Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Ford E-150, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Power train5
- Suspension5
- Tires4
- Steering4
- Wheels3
- Visibility3
- Seat belts3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 1998 E-150 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Ford E-150 failed the safety check 1.26% of the time — 26% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 150,733 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN VANS WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGES OR OTHER SEVERE-DUTY APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OPERATION AT OR NEAR THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH FREQUENT TWISTING OF THE VEHICLE BODY, SUCH AS OFF-ROAD, ROUGH ROAD OR SPEED BUMP EVENTS, THE 35 GALLON MID-SHIP FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER. IF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1998 Ford E-150: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637519 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4R70W TRANSMISSION (DRIVESHAFT >70 INCH) MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION / ROUGHNESS ON ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH. *TT |
| 630271 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ACCELERATED FRONT DISC BRAKE PAD WEAR UNDER EXTREME LOADING CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 630043 | SUBJECT REGARDING EXAGGERATED ENGINE BRAKING ON DECELERATION. *YD |
| 622802 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4R70W TRANSMISSION (DRIVESHAFT >70 INCH) MAY EXHIBIT A DRIVELINE VIBRATION / ROUGHNESS ON ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD AT ABOUT 50 - 55 MPH. *TT |
| 621035 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT RAPID WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS (UNDER 10,000 MILES). *TT |
| 621016 | INFORMATION USED WHEN SERVICING, OR REPLACING THE CNG FUEL FILL VALVE ON ALL DEDICATED AND BI-FUEL CNG VEHICLES. *TT |
| 615176 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON, WITH P0300 - P0308 MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WITH A 4.6L ENGINE. *TT |
| 615164 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REAR AXLE NOISE. *TT |
| 615157 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH EVAPORATIVE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442, P0455 SET. *TT |
| 613754 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION OR BOOM, OFF IDLE BETWEEN 870 - 900 RPMS. *TT |
| 613265 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FQR ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (ABS-HCU) ASSEMBLIES. *TT |
| 6090542 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT COVER & WATER PUMP BOLTS-TORQUE VALVE REVISION/3.8-4.2L. *MJS |
| 6090309 | INFORMATION REGARDING A CHANGE IN THE TORQUE VALUES OF THE ENGINE FRONT COVER WATER PUMP BOLTS. *TT |
| 6090131 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING A VEHICLE WITH MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442 AND P0455 STORED IN CONTINUOUS MEMORY. *TT |
| 6089651 | SUBJECT ON ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE OIL ON SOME VEHICLES. *TT |
| 608422 | CONCERNS WITH THE OIL DIPSTICK AND / OR PCV VALVE DISLODGING FROM THE ENGINE AND / OR ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM DIPSTICK TUBE. *TT |
| 607711 | MIL LIGHT ON WITH EVAPORATIVE DTC P0442, P0455 |
| 606484 | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL ON SOME VEHICLES. *TT |
| 605804 | EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING VEHICLES WITH EVAPORATIVE FUEL SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. *TT |
| 603536 | SOME VEHICLES WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION OR BOOM, OFF IDLE BETWEEN 870-900 RPMS. *YC |
| 603510 | SYMPTOMS REGARDING P0300-P0308 MISFIRE DTCS WITH 4.6L ENGINES. *YC |
| 54069 | EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL). *YC |
| 50553 | ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL (EATC) INVALID DIAGNOSTIC CODES U1235 & 155 MAY BE STORED IF THE IGNITION SWITCH IS CYCLED FROM 'OFF' TO 'RUN' EXTREMELY SLOWLY. *TT |
| 50552 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES THAT MAY EXHIBIT A SLIGHT DELAY IN THE FIRST DRIVE AWAY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT, OR FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. *TT |
| 50541 | CONCERNS FOR THE LABOR TIME STANDARD IN TBS 96-19-02 (STEERING - GRUNT NOISE DURING STEERING WHEEL RETURN FROM FULL RIGHT TURN) IS INCORRECT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation