FORD F-150 · model year

1998 FORD F-150

1624 NHTSA complaints, 96 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998FORDF-150 carries 1624 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 96 crashes, 107 fires, 61 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 F-150 is fuel system, gasoline with 141 filings, followed by structure:body:door (110) and tires (82). 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 9 investigation files overlapping the 1998 F-150, and 1 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.

1624
Complaints
96
Crashes
107
Fires
61
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

1624 filings

Crashes Reported

96 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE141
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR110
TIRES82
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR64
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE60
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY60
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP58
TIRES:TREAD/BELT54
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL53
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING51
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL46
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE40
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM38
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS37
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION36

Recent Complaints

20231218UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1998 Ford F150 S/N 1FTRX18L7WNB03063 Mechanic said the frame is rusting badly. Suggested I not pull a heavy trailer or haul heavy loads in the bed.

20231218STRUCTURE:BODY

1998 Ford F150 S/N 1FTRX18L7WNB03063 Mechanic said the frame is rusting badly. Suggested I not pull a heavy trailer or haul heavy loads in the bed.

20230604FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Unknown

20230604VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Unknown

20230123SEAT BELTS

My driver's side seat belt does not work at all for the past 6-8 months its been stuck and locked and it doesn't release the belt at all so I been driving without a seat belt for awhile now it needs to be repaired and as for the other issues unknown like bank-1 & bank-2 not working properly also evap-leaks and sensors not working

20230123FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My driver's side seat belt does not work at all for the past 6-8 months its been stuck and locked and it doesn't release the belt at all so I been driving without a seat belt for awhile now it needs to be repaired and as for the other issues unknown like bank-1 & bank-2 not working properly also evap-leaks and sensors not working

20230123UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My driver's side seat belt does not work at all for the past 6-8 months its been stuck and locked and it doesn't release the belt at all so I been driving without a seat belt for awhile now it needs to be repaired and as for the other issues unknown like bank-1 & bank-2 not working properly also evap-leaks and sensors not working

20211219STRUCTURE:BODY

I have multiple issues that hit all around same time. Body rusted and water leaks getting the bcm wet which causes the truck to go haywire, lights flashing, doors locking and unlocking, radio stays on, caused multiple things to stop working, fuel tank leaks when filling it up where the fuel tank fill hose rusted into the tank, causing multiple vacuum leaks and horrible running conditions and truck dies if not holding clutch, gas and brake at light. Rear trailer wiring plug when it's connected causes multiple lights to stay on even though vehicle not running and everything off. Also melted all wires on 2 trailers causing shorted out lights, replaced clutch 2 times since purchase on 3rd clutch and mechanics not sure why even after showing them I am properly using the clutch system, not pulling heavy loads, or driving it like a race truck. ABS system light won't shut off even though no codes or problems with abs system, multiple vacuum leaks and can't get rid of running lean and bad O2

20211219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I have multiple issues that hit all around same time. Body rusted and water leaks getting the bcm wet which causes the truck to go haywire, lights flashing, doors locking and unlocking, radio stays on, caused multiple things to stop working, fuel tank leaks when filling it up where the fuel tank fill hose rusted into the tank, causing multiple vacuum leaks and horrible running conditions and truck dies if not holding clutch, gas and brake at light. Rear trailer wiring plug when it's connected causes multiple lights to stay on even though vehicle not running and everything off. Also melted all wires on 2 trailers causing shorted out lights, replaced clutch 2 times since purchase on 3rd clutch and mechanics not sure why even after showing them I am properly using the clutch system, not pulling heavy loads, or driving it like a race truck. ABS system light won't shut off even though no codes or problems with abs system, multiple vacuum leaks and can't get rid of running lean and bad O2

20211219FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I have multiple issues that hit all around same time. Body rusted and water leaks getting the bcm wet which causes the truck to go haywire, lights flashing, doors locking and unlocking, radio stays on, caused multiple things to stop working, fuel tank leaks when filling it up where the fuel tank fill hose rusted into the tank, causing multiple vacuum leaks and horrible running conditions and truck dies if not holding clutch, gas and brake at light. Rear trailer wiring plug when it's connected causes multiple lights to stay on even though vehicle not running and everything off. Also melted all wires on 2 trailers causing shorted out lights, replaced clutch 2 times since purchase on 3rd clutch and mechanics not sure why even after showing them I am properly using the clutch system, not pulling heavy loads, or driving it like a race truck. ABS system light won't shut off even though no codes or problems with abs system, multiple vacuum leaks and can't get rid of running lean and bad O2

20200601FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING AND INSIDE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE INSULATION ON THE ROOF MELTED CAUSING A FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON THE HEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE FILED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND CAME OUT TO EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS CONTACTED AND TOOK THE CONTACT TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE STAYED HOSPITALIZED FROM APRIL 4 2020 TO MAY 8 2020 FOR HIS BURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A LOSS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 150,000

20191223FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL STRAPS I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER THEY LOOKED AT IT THEY SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE THE STRAP CALL THROUGH THE BED RAIL FRAME WHAT'S THE STRAP IS WHAT CAUSED THE CORROSION AND RUST TO THE BED RAIL FRAME .THEY WILL NOT PROCEED WITH THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL STATES THAT THE STRAPS RUST AND ARE KNOWN TO CORRODE AND IF THE GAS THING FALLS IT SHALL BE REPLACED. OUR GAS TANK FELL AND WAS ROCKING AROUND ON THE SKID PLATES AND IT PUNCTURED THE GAS.

20191120FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS FILLING MY FUEL TANK AND ANOTHER CUSTOMER POINTED OUT THERE APPEARED TO BE SOMETHING DRIPPING FROM MY TRUCK. I FOUND THAT AS I FILLED THERE WAS A STEADY STREAM COMING DOWN WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE FRAMEWORK HOLDING UP THE FUEL TANK AND DRIPPING TO THE GROUND A COUPLE OF FEET FORWARD OF THE FILLING POINT. AS THE TANK FILLED IT APPEARED TO ALSO DRIP DIRECTLY UNDER THE FILLING POINT. I DID FIND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL STRAP WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK REGISTERED IN OHIO FOR ABOUT 18 YEARS AND THUS REGISTERED IN THE RUST BELT STATES. WE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DRIPPING AT OUR HOME, ONLY ON FILLING THE TANK.

Mileage: 204,000

20191015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL AND THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 231,000.

Mileage: 231,000

20190610CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SINCE PURCHASE 6/24/1998 RIVERSIDE FORD SUMNER WA NON TIRE SIZE NOT CALIBRATED 22570R16 CAUSED ACCELERATED ODOMETER MILES BY 100,144 MILES UNAWARE TACOMASPEEDOMETER I PAID $55.14 ON APRIL 13, 2013 JUNE 11, 2013 AT TITUS WILL DEALERSHIP RECEIPT 203,997 WAS INVOLVED IN MVA MAY 13, 2019 OTHER PERSON CITED 'FAILING TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY' THE MILEAGE INDICATES 232,350 EVEN THOUGH I SHOWED MY RECEIPT 6/11/2013 AT 203,997 COMMERCE WEST DECEITFUL APPRAISER WILLFUL INTENT TO DEFRAUD ONLY HAVE 28,353 MILES IN WHICH THEY'RE TRYING TO TOTAL VEHICLE? CARFAX COLLECTING DATA IS AS INCORRECT AS WORDS USED NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPT/PACIFIC COAST FORD INDICATES A BAD ODOMETER MARCH 6, 2008 R&R AXLES ON JUNE 6, 2008 EXP BAD TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED W TRANS ASSEMBLY ON RECEIPT BAD ODOMETER CARFAX COLLECTED DATA IS INCORRECT NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPTS' CARFAX CONTRADICTS OWN POLICY ON REPORT 'NOT ALL ACCIDENTS REPORTED' INCONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS CARFAX DISSEMINATING FALSE

20190610CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SINCE PURCHASE 6/24/1998 RIVERSIDE FORD SUMNER WA NON TIRE SIZE NOT CALIBRATED 22570R16 CAUSED ACCELERATED ODOMETER MILES BY 100,144 MILES UNAWARE TACOMASPEEDOMETER I PAID $55.14 ON APRIL 13, 2013 JUNE 11, 2013 AT TITUS WILL DEALERSHIP RECEIPT 203,997 WAS INVOLVED IN MVA MAY 13, 2019 OTHER PERSON CITED 'FAILING TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY' THE MILEAGE INDICATES 232,350 EVEN THOUGH I SHOWED MY RECEIPT 6/11/2013 AT 203,997 COMMERCE WEST DECEITFUL APPRAISER WILLFUL INTENT TO DEFRAUD ONLY HAVE 28,353 MILES IN WHICH THEY'RE TRYING TO TOTAL VEHICLE? CARFAX COLLECTING DATA IS AS INCORRECT AS WORDS USED NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPT/PACIFIC COAST FORD INDICATES A BAD ODOMETER MARCH 6, 2008 R&R AXLES ON JUNE 6, 2008 EXP BAD TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED W TRANS ASSEMBLY ON RECEIPT BAD ODOMETER CARFAX COLLECTED DATA IS INCORRECT NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPTS' CARFAX CONTRADICTS OWN POLICY ON REPORT 'NOT ALL ACCIDENTS REPORTED' INCONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS CARFAX DISSEMINATING FALSE

