FORD E-150 · model year

1998 FORD E-150

81 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998FORDE-150 carries 81 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 E-150 is steering:hydraulic power assist:pump with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (5) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1998 E-150, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

81
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

81 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SUSPENSION3
TIRES3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SEAT BELTS2
WHEELS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2

Recent Complaints

20170410FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK WITH FUEL, THE FUEL LEAKED OUT. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MIDSHIP FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTED THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V114000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20150204CrashEQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD E-150 EQUIPPED WITH A CCI AIRTOUCH PNEUMATIC GAS/BRAKE. THE MODEL WAS UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT CAUSE OR WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, TREES, AND A STREET LAMP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

Mileage: 84,000

20140707WHEELS

LEFT FRONT TIRE (MICHELIN P235/75R15 LTX M/S2) SEPARATION AT 25 MPH. ALSO, NOTICEABLE STRESS CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. TIRES BOUGHT 01/2010; WITH 7/32 TREAD REMAINING. REFERENCE 13T012000. *JS

Mileage: 152,000

20121114FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL SPEWED OUT OF THE FILLER NECK AND ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,750.

Mileage: 80,750

20110914FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND STRAPS WERE THE SAME AS THE ONES UTILIZED ON THE 1998-2003 FORD F-150, IN WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

Mileage: 250,000

20110801CrashSEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN THE CONTACT WAS REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE WITH DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND FRAME. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NECK PAIN AND WAS SEEN BY A DOCTOR AT THE HOSPITAL. A CAT SCAN WAS PERFORMED BUT THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO SUFFER FROM NECK PAIN. THE DOCTOR PERFORMED AN MRI AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NECK CAUSED BY TRAUMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE INJURY MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THE SEAT BELT LAYING ON THE NECK DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20110516FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

98 FORD E-150 / SAFETY RECALL-01S14 I CONTACTED CHALMERS FORD DEALER ([XXX]) SANTA FE,NM 473-3673 / FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE([XXX]) 1-800-392-3673 MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS RECALL AND WAS TOLD I WAS NOT ON THE LIST AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE-I DISCOVERED THE LEAK WHEN I WAS PUMPING GAS INTO THE GAS TANK AND A HUGE PUDDLE OF GAS WAS OBSERVED DRIPPING FROM VAN BY AN OBSERVANT CUSTOMER-I STOPPED PUMPING GAS IMMEDIATELY AND RETURNED HOME-UPON MY RETURN I INSPECTED EDGE OF TANK AND ALL THE HOSES AND SAW THAT GAS HAD FORMED A RING WHERE THE FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT-DID NOT SEE LEAK FROM HOSES BUT THEY WERE DETERIORATED-LEAK WAS FROM UPPER TANK AREA AND FLOWED DOWNWARD-IF THIS IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF SOON THERE COULD BE MANY FORD OWNERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CAR FIRES-MANY OF THE VEHICLES SUCH AS MINE ARE CONVERSION VANS AND WE CARRY OUR ENTIRE FAMILIES IN THEM-VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT OR CHEAP PART OR POOR DESIGN-PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF

Mileage: 143,786

20091231STRUCTURE:BODY

06-03-2007 RIGHT DOOR HANDLE (OUTSIDE PART) BROKE AND I COULD NOT GET INTO MY VAN. NO ABUSE ON MY PART. I HAD THE DOOR HANDLE REPLACED BY FORD DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE ($125.00). 03-03-2008 LEFT DOOR HANDLE (OUTSIDE PART) BROKE WHEN I PULLED THE HANDLE. I NOW HAVE TO GET INTO MY VAN BY THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND CRAWL OVER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS IS AWFUL SINCE I HAD ADVANCED COPD BREATHING PROBLEMS. I HAD TO ORDER THE PART TODAY, AND HOPE FOR THE BEST TO GET IT INSTALLED, AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE. THE HANDLES SHOULD NOT BROKE ON A 1998 VEHICLE SO SOON. I HAVE READ ALL COMPLAINTS FOR 1998 FORD E150 VANS, I HAVE A SHERROD CONVERSION VAN. 04-10-2009 BACK A/C & HEAT DOES NOT BLOW COLD OR HEAT FROM BACK UNIT. THE FAN PART IS THE ONLY PART THAT WORKS IN THE BACK UNIT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS. 01-20-2002 THE FRONT A/C & HEAT DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SHERROD IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN

Mileage: 59,000

20091231ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

06-03-2007 RIGHT DOOR HANDLE (OUTSIDE PART) BROKE AND I COULD NOT GET INTO MY VAN. NO ABUSE ON MY PART. I HAD THE DOOR HANDLE REPLACED BY FORD DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE ($125.00). 03-03-2008 LEFT DOOR HANDLE (OUTSIDE PART) BROKE WHEN I PULLED THE HANDLE. I NOW HAVE TO GET INTO MY VAN BY THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND CRAWL OVER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS IS AWFUL SINCE I HAD ADVANCED COPD BREATHING PROBLEMS. I HAD TO ORDER THE PART TODAY, AND HOPE FOR THE BEST TO GET IT INSTALLED, AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE. THE HANDLES SHOULD NOT BROKE ON A 1998 VEHICLE SO SOON. I HAVE READ ALL COMPLAINTS FOR 1998 FORD E150 VANS, I HAVE A SHERROD CONVERSION VAN. 04-10-2009 BACK A/C & HEAT DOES NOT BLOW COLD OR HEAT FROM BACK UNIT. THE FAN PART IS THE ONLY PART THAT WORKS IN THE BACK UNIT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS. 01-20-2002 THE FRONT A/C & HEAT DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SHERROD IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN

Mileage: 59,000

20080411ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E15. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A PINGING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 50 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING OIL. ON JANUARY 23 2007, A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REBUILT THE CYLINDER HEADS. FOR ONE YEAR, TWO MONTHS, AND NINETEEN DAYS, THE PINGING NOISE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST HER WITH THE REPAIR, ALTHOUGH THE WARRANTY WAS VALID. A SECOND DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON APRIL 10, 2008 AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL WAS LEAKING, THERE WERE OIL LEAKS PRESENT IN THREE PLACES ON THE OIL GASKETS, THE TIMING WAS OFF, AND THERE WAS CONDENSATION ON THE OIL CAP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE SECOND DEALER CHARGED THE CONTACT $107 TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO REPAIRING THE VEH

Mileage: 142,865

20080411POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E15. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A PINGING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 50 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING OIL. ON JANUARY 23 2007, A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REBUILT THE CYLINDER HEADS. FOR ONE YEAR, TWO MONTHS, AND NINETEEN DAYS, THE PINGING NOISE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST HER WITH THE REPAIR, ALTHOUGH THE WARRANTY WAS VALID. A SECOND DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON APRIL 10, 2008 AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL WAS LEAKING, THERE WERE OIL LEAKS PRESENT IN THREE PLACES ON THE OIL GASKETS, THE TIMING WAS OFF, AND THERE WAS CONDENSATION ON THE OIL CAP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE SECOND DEALER CHARGED THE CONTACT $107 TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO REPAIRING THE VEH

Mileage: 142,865

20080318VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY OF 2008 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE DEALER WAS CALLED THREE TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE THE FOLLOWING MONTH. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20071205ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1998 (MANUFACTURED 1997) FORD 4.2 LITER ENGINE BLEW MAIN HEAD GASKET - ENGINE FROZE UP. REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTURED ENGINE - COMBUSTION TOO HIGH - PINGS - FORD REFUSES TO INSTALL ANOTHER ENGINE. CARBON BUILD UP - VALVES, RINGS, CRANKSHAFT, EGR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL ALL BE DAMAGED IF NOT CORRECTED. DEALER HAD TRIED ON 5 OCCASIONS - FORD CONTINUES TO DENY APPROVAL FOR ANOTHER ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

20071024ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

98 FORD E150, 4.2L,82K MILES, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. TOOK TO FORD DEALER. THEY SAID NEEDS NEW ENGINE. COST $4749. I FIND OUT THIS ENGINE HAS BEEN FAILING PREMATURELY AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT. THEY SUPPOSEDLY SENT OUT A RECALL TO REPLACE GASKET. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE. I THINK I SHOULD GET PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 82,614

20070711ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO START IN COLD WEATHER. ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTED, IT WOULD HESITATE AND PRODUCE A TAPPING NOISE. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLANT FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 102,797 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Mileage: 101,000

20070105ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

1998 FORD E-150 V6 4.2 ENGINE LEAKED COOLANT INTO #1 CYLINDER CAUSING ROD TO BEND AND DISABLE ENGINE. *NM

Mileage: 132,228

20051115ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1998 FORD E150 5.4 TRITON V8 BLEW A SPARK PLUG AT 98000 MILES REQUIRING HEAD REPAIR. *NM

Mileage: 98,000

20051020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I HEARD A POPPING SOUND, THE TRUCK STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO STALL. I CALLED CLARK FORD AFTER HEARING ABOUT A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS AND THEY CLAIMED TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC AND THE MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, THIS RESULTED IN ALSO A RADIATOR SPLIT.*JB

Mileage: 125

20050609POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT ONLY 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING OR PULLING ALSO SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH TIE ROD ENDS, BACK WINDOW LEAKING,VALVES CLATERRING,TIRE WEAR 3 SETS REPLACED, BODY PANELS RUSTING,STEP BUMBERS COMPLETLY RUSTED AWAY.

20050609ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AT ONLY 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING OR PULLING ALSO SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH TIE ROD ENDS, BACK WINDOW LEAKING,VALVES CLATERRING,TIRE WEAR 3 SETS REPLACED, BODY PANELS RUSTING,STEP BUMBERS COMPLETLY RUSTED AWAY.

Compare 1998FORDE-150 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 FORD E-150 have?
The 1998 FORD E-150 has 81 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD E-150?
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD E-150 is STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1998 FORD E-150 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.