7%

Other & Unspecified 1 3.3%

Median failure at 182,789 miles

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 3.3%

Median failure at 17,000 miles

Tires 1 3.3%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 3.3%

Lights 1 3.3%

Median failure at 64,000 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 3.3%

Median failure at 64,000 miles

Airbags 1 3.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Electrical System 1 3.3%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 25.0%

50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 25.0%

75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 25.0%

100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 12.5%

150,000+ miles 1 12.5%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Nov 1998 peak 7 Dec 2010

NHTSA investigations into the 1998 Ford E-250

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA10003 Opened 13 Apr 2010 Closed 5 Mar 2012 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

HVAC Switch Failures

This investigation was opened based on one complaint and reports from four transportation fleets alleging 182 blower motor control switch failures.ODI was concerned that these melting and burning switches could lead to an open flame that could spread throughout the vehicle.After a comprehensive review of all data related to overheating blower motor control switches in the subject vehicles, ODI did not identify the existence of a safety defect trend.ODI reviewed 1,036 complaints, claims, and field reports of failed blower motor control switches and determined that only two fires were likely to...

DP05005 Opened 22 Sep 2005 Closed 4 Jan 2006 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

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 A...

Recalls on the 1998 Ford E-250

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

09V399000 13 Oct 2009

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Risk: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

08V051000 4 Feb 2008

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Risk: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

07V336000 3 Aug 2007

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

00V284000 21 Sep 2000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL CNG PICKUP TRUCKS AND BI-FUEL CNG VANS, MODIFIED BY CFI CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC., FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 303, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY OF COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS VEHICLES." THE LABEL AFFIXED TO THE FUEL FILLER DOOR BY THE VEHICLE MODIFIER CONTAINS THE INSPECTION DATE AND EXPIRATION DATE OF THE CNG TANK. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT CONTAIN THE STATEMENT "SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FUEL CONTAINER FOR INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE."

Risk: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 27 Jun 2001 NEW Hall, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIM. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #891397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 29 Dec 2010 at 128,085 miles Vancouver, WA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1998 FORD ECONOLINE VAN 5.4L ENG. ABS BRAKES: WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL RESPONDS WITH FORCEFUL BACK PRESSURE TO PROHIBIT BRAKES FROM OPERATING. OPERATOR THEN EXERTS EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO FORCE BRAKING, STILL YET VEHICLE BRAKES VERY SLUGGISHLY. OPERATOR NOTES THAT WHEN THE CONDITION OCCURS, IF HE RELEASES THEN RE-APPLIES BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE THE BRAKES TEND TO GRAB AND TRY TO LOCK UP. OPERATOR HAS TAKEN THE VAN IN FOR SERVICE, REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR ON REAR DIFF, PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR 2 DAYS RECURRING THERE AFTER. SHOP MGR STATES THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE A DUMP VALVE CAUSING MALFUNCTION. STILL INVESTIGATING PROBLEM. VEHICLE MFR HAS RECENTLY SENT A RECALL NOTICE IDENTIFYING DESC # 09S09, SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION. OPERATOR WILL BE SCHEDULING THE SERVICE. MORE TO FOLLOW ON THIS SUBJECT. PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY, DEC 28 2010

NHTSA complaint #10373205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Mar 2008 at 92,300 miles ST. Charles, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF HEAD WITH THREADS IN MY 98 E250 WITH 92,000 WELL MAINTAINED MILES ON IT. THE COST IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #10221856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Feb 2008 at 64,000 miles Springfield, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS FOR MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN AUGUST AND HAD THE WORK DONE. NOW I HAVE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE WHICH STATES THAT FOMOCO "HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS THE WAS INSTALLED IN YOUR VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS SERVICED." THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECALL OF THE HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED AS PART OF THE FIRST RECALL. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WERE UNAWARE OF A SECOND RECALL AND SAID THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS FOR THE HARNESSES REQUIRED FOR THE FIRST RECALL. SINCE I STILL DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A SECOND RECALL I CALLED FORDS TOLL FREE NUMBER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALER AND GIVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER. I HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET SINCE I ALREADY CALLED THEM AND DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE A CORRECT ANSWER. THANKS. IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE HARNESSES HOW CAN THEY DO THE REPAIRS? WHY ARE THEY NOT AWARE OF THE SECOND RECALL? WHY ARE THE RECALLS NOT FOUND ON YOUR NHTSA WEBSITE?

NHTSA complaint #10219055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Feb 2008 at 64,000 miles Springfield, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

NHTSA complaint #10219055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 May 2006 at 15,000 miles Silver Spring, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

FORD ECONOLINE E250 HD - 1998 EXTENDED MODEL; COLUMN GEAR SHIFT WILL SHIFT FROM PARK TO GEAR WITHOUT IT GOING INTO GEAR AND FROM GEAR TO PARK WITHOUT VEHICLE GOING INTO PARK BUT STAYING IN GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10158511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Nov 2004 at 95,000 miles Yuma, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10099657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Mar 2004 at 182,789 miles Mandeville, LA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE. AS A RESULT THE SPARE TIRE FLEW TWENTY-FIVE FEET IN THE AIR. NO COLLISION REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10064910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 Sep 2003 Mentor, OH

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING UNITS MAY BE CAUSE OF VEHICLE ROLL OVER PROBLEM.*MR

NHTSA complaint #10040145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Dec 2002 at 17,000 miles Vacaville, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

REAR DOOR WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY ON MY 1998 CHINOOK MOTOR HOME. THIS IMPROPER INSTALLATION HAS RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE AND LEFT ME WITHOUT A SAFE CLOSURE FOR THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PRESENTED FOR REPAIR AND THE DEALER FAILED TO MAKE PROPER REPAIRS TO REPAIR THIS POOR FACTORY INSTALLATION. BOTH THE MANUFATURER AND DEALER ARE NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. TS

NHTSA complaint #10000324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 Jul 2002 Columbus, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATES THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SIMILAR TO THOSE STATED IN TSB 99-20-7. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 15 Apr 2002 Fort Wayne, IN

STEERING

WHILE TRYING TO SWITCH LANE STEERING WENT OUT.

NHTSA complaint #8007665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Jun 2001 NEW Hall, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIM. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #891397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 18 Jan 2001 Romeoville, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #739291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Nov 2000 Norristown, PA

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

PE00040; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION; WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPHTREAD ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, FORD, E250. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 50,000, TIRE SZIE LT22575R16, AND DOT # VD1L1XD377. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #874715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 26 Apr 2000 Augusta, ME

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT END OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER AND PULL TO SIDE WHEN BRAKING. YH