20190610CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING

SINCE PURCHASE 6/24/1998 RIVERSIDE FORD SUMNER WA NON TIRE SIZE NOT CALIBRATED 22570R16 CAUSED ACCELERATED ODOMETER MILES BY 100,144 MILES UNAWARE TACOMASPEEDOMETER I PAID $55.14 ON APRIL 13, 2013 JUNE 11, 2013 AT TITUS WILL DEALERSHIP RECEIPT 203,997 WAS INVOLVED IN MVA MAY 13, 2019 OTHER PERSON CITED 'FAILING TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY' THE MILEAGE INDICATES 232,350 EVEN THOUGH I SHOWED MY RECEIPT 6/11/2013 AT 203,997 COMMERCE WEST DECEITFUL APPRAISER WILLFUL INTENT TO DEFRAUD ONLY HAVE 28,353 MILES IN WHICH THEY'RE TRYING TO TOTAL VEHICLE? CARFAX COLLECTING DATA IS AS INCORRECT AS WORDS USED NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPT/PACIFIC COAST FORD INDICATES A BAD ODOMETER MARCH 6, 2008 R&R AXLES ON JUNE 6, 2008 EXP BAD TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED W TRANS ASSEMBLY ON RECEIPT BAD ODOMETER CARFAX COLLECTED DATA IS INCORRECT NOT HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPTS' CARFAX CONTRADICTS OWN POLICY ON REPORT 'NOT ALL ACCIDENTS REPORTED' INCONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS CARFAX DISSEMINATING FALSE

20190603ENGINE

FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT IN PISTON BORE HYDROLOCKED MOTOR OVER NIGHT

Mileage: 95,000

20190501UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE CONTACTED MYSELF THE BF GOODRICH COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT SELLS BF GOODRICH TIRES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE COMPANY TWO TIMES. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THESE PEOPLE AND IT HAS BEEN TWO TO THREE MONTHS. I AM WRITING YOU HOPING THAT I CAN GET SOME RESULTS. I BOUGHT TIRES ON LINE THRU MANDAN WALMART. THE DATE WAS MARCH 26, 2016. IT WAS FOR 4 TIRES. THE SIZE WAS P235/70R16. I HAD A FLAT REAR 3-5-2019. I TOOK THE TIRE IN TO BE REPAIR ON 3-7-2019. MANDAN WALMART WOULD NOT REPAIR THE TIRE BECAUSE IT HAD DRY ROT. THE MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 149312. WHEN I PURCHASED THE TIRE FROM MANDAN WALMART I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TIRES WERE GOTTEN FROM A THIRD PARTY CALLED DOTCOM TIRE. THEY SENT THE TIRES TO THE STORE AND THEY PUT ON AND BALANCED WITH NEW VALVE STEMS. WHAT I DID NOT KNOW IS THAT THE TIRE HAD A MANUFACTURE DATE OF 04/13. THEY WERE SOLD AS NEW TIRES AND THE WARRANTY ONLY HAD 3 YEARS ON IT. MANDAN WALMART SAID THEY DO NOT FIX FLATS WITH ROT AND THAT DID NOT SELL THE TIRES, T

Mileage: 156,828

20190412FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS ISSUED ON JANUARY 27, 2005. THE SPEED CONTROL FUNCTION FAILED TO PROPERLY SHUT OFF PERTAINING TO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE VEHICLE COULD OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000. .*BF CONSUMER STATED WHEN ENGAGING SPEED CONTROL, THE ENGINE WOULD MISSFIRE SO BAD, THAT I WOULD CUT THE SPEED CONTROL OFF BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

Mileage: 225,000

Compare 1998FORDF-150 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 FORD F-150 have?
The 1998 FORD F-150 has 1624 NHTSA complaints, 96 crashes, 107 fires, 61 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD F-150?
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD F-150 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE with 141 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR and TIRES.
Is the 1998 FORD F-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.