1998 Ford F-150 problems
The 1998 Ford F-150 has 1,624 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (13%) concerns fuel system. After that come engine (11%) and tires (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,624 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 96 and 107
- Injuries and deaths
- 61 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 112,000 miles 656 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 13 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 33 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 32 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 85 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 105 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 95 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 83 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 83 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 64 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 26 |
| 200k+ miles | 37 |
What the data shows
Among the 656 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 112,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 140,000 miles (186 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 96 complaints mention a crash; 107 complaints mention a fire; 61 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 15th most-complained-about out of 36 model years of the Ford F-150 with enough data (748 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 8 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact was the passenger in a 1998 ford f150 king cab that was involved in a head on collision,the vehicle struck a tree. The owner was driving 65 MPH. The road conditions were not a factor. The passenger side air bags did not deploy, and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated that six people were injured in the crash. The contact has a police report.
Vehicle was hit head-on. Upon impact, vehicle exploded, resulting in minor injuries. Dealer has been notified, and the manufacturer will be notified.
What isn't wrong with this truck? With less than 80,000 miles on it...spare tire fell off while being driven, interior lights randomly stay on, both doors are rusting out from the bottom, knob to regulate temperature fell off and assembly needed replacement, front brakes calipers stuck and caught on fire, exhaust system has rusted off twice, transmission went up and was replaced under warranty at less than 20,000 miles, radiator rusted through, and the headliner is falling down off the ceiling.
I was driving down the road and my spark plug blows out. It left me stranded on the side of the road.stranded. Then you have a cost of towing the vehicle somewhere. Then the repair cost.