Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Ford F-150, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline177
- Engine and engine cooling174
- Tires152
- Structure138
- Suspension132
- Vehicle speed control116
- Service brakes, hydraulic110
- Steering96
- Electrical system87
- Power train83
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 53 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 124 1998 F-150 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 70 people died inside them, and 30 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 F-150 failed the safety check 1.69% of the time — 1% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 153,354 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 10 variants: combined 14.3–18.6 L/100 km (about 13–16 mpg US), CO₂ 329–428 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.1 | 12.2 | 14.3 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.3 | 12.8 | 15.3 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.6 | 12.8 | 15.4 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.2 | 13.7 | 15.7 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.3 | 13.7 | 15.7 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.6 | 13.6 | 15.8 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.3 | 14.4 | 16.5 |
| F-150 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.7 | 14.2 | 16.7 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.0 | 14.3 | 16.9 |
| F-150 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 21.1 | 15.5 | 18.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Ford F-150.
| 2019420 21 Aug 2019 | Other Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempere… |
| 2011281 1 Aug 2011 | Fuel System On certain 1997-2003 F-150, 2004 F-150 Heritage, 1997-1999 F-250, and 2002-2003 Lincoln Blackwood vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently operate… |
| 2005028 14 Feb 2005 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
| 2004164 18 May 2004 | Steering On certain vehicles, Ford has issued a scheduled maintenance guide update which specifies that every 20 000 kms, the steering linkage, which includes tie-rod en… |
| 1998147 21 Jul 1998 | Suspension NOTE: 4X4 VEHICLES. IF THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECTED TO REAR AXLE LOADING WHICH EXCEEDS THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING, THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS MAY BE OVERSTRESSED RESU… |
| 1998095 12 May 1998 | Suspension ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE. … |
| 1998081 23 Apr 1998 | Fuel System VEHICLE OPERATION AT PROLONGED HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE ICE DEPOSITS TO FORM IN THE THROTTLE BODY. THE ICE MAY INTERFERE WITH THE… |
| 1997180 17 Oct 1997 | Structure ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE O… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150, 2004 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150 HERITAGE, 1997 THROUGH 1999 MODEL YEAR F-250 LESS THAN 8,500 LBS. GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR), AND 2002 AND 2003 LINCOLN BLACKWOOD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 20, 1995, THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2004, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEICING CHEMICALS MAY CAUSE SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH SECURE THE TANK TO THE VEHICLE.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
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."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS. IF THE VEHICLE IS OVERLOADED, THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE SPRING CAN OCCUR. THE CENTER LEAF OF THE SPRING CAN FRACTURE AT THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE SPRING SEAT AND, IN SOME CASES, CONTACT THE FUEL TANK.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES AND LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 4.2L ENGINE AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MAINE, MICHIGAN, IDAHO, WYOMING, SOUTH DAKOTA, COLORADO, NEBRASKA, KANSAS, IOWA, MISSOURI, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, AND MASSACHUSETTS. THE THROTTLE IS UNABLE TO RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE FORMING IN THE THROTTLE BODY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RANGES FROM -10 TO -40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK."
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 F-150: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637550 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BI-FUEL (CNG/LPG) ALTERNATE FUEL ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT HARD / NO START, RUNS ROUGH OR MISSES AFTER STARTING, AND OR HESITATION ON ACCELERATION WHEN OPERATED IN THE BI-FUEL MODE. *TT |
| 636417 | GUIDANCE FOR CNG TANK INSPECTION FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2, 1996. *TT UPDATE. *TT |
| 636406 | SNOW PACKING OF THE AIR FILTER WHEN DRIVING IN SEVERE SNOW CONDITIONS MAY EXHIBIT LOSS OF POWER AND / OR THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATING. *TT |
| 636380 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING A PERCEIVED POOR FUEL RANGE / ECONOMY, AND OR A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. *TT |
| 636326 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SQUEAK, SNAP, RATTLE, OR CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. *TT |
| 636078 | SOME BI-FUEL LPG VEHICLES (WITH COOLANT LOCK OFF) MAY EXHIBIT A NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 636076 | SOME BI-FUEL CANG AND LPG VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 636042 | SUBJECT REGARDING ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS TANK INSPECTION. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630349 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 4R700 TRANSMISSIONS BUILT FROM 4/16/98 THROUGH THE END OF THE 1998 MODEL YEAR MAY EXHIBIT A LEAK FROM THE VENT AREA OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TT |
| 630331 | SOME COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ROUGH IDLE OR NO START WHEN COLD. *TT |
| 630320 | SOME DEDICATED COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE, OR NO START IN COLD CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 630202 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT CORROSION AT THE ATTACHMENT POINT OF THE STARTER CABLE B+ TERMINAL, AT THE STARTER SOLENOID. *TT |
| 630111 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS INCLUDING LACKS POWER, HESITATES, HARD TO START, AND/OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED AND PRODUCE POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0103, P0172 AND P0175. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 627914 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HIGH IDLE AND/OR PCV SYSTEM ICING AFTER STEADY STATE DRIVING IN EXTREME COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L ENGINE BUILT THORUGH 1/24/2000. *TT |
| 627774 | SOME IGNITION SWITCH LOCK CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES MAY EXHIBIT ROUGNESS AND / OR EXCESS EFFORT IN TURNING, KEY DOES NOT FULLY RETURN FROM START, A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE WITH P0500, P1502 AND U1039 STORED IN POWERTRIAN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). *TT |
| 627772 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST, WHERE THROTTLE STICKING MAY OCCUR ON A FEW VEHICLES IN VERY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AFTE OPERATING AT STEADY SPEED OR EXTENDED IDLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. *TT |
| 627768 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE ROMEO BUILT 4.6L 2V ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE OIL LEAK OR OIL WEEPAGE FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AT THE RIGHT HAND REAR OR THE LEFT HAND FRONT OF THE ENGINE. *TT |
| 627766 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO CRANK, NO START CONDITION DUE TO CORROSION OF THE STARTER CABLE B+ TERMINAL AT THE STARTER SOLENOID. *TT |
| 627762 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST, WHERE THROTTLE STICKING MAY OCCUR ON A FEW VEHICLES IN VERY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AFTER OPERATING AT STEADY SPEED OR EXTENDED IDLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. *TT |
| 627760 | INFORMATION TO AID IN DIAGNOSIS FOR CLARIFICATION OF LOCK-OFF SOLENOID AND SOLENOID TANK VALVE COIL RSISTANCES FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES. *TT |
| 627680 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A GRABBING CONDITION FROM THE REAR DRUM BRAKES DURING THE FIRST FEW BRAKE APPLICATIONS AFTER EXTENDED HUMIDITY EXPOSURE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion
Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion/Rust
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
STEERING COLUMN
BLOW BACK DURING REFUELING
SPARE TIRE WEAR
SPARE TIRE MOUNTING
REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE
ALLEGED LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL
TIE ROD END FAILURES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation