Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Ford F-250, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension14
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Structure9
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Tires4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Steering3
- Visibility3
- Air bags3
- Fuel system, other2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 1998 F-250 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 3 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-250 failed the safety check 1.46% of the time — 15% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 148,682 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 7 variants: combined 15.9–20.0 L/100 km (about 12–15 mpg US), CO₂ 366–428 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-250 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.2 | 13.0 | 15.9 |
| F-250 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.8 | 13.8 | 16.0 |
| F-250 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.4 | 14.4 | 17.1 |
| F-250 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 19.0 | 14.6 | 17.1 |
| F-250 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 20.1 | 14.4 | 17.5 |
| F-250 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 21.1 | 15.5 | 18.6 |
| F-250 NGV · Pickup truck: Standard · Natural gas | 22.7 | 16.8 | 20.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Ford F-250.
| 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… |
| 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. … |
| 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 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
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: 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 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-250: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636380 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING A PERCEIVED POOR FUEL RANGE / ECONOMY, AND OR A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. *TT |
| 636078 | SOME BI-FUEL LPG VEHICLES (WITH COOLANT LOCK OFF) MAY EXHIBIT A NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 633550 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEATER HOSE TO FUEL RAIL FLEX LINE INSPECTION. *JG |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 625810 | CONCERNS WITH CORRODED POSITIVE STARTER CABLE. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 625674 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A COSMETIC CRACK IN THE OUTER DOOR PANEL AT THE LOWER REAR CORNER OF WINDOW OPENING.*JB |
| 624689 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL FILL VALVE SEALING CONDITION. *YD |
| 620986 | SUBJECT REGARDING OVERVIEW OF BI-FUEL CNG VEHICLE PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION DATA (PID), INPUTS AND OUTPUTS AS A DIAGNOSTIC AID FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620156 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE A DRIVELINE VIBRATION AND / OR A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK FROM THE EXTENSION HOUSING SEAL AREA MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE EXTENSION HOUSING BUSHING OR SEAL WALKING / SPINNING OUT DUE TO EXCESS DRIVESHAFT FLEXING DURING EXTENDED HIGH SPEED OPERATION. *TT |
| 619424 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT |
| 619419 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT THE ENGINE OIL SENDING UNIT CONTACTING THE OIL DRIP SHIELD ATTACHED TO THE FRONT AXLE. *TT |
| 619273 | SOME BI-FUEL VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 618636 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CONCERNS A NOISE AT INTIAL ENGINE STARTUP WHEN COLD FROM THE ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT. *JB |
| 618568 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES FUEL DOOR LABEL APPLICATION / REPLACEMENT. *JB |
| 618084 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A WATER LEAK AROUND THE REAR (SLIDING) WINDOW. *TT |
| 616826 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L, 5.4L, OR 6.8L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE / MISS AFTER START-UP IN COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 616551 | OIL LEAK FROM THE FRONT OR REAR CYLINDER HEAD OIL SUPPLY RAIL END PLUGS. *TT |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation