FaultScore

FaultScore report

1998 Ford Ford Truck problems

Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ford Truck with NHTSA between 1999 and 2016. The largest single group is the tires. Across this model's run it ranks 8 of 10 worst.

C

FaultScore 44/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford Ford Truck.

How this is worked out

The numbers

29

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

109,436 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

11%

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.

Complaint volume 48 vs 50 Severity 53 vs 50 Early failure 19 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 48
Against the median year of the Ford Ford Truck. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 53
10.3% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 19
11% 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 Ford Truck

Click any bar to open that year's report.

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 Ford Truck

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

Tires 13 44.8%

Median failure at 31,789 miles

Engine & Cooling 4 13.8%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

Body & Structure 3 10.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 99,718 mi

Other & Unspecified 2 6.9%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 90,000 mi

Electrical System 2 6.9%

Median failure at 146,000 miles

Seats 1 3.4%
Seat Belts 1 3.4%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 3.4%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 3.4%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 229,000 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 3.4%

Median failure at 77,345 miles

When it fails

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

25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 11.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 33.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 33.3%
150,000+ miles 2 22.2%

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.

Apr 1999 peak 6 Dec 2016

Complaints that involved harm

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

at 229,000 miles Waldorf, MD Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. RECALL WAS COMPLETED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10208971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midpark, OH Fire

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

METAL PLATFORM FELL OFF OF VEHICLE STRIKING OTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSING DAMAGE / (OTHER VEHICLE-FIRE FROM FUEL LEAK). (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS

NHTSA complaint #548811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brandon, FL Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #717124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

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

at 90,000 miles Cadillac, MI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FRAME RUST REAR. SPRING MOUNT BROKE OFF. REAR OF TRUCK LOOSE. REPAIR DONE. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS TRUCK. LARGE RUST HOLES IN FRAME. ONLY 90000. MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10929628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Cadillac, MI

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

FRAME RUST REAR. SPRING MOUNT BROKE OFF. REAR OF TRUCK LOOSE. REPAIR DONE. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS TRUCK. LARGE RUST HOLES IN FRAME. ONLY 90000. MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10929628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 154,000 miles Saint Joseph, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE RIDING BACK HOME FROM WALMART, I HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BOOM THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A CONSISTENT ROARING LOUD NOISE. FRIGHTENED I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT THE GIRL OUT AND AWAY FROM THE TRUCK BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE , BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE. CAUGHT A RIDE HOME AND HAD A FRIEND DRIVE IT TO MY HOME. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FEW SHOPS TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WAS WRONG . THERE WASN'T ANY LEAKS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN IT TOO. THREE MONTHS BEFORE I HAD OIL CHANGE AND TUNE UP DONE FOR THE TRUCK. THIS TRUCK HAD HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN BECAUSE I HAVE TWO OTHER CAR GOES ON GAS. THE BOSS WHO CHECK THE MOTOR SAID REASON THE MOTOR WENT BAD WAS BECAUSE THE SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM ITS COMPONENT, WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR TO THROW A ROD. I WENT TO AUTO ZONE FOR THE BEST GASKETS AND PARTS SO MY TRUCK COULD BE BACK THE SAME AGAIN LIKE BEFORE. I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD EXHAUST WORK DONE BEFORE THE MOTOR , BY ANOTHER SHOP FOR EXHAUST BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE DOES IT,SO WHEN THE JOB WAS DONE I WOULDN'T HAVE TO STILL WAIT. I JUST WANTED IT LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THE ROD BROKE. THE PROBLEM WASN'T SOLVED RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I HAD TO FIND A MOTOR FIRST. I MADE SURE I STARTED IT UP DAILY SO BATTERY WOULDN'T DIE. MY TRUCK WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. UNTIL THE SPARK PLUGS RUINED IT. AT THAT POINT THE OIL SUDDENLY WAS BLACK AND BURNT LOOKING. ALSO ONE OTHER TIME I WAS DRIVING FROM OUT OF STATE FAR AWAY WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING SEVENTY FIVE . THE CAR SMOKED, BUT I CONTINUED GOING I DIDN'T WANT TO GET STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO BUY A MOTOR AND PAY FOR LABOR AND PARTS NEEDED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE TRUCK AND GET OUT WITH THE KIDS.

NHTSA complaint #10324621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 146,000 miles Hawthorne, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TRUCK OVER HEATED THE ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR IS LEAKING WATER THAT IS THICK AND OILY. OIL IS PASSING INTO RADIATOR A HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS DONE AND THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED. A LOUD CRANK NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE REAR BOTTOM AXLES WHEN I STOP. CONSTANTLY NEEDING JUMP START ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF UNEXPECTATLY WHILE DRIVING NEW BATTERY BUT IT WAS STILL TURNING OFF A RELAY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION BOX WAS REPLACED NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10216032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 146,000 miles Hawthorne, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TRUCK OVER HEATED THE ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR IS LEAKING WATER THAT IS THICK AND OILY. OIL IS PASSING INTO RADIATOR A HEAD GASKET REPAIR WAS DONE AND THE RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED. A LOUD CRANK NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE REAR BOTTOM AXLES WHEN I STOP. CONSTANTLY NEEDING JUMP START ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF UNEXPECTATLY WHILE DRIVING NEW BATTERY BUT IT WAS STILL TURNING OFF A RELAY FROM THE DISTRIBUTION BOX WAS REPLACED NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10216032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 229,000 miles Waldorf, MD Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. RECALL WAS COMPLETED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10208971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 109,436 miles Baywood Park, CA

STRUCTURE

PROBLEM WAS SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, POWER WINDOWS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. IDIOT LIGHTS ON DASH WOULD COME ON AND OFF. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THAT THE SEAL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING AND DAMAGED THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX. DEALER COULD NOT REMOVE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT DOING DAMAGE TO IT. HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AND MODULES AT A COST OF $1,040. LIVE NEAR MORRO BAY, CA WHERE CLIMATE RANGES FROM 35 TO 85 DEGREES (NO EXTREMES) AND TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED WHEN NOT IN USE. NO EXCUSE FOR SEAL TO FAIL. OLD WINDSHIELD WAS FINE. WOULD LOVE TO SUE BUT OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE A HUGE WASTE OF TIME. NEXT TIME, WILL PURCHASE A JAPANESE BUILT TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10131111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,345 miles Lansdowne, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ON FEBRUARY 25, 2005, I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR BEGAN TO LEAK OIL AND SLOW DOWN. AFTER SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I INSTRUCTED EVERYONE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SMOKEY SMELL. I THEN CALLED KEYSTONE AAA MID-ATLANTIC MY EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICE. NEXT, THE KEYSTONE AAA MID-ATLANTIC TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AND HE COMMENTED ON THE NUMBER OF FORD WINDSTARS THAT HE PICKS UP ON A DAILY BASIS. AFTER OBSERVING MY VEHICLE, HE STATED THAT IT IS PROBABLY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT IT COULD NOT BE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I JUST GOT A BRAND ?NEW TRANSMISSION? TWO YEARS AGO. HE THEN TOWED MY VEHICLE TO SPRINGFIELD FORD IN SPRINGFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA (6 MILES AWAY). ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2005, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF SPRINGFIELD FORD AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH FIRE BECAUSE OF THE LEAKING OIL. INDEED, IF SPRINGFIELD FORD INSTALLED A ?NEW TRANSMISSION? TWO- YEARS AGO AND I NOW NEED ANOTHER ?NEW TRANSMISSION?, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE 1998 FORD WINDSTARS ARE DEFECTIVE. MOREOVER, I WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THIS SECOND MALFUNCTION OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10116074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Middletown, OH

TIRES

BOTH REAR TIRES ON VEHICLE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. *MR *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HE FELT THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AND MANAGED TO PULL OVER, THE TIRES WERE NOT FOUND.

NHTSA complaint #10052183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,789 miles Punta Gorda, FL

TIRES:VALVE

UNDERSTAND TIRE VALVES ARE BEING LOOKED AT, FORD DEALER IN FT. MYERS REPORTED THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. *DT *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770146

NHTSA complaint #10009408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Naples, FL

TIRES

WHILE TAKING A SHORT TRIP THIS WEEKEND. (UNDER 70 MILES) I NOTICED A SUDDEN VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR OF OUR MOTOR HOME AND WITHIN A MATTER OF SECONDS I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SEVERAL OTHER NOISES AS THE MOTOR HOME ROCKED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO DISCOVER THE ENTIRE TREAD OF MY RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY MISSING AND THE SIDEWALL OF WHAT WAS LEFT BLOWN OUT IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE TWO PLACES. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL RECREATIONAL VEHICALS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. DT

NHTSA complaint #768977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Berkeley Hgts, NJ

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TREAD SEPARATED FROM FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HAD TIRES REPLACED. GOODYEAR SENT RECALL ABOUT TIRES, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD REPLACED TIRES. EQUIPMENT FOR 1998, FORD 15 PASSENGER VAN ,GOODYEAR, WRANGLER TIRE SIZE LT245/75R16. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8007444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Carrollton, MD

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TREAD SEPARATION ON LOAD RANGE E TIRE ON REAR OF 1TON VAN. 4 PLY 2 POLY 2 STEEL.*AK (TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)

NHTSA complaint #759132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belton, TX

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE TREAD CAME OFF, BUT THE TIRE ITSELF DID NOT LOSE ANY AIR.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 1PT TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

NHTSA complaint #752053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peralta, NM

TIRES

VIBRATION IN STEERING,DEALER CHECKED & FOUND PLY SEPARATION IN BOTH FRONT TIRES. REPLACED ALL SIX TIRES FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY REASONS. FIRESTONE WOULDN'T RESPOND UNLESS THERE WAS A BLOWOUT, CRASH OR A FATALITY. READING OTHER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE ON AN RV FORUM. BLOWOUTS AS LOW AS 300 MILES. MY TIRE DEALER SAID THIS PLANT HAS SINCE BEEN CLOSED.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDIL018 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)

NHTSA complaint #751130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carolina, PR

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #747146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

THE TUBES TO THE REAR HEATER RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT CAUSING ME TO ABANDON THE VEHICLE IN THE WINTER.

NHTSA complaint #746099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

TIRES

FIRESTONE REFUSSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE, THEY SAY IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD BLOW OUT. THE TIRE CLEARLY HAS A DEFECT. NOW WHAT DO I DO WE LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN ON 99% IN TOWN DRIVING FOR WE WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE IN ON A TRIP. THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE ANOTHER VECHICLE TO DRIVE. THIS WAS MY VERY FIRST NEW TRUCK AND NOW THIS. THANK YOU,PLEASE REPLY.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHL 1PY TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

NHTSA complaint #745210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Weatherford, TX

TIRES

LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPERATED AND I ALMOST ROLLED THE VAN.( DOT NUMBER: W2MO IPI TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

NHTSA complaint #730767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Munhall, PA

TIRES

I HAD A TIRE GO FLAT ,WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK IT OFF AND COULD'T FIND ANY THING IN THE TIRE . I PLUGED THE LEAK .IFILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR ,PUT IT BACK ON THE TRUCK . IN ABOUT AN HOUR IT WAS DOWN AGAIN. I TOOK IT OFF AGAIN , IT WAS LEAKING NEXT TO THE PLUG. I PUT ANOTHER PLUG IN IT AND THIS TIME I CHECKED IT . IT WAS STILL LEAKING IN THE SAME AREA ,I PUT THE NUMBER 3 PLUG IN IT.IT STILL LEAKED AND IT LOOKED AS IF THE TIRE WAS TRYING TO COME APART. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WENT TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER AND TOLD HIM I HAD A BAD TIRE . HE SAID THEY WEREN'T HAVING ANY TROUBLE [A BIG LIE ] .HE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA HOW I SCREWED THE TIRE UP. THE TIRE COULD NOT BE PATCHED .WE ARGUED HE COULDN'T DO ME ANY GOOD.I ASKED HIM WHY A TIRE RATED AT 65000 MILES WOULD GO BAD AT 22000 MILES ? HE SAID I WAS LUCKY AS HELL TO GET THAT MUCH OUT OF IT. THE TIRE LOOKED AS IF THEY LEFT A PART OF . IT SEEMED MUSHY. I GOT MAD AT HIM ,AND WENT TO A LOCAL TIRE DEALER ,AND ORDERED NEW WILDERNESS TIRES LIKE A FOOL ! I EMAILED FIRESTONE AND COMPLAINED THEY ANSWERED THAT I SHOULD GO TO THEIR DEALER, THEY DIDN'T DO BUSINESS OVER THE INTERNET . I HAD BEEN THERE @DONE THAT THEY SAY THE 16 INCH TIRES ARE ALLRIGHT THEY ARE WRONG ------DEAD WRONG-----( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

NHTSA complaint #730818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Weatherford, TX

TIRES

LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPERATED AND I ALMOST ROLLED THE VAN.( DOT NUMBER: W2MO IPI TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

NHTSA complaint #730767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Munhall, PA

TIRES

I HAD A TIRE GO FLAT ,WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK IT OFF AND COULD'T FIND ANY THING IN THE TIRE . I PLUGED THE LEAK .IFILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR ,PUT IT BACK ON THE TRUCK . IN ABOUT AN HOUR IT WAS DOWN AGAIN. I TOOK IT OFF AGAIN , IT WAS LEAKING NEXT TO THE PLUG. I PUT ANOTHER PLUG IN IT AND THIS TIME I CHECKED IT . IT WAS STILL LEAKING IN THE SAME AREA ,I PUT THE NUMBER 3 PLUG IN IT.IT STILL LEAKED AND IT LOOKED AS IF THE TIRE WAS TRYING TO COME APART. I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WENT TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER AND TOLD HIM I HAD A BAD TIRE . HE SAID THEY WEREN'T HAVING ANY TROUBLE [A BIG LIE ] .HE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA HOW I SCREWED THE TIRE UP. THE TIRE COULD NOT BE PATCHED .WE ARGUED HE COULDN'T DO ME ANY GOOD.I ASKED HIM WHY A TIRE RATED AT 65000 MILES WOULD GO BAD AT 22000 MILES ? HE SAID I WAS LUCKY AS HELL TO GET THAT MUCH OUT OF IT. THE TIRE LOOKED AS IF THEY LEFT A PART OF . IT SEEMED MUSHY. I GOT MAD AT HIM ,AND WENT TO A LOCAL TIRE DEALER ,AND ORDERED NEW WILDERNESS TIRES LIKE A FOOL ! I EMAILED FIRESTONE AND COMPLAINED THEY ANSWERED THAT I SHOULD GO TO THEIR DEALER, THEY DIDN'T DO BUSINESS OVER THE INTERNET . I HAD BEEN THERE @DONE THAT THEY SAY THE 16 INCH TIRES ARE ALLRIGHT THEY ARE WRONG ------DEAD WRONG-----( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

NHTSA complaint #730818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Camarillo, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

FORD V-10 ENGINE SPARK PLUG AND COIL PACK BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. MOTORHOME

NHTSA complaint #729608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

TIRES

CASING SEPERATED/FIRESTONE REPLACED TIRE AT NO CHARGE.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA complaint #729120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midpark, OH Fire

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

METAL PLATFORM FELL OFF OF VEHICLE STRIKING OTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSING DAMAGE / (OTHER VEHICLE-FIRE FROM FUEL LEAK). (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS

NHTSA complaint #548811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.